Forza Horizon has spent 14 years promising to be the ultimate open-world driving fantasy. With Forza Horizon 6, developer Playground Games has finally delivered on that promise – and set the whole thing in Japan, the one location fans have been asking for since the very beginning.
The game releases officially on May 18, 2026 for PC and Xbox Series X/S (with Xbox Game Pass on day one), and early reviews from critics are enthusiastic. Eurogamer called it a five-star game that “finally delivers on the promises the original game made” after 14 years. TechRadar declared Japan “the series’ best map to date.” After the slightly divisive reception to Forza Horizon 5’s Mexico setting, that’s a significant swing back.
Japan as You’ve Never Seen It in a Racing Game
The map is the biggest talking point, and it earns every bit of the hype. Forza Horizon 6 spans the full breadth of Japan’s contrasts – from snowy mountain passes and ski resorts to rural countryside roads and the sprawling urban grid of Tokyo. The city area alone is reportedly five times larger than any previous Horizon city, with over 670 drivable roads across the entire map.
Tokyo isn’t just large – it’s dense in the way cities actually are, with verticality, docks, industrial districts, and tight suburban streets that completely change how you approach driving compared to any previous Horizon game. Touge battles – illegal mountain pass racing deeply rooted in Japanese car culture – make their series debut here, and they fit the setting perfectly.
550 Cars, JDM Legends, and Aftermarket Everything
The car roster tops 550 real-world vehicles, with a strong emphasis on JDM classics that will feel long overdue for fans who’ve been asking for them for years. New to the series is the Aftermarket Cars system – rare modified vehicles you can discover, test drive, and buy during your playthrough – and expanded tuning options including full body kits and Forza Aero additions.
The driving feel has been refined too, with updated steering animations and up to 540 degrees of wheel rotation for those playing with a proper racing setup.
Co-op, Multiplayer, and Building Together
The full campaign is playable solo or in co-op with friends, and the upgraded EventLab toolset – now called CoLab – lets players build custom events literally anywhere in Japan, with multiplayer support so you can design alongside friends. It’s an ambitious expansion of what was already one of the best creative tools in any racing game.
Multiplayer modes include the returning fan favourites: The Eliminator, Hide and Seek, Spec Racing Championships, and the new Car Meets scattered across Japan where you can show off your builds.
Where to Get It
Forza Horizon 6 is available on Steam, the Microsoft Store, and Xbox Series X/S. It’s included with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass on day one. The Standard Edition is priced at $69.99, with Deluxe and Premium editions available at $99.99 and $119.99 respectively – the Premium Edition includes four days of early access, which started May 14.
If you’ve been waiting for a Forza Horizon game that feels genuinely fresh, this looks like the one.
