6 Forza Horizon 6 Features That Make the Open World Feel More Like a Playground

The Forza Horizon franchise has always delivered an open-world playground to get lost in, but things feel cranked up to eleven in Forza Horizon 6.

It’s not just the long-awaited trip to Japan that interests people, but also the money you can see and make in the land of the rising sun. There are your races, PR stunts, treasure finds, treasure hunts, varied terrain, seasonal changes, and that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Perhaps that’s why this game resonated so well with critics as one of the best games of the year.

With that in mind, I wanted to review all of the features within Forza Horizon 6 that make the open world gaming experience so much better. It’s not just about smashing XP boards, exploring Japan, and collecting cars. No, it’s more than that, and I’m grateful for it.

6

More PR Stunts Than Ever

Nothing Says “Open World Playground” Like Natural Flying in the Open World

One of the things that drew me to the Forza Horizon franchise was how much fun it was to traverse its open world. Not just driving on roads, but off-roading and exploring. I liked how the game encouraged me to do this, whether it was for off-road racing or more PR stunts.

Over the years, Sports Arena has done a great job of continually upping the ante with PR stunts. These always capture the best that Forza Horizon has to offer. In Forza Horizon 6, PR stunts continue to rise to the top when it comes to open world racing.

From drifting down twisty roads through Japan’s Cherry Blossom trees, to Trailblazer stunts where you drive at breakneck speeds down hilly countryside, these PR stunts are an absolute blast that will make you feel like a kid again.

5

Treasure Hunters

More than Just a Barn Find

Barn finds have been a staple since the beginning of the Forza Horizon franchise. Treasure Hunts, however, take full advantage not only of exploring Japan, but also of the seasonal changes. Here’s how it works: you’re given a clue about the location of a rare car, with just a picture of its location as a hint. It’s up to you to explore the open world to find out where you are.

It’s such a natural, lively way to explore the game’s map that soon enough, you’ll see new Treasure Hunt hints and be excited to see familiar terrain. There are too many times when we see an open world game just give you a checklist of things to see and do. That’s not to say that doesn’t happen in Forza Horizon 6, but Treasure Hunts aren’t always like that.

This is the reward for exploring the open world playground at your disposal. The more you experience, the more you will be rewarded for your exploration, and that’s how an open world game should work.

4

Daikoku Car Meet

Get together and show off

One of the best ways to make an open world game feel alive is to encourage organic interaction with its players.

Forza Horizon 6 uses the Link system to reward players for pulling pranks together, but Daikoku Car Meets takes things to another level. There are now ways to show off your car collection, especially with all the housing and garage options you have. However, that doesn’t allow you to show off your collection publicly. The Daikoku Car Meet does just that.

Having a centerpiece to show off makes it feel like you’ve been rewarded for all your hard work. It reminds me of people standing in Stormwind City or Orgrimmar in World of Warcraft, showing off a shiny new mount or piece of gear. I would see those people and hopefully, I could find something rare. In a world where online gaming is becoming more and more individualized, these vehicles come together to help make Forza Horizon 6 a more social experience.

3

Discover Japan

See the Visuals!

Without a doubt my favorite feature within Forza Horizon 6 is Discover Japan. It’s great to slow things down and enjoy your time in Japan doing something other than the constant stream of events, races, and PR stunts. That’s not to say I don’t enjoy those things, but I’m a big fan of anything that allows me to slow down, breathe, and take in the sights.

Discover Japan is just that: a slower pace of play that allows those climactic moments to stand out even more. It’s easy with these types of games to keep going. Sure, it’s nice when sets of games keep coming together, but you need to let things breathe. A good roller coaster knows how to not only build momentum, but also build momentum.

Think of Discover Japan as those slow moments on a roller coaster. They are smooth, relaxing, and gentle, but you also know what will happen next. Best of all, each episode of Discover Japan does a great job of building up to the intense moments within the event. They quickly became some of my favorite things to do for a reason.

2

Horizon Festival Set Pieces

That Makes You Bigger Than Life

It’s important in any open world game to make sure you don’t take yourself too seriously all the time. Look at Grand Theft Auto, for example. Its best moments are the craziest ones that perfectly blend its serious notes in the middle of the main story.

Now, I’m not saying that Forza Horizon 6’s story comes close to something like Grand Theft Auto or Red Dead Redemption. Those are in a league of their own, and as much as I enjoy what feels like an actual campaign in Forza Horizon that isn’t “complete events, earn wristbands, repeat,” it’s also a nice contrast to the day in its tone. What’s not a big difference, however, is how much these games rely on absurd moments. Compete against flying jets, mech robots, on baseball fields; it’s all a total blast that makes this world feel like a real playground.

Another good comparison is Final Fantasy VII Rebirth. Yes, it is important to focus on the story, but Reincarnation is completely satisfied not only to allow you to have fun in its open world, but also actively encourages you. One minute he’s fighting Elan and Rude, and the next he’s participating in a cavalcade of mini-games. It’s important that games lean towards something fun, and that’s one of the many areas where Forza Horizon 6 excels.

1

The Open World itself

Don’t You Dare Close Your Eyes

Of course, none of this would matter if the open world was boring, dull, and boring. Thankfully, that’s not the case here.

Not surprisingly, Japan is as diverse in its biome as you’d expect. One minute you’re driving through downtown Tokyo, the next you’re up in the mountains driving on larger-than-life snow roads through the Alpine region. Although Japan may not seem as exotic and suitable for a location as something like Mexico or Australia, I would argue that this is, without a doubt, the best location for Forza Horizon yet.

Everywhere you turn in the open world of Forza Horizon 6, there’s something new waiting to be discovered. Something you’ve never seen before. Perhaps it is an important part of Japanese culture. Or a fun track or PR stunt that’s fun to drive. Either way, the one thing Forza Horizon 6’s open world has going for it is, well, its open world.

Released

May 19, 2026

The ESRB

Everyone / Soft Songs, User Interactions, In-Game Purchases