Review Roundup: Forza Horizon 6 — What Critics Are Saying
Japan-set Forza Horizon 6 has landed at the top of Metacritic's 2026 charts. Here is what reviewers say it gets right, and where it plays safe.
A quick note on how this piece works: HotGameNews staff have not played Forza Horizon 6, so this is a roundup of published reviews, not our own hands-on verdict. Everything below comes from scores and quotes published by critics and review aggregators.
The scores. Forza Horizon 6 holds a Metascore of 90 (“Universal Acclaim”) based on 79 critic reviews, per its Metacritic page. That is enough to share the top spot on Metacritic’s midyear list of 2026’s best-reviewed games, tied with Mina the Hollower at 90 and ahead of Resident Evil Requiem at 89. Metacritic’s own midyear write-up quotes a critic calling it “one of 2026’s best games of the year and one of the best racing games ever created.” OpenCritic’s 2026 hall-of-fame list, meanwhile, puts it at 91.
What critics love. The Japan setting is the headline. Insider Gaming, as excerpted on Metacritic, says the game’s “Banksy-level vistas of Japan are breathtaking.” Another reviewer quoted there describes “a massive, densely packed open world that feels far more natural and varied than its predecessor.” BaziCenter went the whole way with a perfect 100, saying the developers “have proven once again that they are not only the kings of the racing genre.”
GamesRadar+ summed up its review with the headline: “A sublime racing engine supercharges this stunning, Japan-set open world, but can sometimes feel a bit too safe.”
The caveat. That “too safe” line is the most common reservation. Metacritic’s summary of the reviews notes some critics suggest the franchise could benefit from more substantial innovation, and user reviews on the same page include complaints that “it’s just the same as the last two forzas.” Player scores are a solid but more measured 8.2 out of 10 across 1,034 ratings.
The bottom line. For a critical consensus that reads as “the best version of a formula people already like,” Forza Horizon 6 is doing very well: a 90 from critics, a polished and content-rich open world, and only mild grumbling about ambition. If you are a series veteran wondering whether the Japan map justifies another lap, reviewers say largely yes. If you wanted a reinvention, they say you will not find one.
Scores reflect Metacritic and OpenCritic at time of writing and can shift as more reviews arrive. Release date: May 2026.