Forza Horizon offers a perfect balance to its sister series Forza Motorsport's precision-fueled track-day racer, focusing far more on the wonderment of the great outdoors. Whereas the former focuses on racing lines, finding the apex, and diving down the inside on a daring overtake, the latter more closely resemble a grand tour across some of Earth's most beautiful places. It's a celebration not just of cars, but of driving as a whole, and the settings it uses, from small towns in Italy to the vast outback of Australia, have been vital in the presentation of each new entry from Playground Games. Somewhere new each time has been customary, and while there are a lot of options, one country in particular is a perfect choice: Japan.
Forza Horizon has yet to go to Asia in any capacity, and while cruising around Shanghai or Hong Kong could be fun, Japan is surely the most interesting fit for a big-budget open-world game that emphasizes the enjoyment of driving on the open road. A Forza game set there could be a celebration not just of Japan's history with car manufacturing, but also showcase the gorgeous scenery that litters the land. Cruising around Mount Fuji or being in Tokyo traffic could provide perfect escapism for fans of the franchise, and it's surprising that it hasn't been done already.
Forza Horizon Could Take Advantage of Japan's Diversity
The canyons of Colorado and the brisk English countryside were compelling settings to bring players and the Horizon Festival to, and the way they were wonderfully recreated with just the right amount of artistic license was sublime. Each of the five Forza Horizon games to have released over the last decade or so have improved on the last, and demonstrated that Playground Games and Turn 10 Studios know how to craft an inviting open world. Some places are more fit for a AAA game than others, however. Like Assassin's Creed, Forza should've seen Japan by now, especially given how ripe the environment is for large-scale adaptation.
Japan is full of gorgeous scenery, with bustling cities packed with tight corners to long and winding roads in the rural areas of Japan. It's diverse enough to make each corner of a map feel like it could bring something new to the game, but familiar and historic enough to carry a consistent tone that would stand the test of time. Forza Horizon 5 recreated Mexico in a way that made it one of the game's biggest attractions, and while other games have visited Japanese cities, the next Forza driving game can shine a light on the whole country.
Japan's Car Culture is Vast
Italy is known for fast, flamboyant super cars, Germany is known for executive saloons, and the USA's offerings are often loud, proud, and beautiful. Japan's car culture is no less pristine, with manufacturers like Nissan, Lexus, Honda, and Subaru all pushing the boundaries of technology to create something as efficient as humanly possible. Japan's car scene has been highlighted in popular media like 2006's The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift, but despite that film being accompanied by a tie-in game, it didn't reach its full potential.
Forza Horizon 6 could correct the issue, shining a light on the best parts of Japanese car design and performance to allow players to feel at least some of the magic of carving down the Hokkaido mountains in a ~500 horsepower Nissan GTR. Cars and their quality are crucial in any Forza game, and while previous titles have had vehicles from all over the world, a game set in Japan would be a good opportunity to shrink the roster, making it feel more deliberate with its choices and elevate the atmosphere of the game.