Forza Horizon 6 Preview: The Festival Finds Its Perfect Place in Japan

      Xbox Game Studios, Adam Ismail

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      You can trace back nearly a decade and still encounter fan-driven speculations about Forza Horizon selecting Japan as its next setting. This island nation has been the most eagerly awaited location for the series since its inception, and the reasons are quite evident. Japan's influential car culture, revered motorsport venues from Ebisu to Suzuka, and its historical contributions to the automotive industry make it a clear choice. One thing that becomes apparent after experiencing the first hour of Forza Horizon 6’s campaign is that the developers at Playground Games not only honor this legacy; they have authentically recreated the environment it stems from.

      I was fortunate enough to get a preview of FH6 ahead of its May 19 launch. The preview kicked off with the prologue event, a familiar introduction for Horizon players. It offers a taste of various races and vehicle types, highlighting the full diversity of the game world, culminating in a race to the festival in the game’s main hero car, the GR GT. From there, you are introduced to your guide for your adventures in Japan, meet your starter cars (which include an ST205 Toyota Celica GT-Four, a widebody S13 Nissan Silvia, and—wait for it—a K5 GMC Jimmy), and immediately start competing in races to qualify for the main event, the Horizon Festival. In this preview, I was able to try the first three qualifiers and explore the map freely.

      One thing I have come to realize after six entries into what is arguably the only racing game that truly matters to most people is that my first impression remains consistent: sheer amazement at the world Playground Games has crafted. It’s not a stretch to claim that these environment artists are the best in the industry.

      I find the motion blur effects in the few tight corridors of FH6’s Tokyo absolutely stunning.

      Similar to its previous two installments, FH6 respects Japan’s shifting seasons, but their impact on the environment is significantly more pronounced than in Forza Horizon 5’s Mexico, which mainly alternated between dry and wet conditions. This taste of the game was confined to spring, yet Japan's varied climates mean that alpine weather—and an essential four-wheeled ski jump—is always just a road trip away, regardless of the season.

      My preview was restricted to Xbox Series consoles, yet Playground's visual achievements on nearly six-year-old hardware are often breathtaking. The foliage in FH6's Japan—whether it’s the swaying Ginkgo trees on hillsides, petals from cherry blossoms kicked up by passing cars, or the snow-laden pines up north—features some of the prettiest visuals I’ve seen in a video game. While Playground’s depiction of Tokyo, especially car enthusiast hotspots like Daikoku PA, will draw the most attention from new players, it's the natural beauty that these titles excel at, and FH6 is no exception.

      The complete map of Forza Horizon 6.

      Regarding the city: Playground has described it as being five times larger than FH5’s Guanajuato. While I believe it is indeed that large, it feels a bit more intimate since this urban area is more vertical than horizontal. There are numerous expressway layers over city streets, with iconic sights like the Tokyo Tower and Rainbow Bridge always appearing beautifully framed by skyscrapers. The roads are indeed wide—perhaps a bit wider than I would have liked, fully understanding that Playground aimed to strike a balance between authenticity and racing enjoyment.

      Traffic density is on the lighter side. While not as sparse as in the initial gameplay footage presented in March, the expansive boulevards still feel somewhat lonely. There are pedestrians, contained within designated areas that vehicles cannot enter, which adds a welcomed touch of life.

      While exploring, you might stumble upon cars for sale, and I’m not just referring to the classic Horizon Barn Finds of yesteryears (those are present as well, though not in my demo). These cars come with some modifications and are priced lower, adding a cool twist that I believe will provide this installment with surprises that its predecessors likely could have used. Regarding customization, we've discussed the introduction of new Forza aero parts for every vehicle, but an even more notable addition is the range of new aftermarket wheels for this installment, plus the capability to fit different wheels on each axle. This might now boast the best and most varied selection of rims in any racing game, and Gran Turismo 7 is no slouch.

      As for the racing experience, two important and welcomed aspects of FH6’s progression stand out. First, finishing those qualifier events alone doesn’t grant entry to the Horizon festival—I had to win them, which is precisely how it should be. Second, all campaign events are restricted to specific car classes until they are completed, which will certainly please anyone who ever felt these