Preview: We’ve Played Forza Horizon 6, And It’s Potentially The Best Entry To Date
Forza Horizon 6 is heading to Xbox and PC on May 19, featuring Japan as its setting for the first time in the racing franchise’s history. Following early preview access, multiple outlets have praised the shift to Japan as a return to form for Playground Games’ beloved racing series.
The most talked-about aspect of Forza Horizon 6 is the Japan map itself, which Playground Games describes as their “most dense and vertical map yet.” The map is being highlighted as the largest and most detailed in the franchise’s history, featuring varied terrain from iconic Tokyo landmarks to mountainous regions with numerous hairpin turns and diverse road networks. Japan was apparently the most requested destination by fans for years, making its inclusion particularly significant.
Preview coverage suggests Forza Horizon 6 represents a notable improvement over Forza Horizon 5. Where Horizon 5’s Mexican setting was perceived as lacking engagement despite solid gameplay, Japan’s diverse landscape and vertical design apparently address those criticisms. Multiple reviewers described the spectacle of exploring Japan’s roads as among the most grandiose experiences in the franchise to date.
Beyond the map itself, previews have uncovered several new gameplay features that, while individually modest, collectively impact how players will experience the game. These additions are still being refined ahead of the May 19 launch.
Sources
- Preview: We’ve Played Forza Horizon 6, And It’s Potentially The Best Entry To Date
- Playground Games Reveals Forza Horizon 6 Map, Here’s How Japan Looks In-Game
- Forza Horizon 6’s full map has finally been revealed, and while Tokyo doesn’t engulf half of it, I’m still seeing plenty of appealing asphalt spaghetti
- Here’s a closer look at the gigantic Forza Horizon 6 Japan map, easily the greatest in the series’ history
- I finally played Forza Horizon 6 and Japan is a spectacle the likes of which we’ve never seen
- Four new features I found in the Forza Horizon 6 preview that will change how you play the game