It’s been five long years since Forza Horizon 5 came out, and its successor has been teasing an exciting new setting that has the potential to be the most visually impressive Forza Horizon game yet. I got to experience an early Forza Horizon 6 preview build, and can happily confirm that a lot of those expectations were met. Forza Horizon 6 looks awesome, and every corner of Japan that I got to experience throughout my short preview was a breathtaking road trip filled with white-knuckling races, powerful cars, and improved features that add an extra layer of satisfaction to the experience.
The progression system and story in Forza Horizon 6 are intertwined, so the focus is on rising through the ranks to make it to the top. Everything else is all about racing and taking in the beauty of the city and countryside. Forza Horizon 6‘s Japan map is the star of the show, and developer Playground Games clearly put a lot of love and care into ensuring that every detail was impressive.
The preview build only included one hour of progression, but I was able to explore as much as I liked after hitting that end point. Once I booted up the preview, I was immediately taken through a fast-paced montage of races that showcased some of the different kinds of challenges that I would be facing. Getting to zoom my way through slick streets and rugged, off-road terrain in the first few minutes quickly made it clear that I would get to see plenty of the environmental diversity that Japan has to offer outside of Tokyo.
Starting With a Blank Slate
In contrast to Forza Horizon 5, where players take on the role of a driver at the height of their career, Forza Horizon 6 puts you back in the shoes of a rookie. I love a good underdog tale, so even though Forza Horizon 6 doesn’t have much of a story, getting to start off as a newcomer working their way to the top helps make the progression feel more rewarding. Playing as a driver with a dream of proving themselves also makes the map feel that much more exciting to explore. Everything is a new experience for the main character, just as it is for the player. Racing games can sometimes struggle with keeping their worlds from growing stale, but Forza Horizon 6‘s embrace of the rookie is a subtle way to make exploration more compelling.
Entering Tokyo for the First Time Kicks Things Off on a Strong Note
After the opening montage is over, the game introduces the main character’s two friends, Mei and Jordan. This introduction leads to the reveal of the game’s three starter cars: Nissan Silvia K’s, Toyota Celica GT-Four ST205, and GMC Jimmy. It’s a great beginner trio that covers road, dirt, and off-road races. After some consideration, I picked the Toyota and followed Mei and Jordan into the city for the very first time, letting the beautiful sound of the engine fill the air as I accelerated. The first moments of driving into Forza Horizon 6‘s version of Tokyo are great, showcasing a small sliver of what the massive city is like.
Following Mei and Jordan, I sped through city streets, parks lined with cherry blossom trees, a small stadium, and charming neighborhoods in just a matter of minutes. Forza Horizon 5‘s car list was great, but Forza Horizon 6‘s whopping 550 options on day one are another example of how this entry excels above its predecessor. Of course, I didn’t get to experience all these cars, but I can only imagine how much fun exploring the Tokyo streets is going to be with each one that’s unlocked.
Driving in Forza Horizon 6 is the franchise’s most satisfying feeling yet. The cars handle beautifully, the sound of tires drifting across pavement makes you want to attempt gnarly turns every chance it’s given, and each car’s engine is music to the ears.
As exciting as driving through Tokyo is, the best locations in Forza Horizon 6 are actually the rural outskirts that surround the city. Tokyo is great, especially at night. Whether it’s the docks or the skyscraper-lined downtown streets, the amount of detail that Playground Games put into the city is jaw-dropping. But the countryside is where Foriza Horizon 6‘s freedom can really be felt. There are 673 roads to discover, and checking off a new road made the desire to explore further that much stronger.
Forza Horizon 6 ticks almost all of my boxes when it comes to a great driving game, but there was one downside to my experience: ANNA (Automated Natural Navigation Assistant). I wish she felt more useful this time around. “Natural” might be in ANNA’s name, but using the glorified GPS feels anything but that. Through ANNA, players can access Auto Mode, Drone Mode, What’s Next, and World Builder. So, the system is at least the key to some interesting features. ANNA still feels incredibly forced, though. Being told when to turn right or left takes me out of the moment. Granted, this is my only real gripe with the game. The vast majority of Forza Horizon 6‘s features are upgrades for the franchise, but ANNA shows there is still some room to improve.
I had several hiccups with Auto Mode, too. There were a few moments where I would let Auto Mode take over, and the navigation system would steer me directly into another car. Instead of backing up or seemingly using any common sense, Auto Mode and the other car would both just continue to drive forward. Naturally, this kept the cars at a frustrating standstill that made them look like rams trying to fight for dominance.
Forza Horizon 6 Left Me Hungry for More
I got to take part in three qualifying races before my preview build’s progression was cut off, but each one had me eagerly anticipating the next. The qualifiers I participated in were a road race called the Shirakawa Circuit, the hill and jump-filled Windfarm Cross Country race, and the Airfield Trail race, which had some of the best scenery of the three, thanks to the surrounding golf course and bay. Beyond the one-hour progression window, I was surprised at how much I got to experience from the preview. Speed trials, drift challenges, POIs, car and character customization, and a fantastic soundtrack had me spending hours exploring the build beyond the one-hour mark.
Since this was just a single-player preview, I didn’t get to check out any of the multiplayer features, or Legend Island, or The Estate. The preview build was also locked to the spring season.
Even though I didn’t get to check out everything, the single-player experience has me sold. Racing against the Forza Horizon Drivatars and searching the map for challenges and collectibles really makes the game feel like it’s just as much about freedom and exploration as it is about driving and racing. Forza Horizon 6 is a driving game perfect for car lovers who love embracing adventure just as much as they love winning a race.
GameRant was provided an Xbox Preview build for this coverage.
