So we reviewed Forza Horizon 5 a while back and considered it the pinnacle of the racing series from Microsoft and Playground Games. How could it not be? It covered every aspect of speeding along through Mexico, with a structure that gave you hours upon hours of content. And it’s remarkable how well it continues to hold together. Honestly, it would take quite a bit to top it. Alas, that’s exactly what both teams have done with Forza Horizon 6.
It’s in Japan this time, and…wow. I could literally drive around for hours exploring every aspect of what’s offered here, from hunting down Mascots to finding every last luxurious car. We’ve been digging in for hours and the experiences we’ve taken away from it have floored us. I mean, just racing against a Gundam-style mech alone speaks of the imagination put into this time.
Though the game is a bit barren when it comes to wandering life, it allows the team to concentrate on the racing. And it’s done so well, with cornering, drifting and so many other skills mastered with each new event. Plus there’s a ton of content here, not even including the two DLC packs that are likely to be unveiled very soon. It all looks tremendously cool, with fine detail from the city itself to the cars. Plus the radio stations are filled with amazing tunes. Babymetal by itself, man!
Just…you need to play this. PS5 owners will likely wait a bit, but if you’ve got an Xbox or PC, add it to your garage without hesitation. Forza Horizon 6 is brilliant.
Welcome To Japan, Forza Horizon Style!
As you enter the Horizon world, your friend introduces you with a new car and your first event. From there, you get a better understanding of Japanese racing culture. And boy, there’s a lot of it. Forza Horizon 6 has activities aplenty, from cross country events to street races to competitions. No matter where you go, you’ve got opportunity aplenty to put your pedal to the metal.
The racing itself handles remarkably well, just as it has in prior Forza Horizon events. You can change systems however you see fit, making the game a cake walk or a full-blown racing extravaganza. No matter how you approach, there’s something here for everyone. The progression is excellent too, with new events unlocking around every corner. The mech race is a spectacular one, but the other activities are a blast too. Plus there’s new stuff to unlock and buy, as well as Rush events and mascots you can run over. (Relax, in a good way.)
The game does have strong multiplayer as well, where you can challenge others for racing superiority. It’s handled quite smoothly, without missing a beat, though the game has a staggering amount of single player content as well. You’re going to be busy.
And that’s not even including what’s coming down the line, with two additional DLC packs. It’s unknown exactly where it will take us, but I have my fingers crossed that Microsoft will strike a deal with Toho and give us some Godzillagoodies. What we wouldn’t give to drive into the midst of a kaiju battle.
But even if we don’t…wow. Forza Horizon 6 has a ton on the table, even compared to previous chapters to the series. It’s got hours upon hours of good stuff, and though the streets are a little barren (people just drive around, no walking), it does focus on the behind-the-wheel aspect. That’s more than enough for those seeking new roads to drive on. This is easily one of the most loaded Forza Horizon games yet. And how.
How Does Forza Horizon 6 Handle With Presentation?
Let me just say that, as impressive as Forza Horizon 5 was, Forza Horizon 6 looks even better. Playground did its homework in making sure that Japan comes to life in this game, and it sure does. It also has great settings for quality and performance alike, though I’m a sucker for playing this game at 60 FPS. It’s never looked better on Xbox Series X, and I hear the Steam version is quite up to par as well. (Haven’t tested it yet.)
The cars look absolutely dreamy as well, and the fact that community skins are fully supported is a huge plus. I’ve already seen a number of anime-inspired skins that can’t be beat, along with…yes…Godzilla. How long they’ll stay up is beyond me, but I’ll gladly take a race car with my favorite lizard. Again, we need an official expansion. I’m also a fan of the camera options, as the in-car view is truly a sight to see.
As for the audio, it’s great. While some of the voice acting is a little bland (just let us drive, man!), the sound effects are rich with racing culture. I love the engine noises on some of these beauties. And Playground once again strikes gold with its radio stations. Whether you prefer techno, classical or the awesomeness of Babymetal (who doesn’t want that?!), there are some top-shelf choices here. I do wish we could add some of our own custom tracks, but there are tons of great ones here.
This is easily one of the best structured Forza Horizon games out there – and that’s saying a lot considering what we experienced from the last one. Yes.
It’s Time To Drive With Forza Horizon, Again
How Playground and Microsoft continue to hit gold with Forza Horizon is beyond me. This obviously takes a painstaking amount of effort, but Forza Horizon 6 is my favorite entry to date. It has a lot of fun stuff to do, backed by excellent visuals and the kind of music selections you could easily relax to. Plus there’s multiplayer aplenty, and the new DLC will add to its potential even more. The sky’s the limit.
Just one thing. Can we have more mech races? Because we need more damn mech races.
GAMERHUB RATING: 5 (out of 5) JOYSTICKS
Forza Horizon 6 is available now on Steam/PC and Xbox platforms! It’s also on Game Pass as well!
