While Forza Horizon 5 is a great open world arcade racer, it can very easily overwhelm with its constant unlocks and countless activities to chase. Especially coming to it late on PS5, it throws a lot at you from the off.
It's very refreshing, then, that Forza Horizon 6 has an overhauled progression system that'll ease you in more gently — while still giving you freedom when you want it.
That's what we're taking away from a recent official blog post about the game.
Unlike the last couple of entries, in which you're already a legendary racer, Forza Horizon 6 repositions you as a newcomer in Japan. In order to get all the best vehicles and play all the events, you'll have to rise through the ranks by earning Wristbands.
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It sounds much more traditional and straightforward. You must complete Horizon Qualifiers and then the Horizon Invitational before you get your first Wristband, and that's when your journey properly begins.
Each race and event in the Horizon Festival is a curated experience that, once complete, you're then allowed to customise and play online with others however you want.
For every Wristband you earn, you'll be given access to more events around the map, and you'll steadily unlock more powerful cars as the challenge ramps up.
To get the next Wristband in your career, you have to beat a special event; these can be the flashy Showcase Events or Horizon Rush, which is about completing obstacle courses in the fastest time possible.
When you have all seven Wristbands, you'll have access to Legend Island, which features exclusive events reserved for the most dedicated drivers.
As well as the Horizon Festival and its neatly structured progression, you can also engage with Japan's open world, and there are of course plenty of additional activities to do while you explore.
These include taking photos, delivering food, and street and Touge races. As you drive around the map you'll earn Stamps, which are required to unlock things like player houses, Barn Find rumours, and more.
It sounds like there's still going to be a lot to do in Forza Horizon 6, but that it'll all be a bit more thoughtfully structured so you're not drowning in cars and wheel spins and a thousand different activities vying for your attention.
The game is hitting Xbox and PC in May, and will be launching on PS5 a bit later in the year. Are you liking the sound of Forza Horizon 6? Tell us in the comments section below.