Forza Horizon 6 Early Access Review: New Cars, Map, and Is It Worth Buying? – TryOneRead
Forza Horizon 6 is finally here – at least in Early Access. Players who pre-ordered the Premium Edition have been exploring the new Mexican map since May 12, 2026. The full release is scheduled for May 28, 2026. TryOneRead has been playing for over a week. Here is our honest review.
🏁 What Is Forza Horizon 6?
Forza Horizon 6 is the latest entry in Microsoft's open-world racing series. Developed by Playground Games, the game takes place in a fictionalized version of Mexico's Baja California peninsula. The map is approximately 50 percent larger than Forza Horizon 5's Mexico, with new biomes including dense jungles, active volcanoes, coastal highways, and desert dunes. The Horizon Festival has never been bigger.
🚗 New Cars and Customization
Forza Horizon 6 launches with over 800 cars, including 50 new-to-series vehicles. Highlights include the 2026 Lamborghini Temerario, the Ferrari F80 hypercar, and the return of Toyota – all Toyota and Lexus models are back after licensing issues were resolved. The new "Deep Customization" system allows players to modify suspension geometry, adjust turbo boost pressure, and even swap engine components at a granular level. For casual players, the "Auto-Tune" feature works well, but enthusiasts will spend hours in the garage.
🗺️ Map and Exploration
The Mexican map is stunning. Volcanoes rise above the clouds. Jungles hide ancient ruins. Coastal highways offer breathtaking ocean views. The dynamic weather system includes sudden dust storms in the desert, tropical rainstorms in the jungle, and even a rare "volcanic ash" event that changes traction completely. Fast travel is more accessible than ever, but the game encourages driving. Every road feels intentional.
🎮 Gameplay and Progression
The "Horizon Adventure" structure returns, but the progression has been streamlined. You no longer need to complete every event to progress. Instead, the game tracks your "Accolades" – achievements tied to specific driving styles, car types, and exploration. This means you can focus on what you enjoy. Love drifting? Drift your way to the final showcase. Prefer off-road? Race through the jungle. It is a welcome change.
The new "Car Roster" system allows you to hire other players' drivatars to compete in events for you. This is a clever way to keep the game active even when you are not playing. Your drivatar earns credits and rewards while you are offline.
🎵 Soundtrack and Atmosphere
The Forza Horizon series has always had excellent soundtracks. Horizon 6 continues the tradition. Radio stations include returning favorites (Hospital Records, Horizon Bass Arena) and new additions (a dedicated synthwave station, a Latin rhythms station). The licensed soundtrack includes artists like Dua Lipa, Bad Bunny, The Weeknd, and a exclusive track from Swedish House Mafia. Turn the radio on. Turn it up.
💻 Performance and Graphics
On Xbox Series X and high-end PCs, Forza Horizon 6 runs at 4K resolution and 60 frames per second in Performance Mode. A Quality Mode offers 30fps with enhanced ray tracing. The game is well-optimized. Even on mid-range PCs, players report stable framerates. The loading times are nearly nonexistent on NVMe drives – thanks to the new "DirectStorage" implementation.
💰 Is It Worth Buying?
If you enjoy racing games, Forza Horizon 6 is a no-brainer. It is the best open-world racer on the market. The Early Access version has minor bugs (some audio glitches, occasional physics weirdness), but Playground Games is releasing daily patches. The full release on May 28 will likely address most issues.
Standard Edition: $69.99 – Includes the full game.
Deluxe Edition: $89.99 – Includes car pass (42 additional cars).
Premium Edition: $119.99 – Includes car pass, VIP membership, expansion bundle, and early access.
The Premium Edition is expensive, but the early access period and expansions make it worthwhile for hardcore fans. Casual players should wait for the Standard Edition or subscribe to Xbox Game Pass – Forza Horizon 6 is available on Game Pass Ultimate starting May 28.
📢 What Do You Think?
Are you playing Forza Horizon 6 in Early Access? What is your favorite new car? Share your thoughts at panjabprideshop@gmail.com.
Written by Alex Ven
Senior Gaming Editor at TryOneRead
Alex has played every Forza Horizon game. He considers Horizon 6 the best in the series.