Everything I Wish I Knew Before Starting Forza Horizon 6

Forza Horizon 6 is finally here, and it’s worth the wait.

As I mentioned in our review, Playground Games has once again brought an open world playground to explore. The heart and soul of Japan is alive and well, full of so much to see and do that, at times, can be a little overwhelming. Where does one begin?

While Forza Horizon 6 does a good job of simplifying things, it can still feel overwhelming very quickly. So with that in mind, here are all the essential tips and tricks you need to make your trip to Japan the best it can be.

8

You can save money by buying used cars

As you begin your journey, it won’t be too surprising that you’ll run out of Credits. Because of that, you will have to be very selective about the cars you get for each event.

Thankfully, there’s an alternative in Forza Horizon 6: You will find a wide variety of used cars all over Japan, available at a price that is much cheaper than the full retail price. Best of all, these cars aren’t exactly junk, and they’re the best first car on your Horizon journey. Be honest with yourself: your first car was probably a beat in real life, so you should be as good as the same being true here. Thankfully, it will be a little easier to give it some tweaks to improve it.

7

Don’t Forget to Improve and Tune Up, Too!

It’s not Forza if you can’t upgrade and tune your cars.

You will be able to take on even the worst hitters and make them compete with the big guns. Does that mean you’ll be able to turn your junk into a supercar? Not necessarily, but you’ll be able to take a cheap used car and make it respectable.

At the end of the day, it’s a great way to get started without breaking the bank.

6

Take Part in Everything You Can

Of course, eventually, you will want to spend money and get a new luxury car. I don’t blame you, and the best thing is that the new car in Forza Horizon 6 will not lose its value as soon as you move it from the place.

Thankfully, there’s plenty to see and do that can earn you credits. I’m not just talking about your traditional events either. You can be a DoorDash-esque driver, for example. You heard that right. Hey, it’s a lot more fun than you might think, and it’s a very easy way to get some money in your pocket!

Besides, smashing the Horizon boards and Regional Mascots is a very easy way to progress the game’s campaigns to keep things flowing. There’s always something to do in Forza Horizon 6, so make sure you do it all.

5

Fast Travel Is Your Friend

Perhaps the biggest part of Forza Horizon 6 is making your way across its map. Japan is bigger than you might think, and it will take time to get where you need to go.

Once you reach a certain point, however, Fast Travel becomes an option. It should be your best friend.

Considering you’ll be busy roaming around Japan regularly in Forza Horizon 6, don’t be afraid to use the Fast Travel option.

4

Be Kind, Undo

Another key, albeit controversial, feature of Forza Horizon is the Rewind feature. Others are not happy that it works like a magic “down” button that solves all errors. Here’s the thing, though: the biggest thing you’ll need to know in Forza Horizon 6 is how each course plays.

Given the seasonal changes over the varied terrain, you never know how a course will play out until you run onto it. Add in the fact that each car handles differently, and you’re not just racing other drivers; you also run a bunch of variables.

This is where the Rollback feature can come in handy. There’s no shame in hitting it if the car catches you in a way you didn’t expect, or if the opposing Drivatar decides it wants to finish you off.

3

Race Line Is Not Gospel

Speaking of a car that doesn’t handle the way you’d expect it to, the worst thing in the world is when you follow the Racing Line completely, and it betrays you. Hey, it happens; we were all there.

This is why you shouldn’t take Race Line as gospel. It’s just a suggestion, not a foolproof solution that will guarantee success. It’s better to trust your gut and make a smart move than to drive your “favorite line.”

Cutting inside the corners, especially in the checkpoints, is the key to victory. Sometimes you have to ask yourself, “What would Ricky Bobby do?” He was cutting through the inside corner and refused to brake when the line was braking. Sometimes, that’s what you need to do.

2

Don’t ignore the stamps from Discover Japan

It’s easy to focus only on getting as many Horizon Festival wristbands as possible. I get it; you want to level up, face those extra challenges, and write your name in the history of Forza Horizon.

Here’s the thing, though: the Discover Japan journey is just as important, and collecting those stamps is just as important if you want to complete the game. For example, padvancing through the Discover Japan missions is how you’ll unlock treasured finds.

Forza Horizon 6 does a great job of treating Japan as much as the Horizon Festival itself. This is your window to fully unlock everything the open-world has to offer, so don’t ignore it!

1

The drone is your friend

Look, I get it. Sometimes it’s fun to do some open world “platforming” in your car as you go through the woods, chop down trees, look for finds in the woods, billboards, and anything else you want to collect in Forza Horizon 6. It’s also not the easiest way to do things.

Thankfully, you’ll have a drone with you to better see your surroundings.

It’s a very useful tool to search for all the hidden objects that exist within the game, especially since it can give you a bird’s eye view of your surroundings.