Forza Horizon 6 vs Forza Horizon 5 — What's New?
Forza Horizon 6 marks the biggest generational leap in the series. From the Japan setting to the largest map ever, here's every major change compared to FH5.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | FH5 (2021) | FH6 (2026) | Improvement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Setting | Mexico | Japan | New culture, seasons, terrain variety |
| Map Size | ~82 km² | ~120 km² | ~46% larger |
| Cars at Launch | 534 | 550+ | 16+ new |
| Graphics Engine | ForzaTech (Xbox One era) | ForzaTech (next-gen only) | Ray tracing, improved lighting |
| Target Hardware | Xbox One/Series/PC | Xbox Series/PS5/PC | No last-gen compromise |
| Max Player Count | 72 per server | 96 per server | 33% more players |
| City Size | Guanajuato (small) | Tokyo (5× larger) | Massive urban driving |
| Photo Mode | Standard | Enhanced (more filters/settings) | Professional-grade controls |
| Crossplay | Xbox + PC | Xbox + PC + PS5 | PlayStation players included |
| Radio Stations | 7 + 1 intro | 9 | More variety |
Map & Environment
Size: FH6 wins decisively.
FH6's Japan map at ~120 km² is nearly 50% larger than FH5's Mexico. But raw size isn't the whole story:
- Tokyo alone is larger than all cities in FH5 combined
- 5 distinct regions vs FH5's biomes — each feels culturally distinct rather than just terrain swaps
- Dynamic seasons return from FH4 (removed in FH5's Mexico setting) — cherry blossoms in spring, snow in Hokkaido winter
- Urban density — FH5 had one small city (Guanajuato). FH6 has Tokyo (massive), Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe, and Sapporo districts
- Touge roads — FH6 introduces narrow mountain passes that require different driving techniques than anything in FH5
Verdict: FH6. The Japan setting with actual seasons and a real city makes map exploration far more rewarding.
Graphics & Performance
FH6 is the first Horizon game built exclusively for current-gen hardware (Xbox Series X|S, PS5, PC). FH5 had to support Xbox One, which held back its graphics.
| Aspect | FH5 | FH6 |
|---|---|---|
| Ray Tracing | Limited (Forzavista only) | Full (in-game + Forzavista) |
| Max Resolution | 4K/30 (Series X) | 4K/60 (Series X), 6K/30 (PC) |
| Texture Quality | Xbox One-era base | Current-gen native |
| Loading Times | 20-40 seconds | 5-10 seconds (SSD optimized) |
| Draw Distance | Good | Excellent — see Mt. Fuji from across the map |
Verdict: FH6. The visual upgrade is immediately noticeable, especially ray-traced reflections on wet Tokyo streets.
Car List
| Metric | FH5 | FH6 |
|---|---|---|
| Total at launch | 534 | 550+ |
| New cars | — | 267 brand-new to the series |
| JDM cars | Limited selection | 100+ Japanese cars (the most in any Horizon) |
| Returning cars | Most from FH4 | 283 returning from FH5, 348 cut |
| DLC/car pass | Car Pass (42 cars) | Car Pass (30 weekly cars) + expansions |
Notable new additions in FH6:
- Toyota GR GT Prototype (cover car)
- Ferrari F80
- Nissan Z (Formula Drift)
- More kei cars and JDM legends than ever before
- GR Corolla, Civic Type R (FL5), and other modern JDM icons
Verdict: FH6 has a stronger day-one lineup, especially for JDM fans. FH5 purists may miss some cut cars, but the new additions more than compensate.
Gameplay Changes
| Feature | FH5 | FH6 |
|---|---|---|
| Progression | Accolades + Hall of Fame | Wristband system + Festival Rank |
| Map Unlock | All accessible from start | Gated by wristbands (more structured) |
| Player Housing | 1 main house + 9 bonuses | 8 houses + The Estate (fully customizable) |
| Touge Battles | ❌ Not featured | ✅ Major new mode |
| Car Meets | Basic | Daikoku-style organized meets |
| The Eliminator | Yes | Yes (refined) |
| EventLab | 1.0 | 2.0 (logic triggers, new props) |
| Horizon Stories | 6 stories | 9 stories (more diverse) |
| Festival Playlist | Weekly/Seasonal | Weekly/Seasonal (more rewards) |
Multiplayer
| Feature | FH5 | FH6 |
|---|---|---|
| Crossplay | Xbox + PC Only | Xbox + PC + PS5 |
| Max Players | 72 | 96 |
| Convoy Size | 6 players | 8 players |
| Car Meets | Ad-hoc only | Structured with matchmaking |
| Horizon Open | Ranked + Casual | Ranked + Casual + Touge matchmaking |
Verdict: FH6. The addition of PS5 crossplay and 96-player servers makes the online experience significantly better. Touge matchmaking is a game-changer.
Sound & Music
| Aspect | FH5 | FH6 |
|---|---|---|
| Radio Stations | 7 + intro track | 9 |
| New station | — | Gacha City Radio (J-pop/anisong), Horizon J-Rock |
| Engine Sounds | Good | Improved (better JDM engine samples) |
| Voice Acting | English only | English + Japanese VO option |
Verdict: Should You Upgrade?
| Player Type | Verdict |
|---|---|
| You never played FH5 | ✅ Get FH6 — it's better in every way |
| You loved FH5 and want more | ✅ FH6 is a worthy upgrade, especially for JDM fans |
| You only play casually | ⏳ FH5 is still great if you already own it |
| You care about graphics | ✅ FH6 is a huge leap |
| You want multiplayer | ✅ FH6 has the largest player base |
| You're on a budget | ⏳ FH5 with all DLC on sale is great value |
Bottom line: FH6 is the best Forza Horizon game ever made. If you can afford the upgrade, it's absolutely worth it — especially on current-gen hardware.