Forza Horizon 6 is Metacritic’s highest-rated game of 2026 so far
On launch day, the Forza Horizon 6 Metacritic average puts it at the top of the 2026 chart, extending Playground Games’ run of strongly reviewed Horizon entries. Early scores include Game8 at 86, with positive verdicts from IGN and other major outlets reinforcing the trend.
What changed / What’s new
Aggregate scores are tracking close to the FH5 launch range. Reviewers consistently flag four things:
- The scale of the Japan map, particularly Tokyo at roughly 5× FH5’s Guanajuato.
- The trio of progression paths — Wristbands, Collection Journal, Festival Playlist — pulling double duty on early-game pacing.
- Touge Battles and the new R class as genuinely fresh additions.
- A clean launch state, with Game8 specifically calling out polish.
Why it matters
Playground has now produced six consecutively well-received Horizon games, and FH6 is the largest-scope entry of the run. For the 2026 calendar, leading Metacritic on launch day is a useful proxy: most other tentpoles are quarters away, which means FH6 owns the conversation through the Series 1 Festival Playlist window.