Event Lab

The refined paradox of Japan's open world Forza Horizon 6 represents a peculiar moment in the franchise's trajectory. It is, by almost every technical metric, the most polished and expansive entry in the series to date. The move to Japan provides a backdrop that is both visually arresting and mechanically diverse, ranging from the neon-soaked streets of Tokyo to snow-capped mountain passes. Yet, beneath the high-gloss finish lies the strategy of an athlete who breaks world records by a single centimeter just to collect the prize money. It is a game designed to be better than its predecessor, but only by the smallest necessary margin. Driving physics remain the cornerstone of the experience. The handling model retains that signature Forza balance—weighted enough to feel substantial, yet accessible enough for high-speed arcade maneuvers. In this iteration, vehicles feel more active under the driver. There is a noticeable increase in lateral movement, especially in lower-grip classes where cars slide and hunt for traction more aggressively than in previous titles. While some may pine for the sterile precision of Motorsport, the Horizon physics engine remains the gold standard for open-world exploration. Visual splendor meets oversized architecture The map is undeniably the star of the show, offering a level of environmental variety that eclipses past entries. You can teleport from a high-altitude snowbank to a sprawling urban center in seconds, and each locale feels distinct. However, a critical design choice hampers the immersion: the scale of the roads. To accommodate supercars and high-speed racing, the streets of Tokyo feel artificially wide. A supposedly narrow one-way street often has enough clearance for three cars abreast. This lack of architectural "bravery" prevents the game from capturing the true claustrophobic energy of Japanese urban driving. By prioritizing player convenience and high-speed viability across the entire map, the developers missed the opportunity to create truly technical, high-stakes environments. There are glimpses of brilliance in the mountain hairpins, but these sections are too brief to define the experience. It is a world built for speed, often at the expense of character. The missed potential of new systems Two major additions—Touge races and the secondhand car market—illustrate the game’s tendency to play it safe. Touge racing, a staple of Japanese car culture, finally makes its debut. On the surface, it is a thrilling inclusion, but the execution is underwhelming. Rather than implementing a nuanced cat-and-mouse scoring system or a knockout tournament structure, these events are merely one-on-one point-to-point races. They lack the tension of actual mountain duels where distance and pressure dictate the winner. Similarly, the secondhand car system introduces a layer of flavor that was previously absent. Finding used vehicles at various locations across the map provides a 10% discount and occasionally offers pre-modified builds. It is a welcome addition, but it stops short of being a true game-changer. Had the developers limited the primary Auto Show to new models and forced players to hunt the secondhand market for classics or unique tuner cars, the progression would have felt far more organic. Instead, it remains an optional side-activity rather than a core pillar of the economy. Innovation through garage customization Where the game truly surprises is in its creative suite. The return of the Event Lab is bolstered by a robust new garage customization system. For the first time, players can meticulously design their own showrooms, placing props and lighting to showcase their favorite vehicles. This level of granular control over the player's personal space is a massive leap forward, offering a reason to care about the houses scattered across the map beyond their fast-travel perks. Vehicle customization also sees incremental improvements. The ability to paint on car windows and select different wheels for the front and rear axles addresses long-standing community requests. While the Livery Editor remains somewhat cumbersome to use, these small additions provide the tools necessary for the community to keep the game's social ecosystem thriving. The new Forza Edition vehicles—including a Subaru BRZ monster truck and a racing-spec Nissan S-Cargo—showcase a playful side that balances the game's more serious competitive aspirations. A verdict of refinement over revolution Forza Horizon 6 is a masterpiece of refinement. The career progression is arguably the best in series history, balancing credit payouts and event requirements to ensure players actually use a diverse range of cars rather than sticking to a single hypercar. The PI (Performance Index) system feels more balanced, and the removal of egregious rubber-banding in the AI makes for a fairer, if occasionally erratic, racing experience. Ultimately, if you enjoy the Horizon formula, this is the definitive version of it. It is brilliant, gorgeous, and mechanically sound. But for those looking for the series to take a genuine leap into the unknown, the game’s insistence on safety might leave a faint aftertaste of missed opportunity. It is a world-record jump, measured exactly to the centimeter.