Right now I'm playing two games set in Japan at the same time. One has me moving through ancient landscapes. The other has me doing 200 kilometres an hour through the streets of Tokyo with water spraying off the bonnet of 550 plus cars. That second one is Forza Horizon 6.
Playground Games have taken the series somewhere it genuinely belongs. Japan is a stunning setting for a racing game. Tight roads, serious elevation on the mountain routes, and classic Skylines, Supras and RX-7s scattered across the map. Tokyo is the largest city the series has ever built, and it shows. This doesn't feel like a backdrop. It feels like a place.
The detail is what caught my eye early. Drive through a puddle and you'll see water streaking across the bonnet and side panels. Hit roadside props, hit trees, and the trees actually fall now, which felt like a genuine step up from previous games. And if you needed any more convincing this isn't your standard racing game: at some point you get to race a giant mech. Yes, really.
Before your first session, give yourself a good 30 minutes. You want enough time to get through the opening, get familiar with the controls, and settle in without having to stop halfway through. After that, the world opens up and you're free to do whatever you want.
Here's the bit that matters for busy parents: outside of that opening, Forza Horizon 6 is one of the most forgiving games you can play right now. Events run 5 to 10 minutes. You can jump in, finish a race, and put it down. No penalty for walking away mid-session as long as you're not mid-race. Twenty minutes actually feels satisfying. That's rare.
If you love the Horizon series, you'll feel right at home. If this is your first one, it's a great place to start. On Game Pass it's a no-brainer. Even buying outright, it earns it.