Forza Horizon 6's Perfect Open-World Is A Worthy Match For Crimson Desert And GTA 6
Topics: Reviews, Xbox, PlayStation, Forza
Featured Image Credit: Xbox Game Studios
Topics: Reviews, Xbox, PlayStation, Forza
Forza Horizon 6 is the latest in Xbox’s spin-off to its motorsport series, and if this entry is anything to go by, it’s firmly established in pole position.
As soon as you fire up Forza Horizon 6, it’s a pure treat for your eyes and straight off the bat, it’s probably one of the most visually striking video games you’ve seen in a while, at least in the racing genre.
Over the years, the Forza Horizon series has taken us to places across the USA, France, Italy, Australia, and the United Kingdom. Each is visually striking and unique to each respective entry. However, in my humble opinion, seeing the gorgeous blossom trees in the countryside, the vibrant cities and Mount Fuji, Forza Horizon 6 takes the crown.
Throughout the series, I’ve often crashed after being distracted by the wondrous sights, and Forza Horizon 6 is no exception, perhaps even more so. It really shows us what the Xbox Series X is capable of, not only visually, but its super-slick framerate to boot in Performance Mode. You can choose to prioritise visuals over performance, which is great when taking snazzy screenshots, but from a pure gameplay perspective, framerate is king.
Yet, it’s not just the Japanese environments that look incredible. Each car is created to an immense level of detail, both internally and externally. As such, it doesn't matter whether you’re using photo mode inside or outside of the car; you can achieve ultra-realistic snapshots to your heart's content. And of course, those car snapshots can look even more snazzy and unique when you download any of the incredible liveries created by the ever-vibrant community.
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Of course, even if a game had the most stunning visuals in the world, if any game was handled like a soggy pair of underpants, quite frankly, the game would suck. Thankfully, Forza Horizon 6 not only performs in the visuals department, but also with its gameplay. Which is perhaps even more important with video games of the racing genre.
Forza Horizon 6 handles like a dream with every car. There are hundreds of cars to unlock, purchase and discover. Each handles differently from the last, whether its an Subaru Impreza 22B STI in a rally race, street racing with a Nissan Skyline GT-R, going off-road with a Ford-150 Raptor or showing off with a luxury Lamborghini Centenario LP 770-4, you’re going to have an absolute blast.
Other than your typical race, there are tons of fun activities to keep you busy in Forza Horizon 6, and despite having so much to do in its huge open-world, none of it feels like filler. You can take to the circuit, test run new cars for a friend, make a mockery out of speed cameras, find hidden treasures or even partake as a food delivery driver in your spare time.
So many times I’ve found myself finishing a race or an event with the intention of putting the controller down, but mixed with its fantastic gameplay and activities, I’m constantly having the urge for one more race. Which in itself is a testament to the great work crafted by Forza Horizon 6’s development team at Playground Games.
Of course, Forza Horizon 6 is billed as an online game and for those who are not all that keen on online multiplayer, this series continues to make these functions seamless and unintrusive. I think it’s great seeing other players speeding around the Forza Horizon 6 map, and if one gets close to you, it will instantly turn into a ghost car, so no one will be ruining your game. You can challenge these players to an instant race or ignore them; it’s up to you. You also have the option to go online with each event, go solo or co-op. There is the option to play the game completely offline, but I believe you’d be missing out on the sense of community if you did that.
One of the biggest new features introduced in Forza Horizon 6 is the ability to buy an estate. This is typically a rundown house with land that needs clearing up. In many ways, when it comes to the structure of the tools and how everything is implemented, it reminds me somewhat of building a hideout in Assassin’s Creed Shadows.
You’re able to build race circuits, stunt tracks, and even small villages if you want. The world is your oyster in this sandbox of joy. Trust me, there are so many customisation tools available in this new mode, it’s going to be incredible to see what the community creates and shares in the coming weeks.
The create-a-character suite also returns in Forza Horizon 6, and while it's good to see a decent level of diversity, it’s probably the most lacking feature of the game right now. We’ve seen so many fantastic create-a-character suites in games such as WWE 2K26, Cyberpunk 2077 and Dragon’s Dogma 2, to name a few. If there’s one area in the game that needs stepping up, it’s this. If Playground Games could implement the possibility of importing your face, that could be a welcome addition.
Oh, and a quick note to the soundtracks of Forza Horizon 6, whether it's Drum and Bass, Classical, Pop, Rock and more, the radio stations of this game have just about something for everyone. Unless you want to switch the radio off, because you can do that too and just vibe to the car engine and the worldly environment.
Simply put, Forza Horizon 6 is the racing game fans have waited years for. Out of all the gorgeous places this series has taken us, Japan was always a frequent request across social media, and now that wish has come true. On top of that, the gameplay is divine, and the content that the game has now, and perhaps what’s to come, might just keep us entertained until the arrival of the next entry and beyond, wherever that may take us. We may only be in April, but I’d be surprised if anything pips Forza Horizon 6 as the best racing game of 2026.
Pros: Excellent gameplay, gorgeous visuals, loads of replay value, customisable land
Cons: Create-a-character needs to evolve in Forza Horizon 7
For fans of: Forza Motorsport, The Crew, Mario Kart World
Forza Horizon 6 releases on 19 May 2026 on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S (version tested). A review code was provided by the publisher. Read a guide to our review scores here.