I am 8.6 hours into Forza Horizon 6, so this is not a final review. There are still more roads to drive, more cars to unlock, more events to finish, and more systems to properly test.
But after playing on Xbox and PC with a controller on a 4K TV, I can already say this: it feels special.
I have been a Forza Horizon fan since Forza Horizon 3, and this one immediately clicked with me. The world caught my eye first. Then the Japan setting started doing its thing. Then the cars, the races, and the quiet moments between events turned it into the kind of game I can open after work just to relax and drive.
That is why "racing heaven" feels like the right early phrase for it. Not as a final verdict, but as a first impression from someone who already loves this series.
Officially, Forza Horizon 6 is set in Japan, is available on Xbox Series X|S and PC, and is included with Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass. The official Forza and Xbox pages also describe it as having over 550 real-world cars.
Japan is the real star
The biggest reason Forza Horizon 6 is working for me so far is the atmosphere.
Japan gives the game a different mood from the previous entries I have played. The greenery, nature, roads, city touches, and scenic driving routes make the map feel built for both racing and peaceful cruising. I expected a good-looking game because this is Forza Horizon, but I did not expect the world to feel this relaxing so quickly.
There are moments when I am not even chasing a race. I am just driving, looking around, and enjoying the road. That is a huge part of why the game works for me after 8.6 hours. It is exciting when I want speed, but it is also calm when I just want to unwind.
The visuals are the first thing that hit me
My first impression was simple: the game looks excellent.
I am avoiding technical claims here because I have not done a proper performance test. I am not measuring frame rates, comparing modes, or reviewing PC settings yet. This is just the player reaction from my setup: controller, Xbox and PC, 4K TV.
From that setup, the presentation immediately stands out. Cars look sharp, the world feels rich, and the Japan atmosphere makes ordinary driving feel screenshot-worthy. I found myself stopping more often than expected just to capture moments.
Driving with a controller feels like comfort gaming
So far, I have been playing with a controller, and that still feels like the natural home for Forza Horizon.
The driving is easy to settle into. It has that familiar Horizon comfort where I can push through a race, cruise between events, or just enjoy a favorite car without turning every session into a serious challenge. That matters because this is already becoming my go-to game after work.
I still need more time with different car classes before saying much more about handling depth. After 8.6 hours, my impression is mostly about feel: it is smooth, fun, and relaxing enough that I keep wanting one more drive.
Cars, customization, and why the Supra became a favorite
The car side is already a major hook.
Official Forza and Xbox pages mention over 550 real-world cars, and that variety is exactly the kind of thing racing fans come to Horizon for. My favorite so far is the Toyota Supra. It is the car I keep coming back to because it fits the whole mood of this game: fast, stylish, and perfect for Japan.
Customization also matters early on. I do not want to make a final call yet because I have not spent enough time with every upgrade path, garage option, or car type. But from what I have touched so far, making a car feel like mine is part of the fun. For racing fans, that matters almost as much as the races themselves.
The Chaser Zero race and moments that stood out
The most memorable event for me so far is Chaser Zero, an early race against a robot.
That race stood out because it leans into spectacle without losing the driving fun. Horizon games are at their best when an event becomes more than just checkpoints, and this was the first one in my early playtime that really made me sit up.
That is what I want from this series: cars, speed, beautiful routes, and events that make the world feel alive.
Why racing fans will love it
After 8.6 hours, the appeal feels obvious.
If you love open-world racing, Forza Horizon 6 gives you the ingredients you probably want: favorite cars, beautiful roads, a strong sense of place, and enough freedom to decide whether you want to race hard or just cruise.
For me, the biggest combination is simple:
- The Japan setting feels fresh and relaxing.
- The cars are already exciting to collect and drive.
- The races have enough energy to keep pulling me forward.
- Customization makes the garage feel personal.
That does not mean every part of the game is fully judged yet. It means the first 8.6 hours have already delivered the feeling I wanted.
What I still need to test before a final review
There is nothing major bothering me yet, but it is too early to judge everything.
Before calling this a full review, I still need to spend more time with:
- More car classes and event types.
- Deeper customization and tuning.
- Later progression and bigger unlocks.
- Online features and multiplayer flow.
- PC settings and any technical differences between platforms.
- Longer sessions after the early excitement settles.
That last point matters. A game can make a great opening impression and still reveal problems later. Right now, though, Forza Horizon 6 has earned my attention.
