Why I Love Forza Horizon 6 Without Racing Much

For the past week, my evenings have been consumed by tearing through the Japanese countryside in Forza Horizon 6, with Babymetal blasting as I soak in every scenic vista. The game is, on the surface, a racing title about a rising driver trying to build a reputation. But like its predecessors, it’s also a sprawling open world where you can spend just as much time,or, in my case, far more,simply exploring than actually competing. That’s the element that truly shines in this latest installment. The combination of structure and setting is key: the fictional version of Japan isn’t merely the largest map in the series; it’s also remarkably varied, and the game lets you engage with it on your own terms. From the neon-lit streets of Tokyo to the icy roads at the base of Mount Fuji, I’m determined to drive down every last one.

The core objective in Horizon 6, much like its forerunners, is climbing the ranks at the Horizon Festival,a connected series of driving events spread across Japan. These range from drag races and dirt tracks to stunt jumps off precarious cliffside ramps. Winning competitions earns you points, which unlock wristbands that grant access to more events, creating a cyclical loop of progression. The structure is intentionally flexible, letting you focus on the races you enjoy or excel at while largely ignoring the rest.

Or, if you’re like me, you can mostly ignore all of them.

For my playstyle, all the racing and progression are merely a means to an end: driving cool cars all over Japan. You don’t actually need to spend much time in Festival events to do that. A big reason is that nearly the entire map is accessible from the start. After finishing the opening sequence, I simply drove wherever I wanted. Aside from one fenced-off area that likely houses late-game races, I haven’t found anywhere I couldn’t go.

Horizon 6 actively encourages this kind of exploration. There are two progression tracks in the game. One involves the Horizon Festival events. The other is called “Discover Japan,” which sounds like a tourism slogan and essentially functions as one. Here, you earn experience not by winning races or setting records, but by seeking out nearly everything the world has to offer. You gain XP for driving on new roads, finding and smashing mascot statues, and completing side quests that mostly boil down to road trips with virtual friends. One storyline has you helping a photographer capture stunning magazine covers; another involves testing a mechanic’s experimental vehicles by traversing difficult terrain you might otherwise skip.

My favorite tasks involved finding a collection of hidden cars based solely on photos. You receive a snapshot of a rare Porsche or BMW, showing it next to a specific convenience store or within view of a particular bridge. If you manage to locate it, the car is yours. These quests reminded me of a similar mechanic in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, immersing me in the world by removing map markers and forcing me to rely on my own eyes. What ties all these quests together is that they don’t just encourage exploration,they reward it. They provide a sense of progression and accomplishment, even if you’re mostly just puttering around snapping photos of vending machines.

Of course, none of this would matter if Horizon 6 weren’t actually enjoyable to play. Thankfully, it is. The game balances realism with approachability, delivering a driving experience that can be forgiving and arcade-like at times, yet still requires skill and vehicle knowledge to compete at a high level. More importantly, the new location is absolutely fantastic. The setting of an open-world game is often the most crucial element, and that’s certainly true here.

This is a video game version of Japan, condensed and redesigned purely for vehicular exploration. It can feel a bit odd at times,driving through Shibuya Crossing, the world’s busiest pedestrian intersection, feels strange without any actual pedestrians. But for the most part, Horizon 6’s Japan captures the country’s essence, even if it’s not a precise replica. You still get those iconic moments: riding through rain-slicked streets at night with Tokyo’s bright lights blurring behind you, all in a manageable package despite the map’s size. The world is filled with secrets and collectibles that encourage you to stray from the beaten path just for fun. And the radio stations, as in previous games, are excellent, adding to the road trip vibe. My advice: turn the car sounds down and crank the music up.

That said, while I’ve mostly skipped the racing, there are reasons to participate even if you prefer exploration. Winning big races unlocks some really cool cars. But also, many major races have an incredible cinematic feel, making it seem like you’re speeding through set pieces from a Fast and Furious movie. There are gigantic jumps, moving terrain and obstacles, and at one point,I’m not joking,a race against a giant mech.

The best thing about Horizon 6 is that you can choose how you want to experience it. You aren’t locked into either track; you can do whatever feels most interesting, whether it’s competing or exploring, and follow that thread to new places. I’m sure for many players, that means the fastest cars and plenty of first-place trophies. For me, I’m content driving a refurbished Nissan truck through winding forest roads, with Rise Against providing the soundtrack for my destructive path.

Forza Horizon 6 launches on Xbox and PC on May 19th. A PS5 version is scheduled for later in 2026.