The Forza Horizon saga started in 2012 in France. Since then, we have traveled through Colorado, Italy, Scotland and Mexico. It’s now Japan’s turn to host the most anticipated automotive festival of the Xbox Series generation. 8 opus in 18 years of career – and a formula which, visibly, does not know fatigue. So, is this sixth episode worth the detour? The answer at the end of the essay.
The Forza Horizon saga, a love story that lasts
That the Forza Horizon saga chose Japan for its sixth opus is almost obvious.
Besides, what could be better than Japan and its immense passion for automobiles to continue the mechanical tradition started 14 years ago?
A country where the car is not a simple tool, but a true religion. Between the kei-cars that weave through the alleys of Tokyo, the GTs that roar on the emblematic circuits, and the 4x4s that dominate the snowy mountain tracks, Japan brings together everything a car fan could hope for in an open world racing experience.
And Playground Games made no mistake. After the Mexico of Forza Horizon 5 – which was able to seduce despite the absence of seasons –, the British studio returned with an ambitious promise: to offer the largest and most detailed map of the entire series.
Forza Motorsport takes care of pure simulation, leaving Horizon free rein for fun and accessibility. A well-honed score over 18 years of career, and that’s a good thing – Japan is precisely the place we were eager to explore.
Welcome to the Land of the Rising Sun
The map of Forza Horizon 6 is 5 times larger than that of its Mexican predecessor – and this is immediately felt.
Crossing the different biomes from one end to the other – from coastal plains to cedar forests to mountain roads that wind between torii and cherry trees – requires time, a real sense of direction, and a desire to explore.
No easy shortcut here: the immersion is total, and that’s exactly what we asked for.
Playground has taken care of the great return of the seasons, absent in FH5.
The teams traveled to Japan to capture the four seasons with a new level of authenticity: cherry blossoms in spring, summer monsoons, flamboyant fall foliage, and winter snow that radically changes the behavior of cars.
The map breathes, lives, and reinvents itself over the weeks – a promise that the saga had succeeded with FH4 in Scotland and which we find here with even more ambition.
Tokyo, delivered in all its nocturnal and luminous splendor, constitutes in itself a playground that the absolute fan will visit with ever-renewed pleasure.
A garage in the image of the country
As for the automobile catalog, let’s not beat around the bush: it’s very, very heavy. In this 6th episode, it is the Toyota brand which offers itself the preferential treatment with two choice models: the very recent GR GT – which we couldn’t wait to see the version in game – and the legendary Land Cruiser, ready to do battle on asphalt as well as on the most rugged tracks. Enough to fill your eyes and full wheels in the decor!
Surprisingly (and this is not to be chauvinistic) but French brands are more or less represented. Thus Renault has classic and recent models available while Peugeot will have to make do with the 205 Rallye and Citroën is simply absent.
It is all the more surprising that the brand has very good sympathy in the land of the rising sun, particularly with the BX, DS…
For those looking for pure exoticism, additional packs will complete an already substantial garage with legends: the Cobra Daytona Coupe (an icon, quite simply), the Ford Focus ST, the BMW M1 or even the Lancia Stratos, which will leave the most chauvinistic with a smile.
On the two main aspects of overall performance and the prestige of the models, the game comes out on top – even if some enthusiasts will always find that a reference that is close to their heart is missing. It’s the law of the genre.
Playability: Almost infinite
Where Forza Horizon has excelled since its beginnings is in this almost infinite gameplay which means that you never get bored – and FH6 is no exception to the rule. The “sandbox” game offered by Playground is maddeningly rich.
We find ourselves faced with a wide range of activities: asphalt races, drag racing, snowy zones, regular drifting, Horizon Stories, Caps Zones (Speed Zones), radars…
No one imposes anything on you: you can devote yourself fully to the open world or concentrate on the most demanding events, in the order that suits you.
In terms of driving feeling, the different types of chassis – from traction to 4×4 to rear-wheel drive – offer very distinct sensations, even on the controller.
You drive differently depending on whether you’re at the wheel of a Tokyo kei-car or an American muscle car, and the driving logic is successful, even if the most purists will criticize it for a certain permissiveness. It’s not Forza Motorsport, and that’s fine.
FH6 pushes the open world slider even higher than its predecessors. We also place a HUGE emphasis on the efforts made in terms of statistics and progression: the trophies and challenges are unlocked naturally as you drive without ever giving the impression of useless moments. Every kilometer counts, and you can feel it.
Photos: the guilty pleasure
The photo part remains a real must. Accessible quickly and without fuss, it offers a range of varied angles and allows you to capture those moments where the beauty of virtual Japan literally takes your breath away.
Between the sakuras in the background, the reflections on the wet asphalt, and the raking light of dawn over the northern mountains, we play quickly with the settings and we leave with a gallery of which we are proud. A careful detail which will only strengthen the attachment to this destination.
Technique: a copy as careful as ever
On the technical side, Playground produced an impeccable copy. The game runs smoothly, locking at 60 FPS in Performance mode on Xbox Series X.
The graphic details are up to the task: impeccable level of detail, credible light management, and a model of Japan which alone justifies the time spent in development. PC and Steam (via Game Pass Ultimate or purchase) are not left out.
Please note: the installation size is substantial – count around 156 GB on PC and 144 GB on Xbox Series and get ready for one hell of a festival.
Performance details by platform:
| PLATFORM | RÉSOLUTION | FPS |
| CONSOLES | ||
| Xbox Series X (Qualité) | 4K(sans DRS) | 30 |
| Xbox Series X (Performance) | 4K (DRS jusqu’Ã 1620p) | 60 |
| Xbox Series S (Qualité) | 1440p (DRS jusqu’à 1080p) | 30 |
| Xbox Series S (Performance) | 1080p (DRS jusqu’Ã 812p) | 60 |
| PORTABLES / HANDHELDS | ||
| ROG Xbox Ally X | 1080p | 30 |
| ROG Xbox Ally | 720p | 30 |
| Steam Deck | 720p | 30 |
Positive points
- Top-notch graphics
- Unbeatable lifespan and gargantuan content
- Large variety of vehicles
- Gameplay accessible à tous
- Graphics or fluidity of your choice
Negative points
- Citroën in retreat (the brand fascinates in Japan)
- Unable to skip cutscenes
- Some rare loading times
Forza Horizon 6 literally took me back to the Japan that I had the chance to explore (read our adventures here), with magnificent landscapes, an impressive variety of vehicles with their stories. Forza Horizon adds to this an overlay of fun, WTF moments, pure delirium like zen moments carried by learning about the country of which we never tire. Motoring friends, this game is made for you!
As a reminder, Forza Horizon 6 is available on Xbox Series X|S, PC (Steam, Microsoft Store) and via Cloud Gaming – accessible from day one for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers.
Sortie : 19 mai 2026 (15 mai pour l’édition Premium).
