Forza Horizon 6 drops you into Japan with hundreds of cars, a massive open world, and a whole lot going on from the very first minute. It can feel like a lot to take in, especially if you are coming in fresh. This Forza Horizon 6 beginner's guide pulls together the most useful things to know before you sink serious hours into the game, covering everything from exploration and credits to settings and smart spending.

Forza Horizon 6 Gets Two Progression Paths

Forza Horizon 6 has two separate tracks running at the same time, and a lot of new players do not realise this until they are already a few hours in. Getting your head around both early makes the whole experience click a lot faster.

  • The Horizon Festival is what most people will gravitate toward naturally. Every event you complete here pushes you toward the next wristband, which is basically how you gate more content for yourself.
  • The second path is Discover Japan, and it feels genuinely different in tone. Engaging with Discover Japan is actually how you unlock barn finds, so it is worth doing properly rather than ignoring it in favour of festival events.

Both paths reward you separately, and the smartest approach early on is to rotate between them rather than focusing on just one. Watch out for the treasure cars that are cleverly hidden across the map.

Use the Collection Book

The collection book tracks everything you have done and still need to do, from races and mascots to points of interest. It also shows the rewards waiting at each milestone, and some of those include vehicles you cannot pick up anywhere else. Checking it regularly is the easiest way to avoid missing things you are already close to finishing.

Start by Exploring, Not Fast Travelling

Fast travel is free in Forza Horizon 6 with no boards to collect, but that does not mean you should rely on it. Driving around is genuinely one of the best ways to build progress without trying. You will run into XP boards, speed zones, danger signs, and drift zones naturally as you move through the map, all feeding into your progression with zero extra effort.

Unlock Wristband Events as a Priority

Wristband events early is one of the best things you can do. Unlocking them opens up more content across the map, including PR stunts and other activities. The more you unlock, the faster progress comes, and it satisfyingly builds on itself.

Fix Your Settings Before You Race

The default settings in Forza Horizon 6 are not optimized for the best experience, and a few small changes make a real difference. Head into the driving assists and switch steering to simulation mode for cleaner, more precise car control. Turning off traction control and stability control removes the safety net but gives you proper control over your vehicle, and it bumps up the credit difficulty bonus you earn at the end of races, which helps with building money early on.

Make Your First Big Credit Purchase Count

For your first major spend, aim to save up 635,000 credits and pick up the Hakusan Mountain Lodge, the northernmost property on the map. It comes with a permanent 10% bonus to Horizon life credits, covering things like drag meets and time attacks. It is a passive boost that pays for itself quickly just through normal play. VIP members get a Tokyo City property from the start, which includes a daily wheel spin for free credits or cars.

Earn Credits Smartly

The delivery job missions are one of the better early credit sources and are worth picking up as soon as they become available. They are straightforward, pay well for the time involved, and are easy to fit around whatever else you are doing.

Do not overlook your car mastery trees either. Some cars have credit bonuses or instant rewards sitting there that you can unlock right away without much investment. It is worth checking before you spend on anything new.

Forza Horizon 6 is a game that rewards players who take their time and try a bit of everything. Some players will want to chase every event. Others will just want to drive. Either way, you are making progress, so there is no pressure to rush. Explore, experiment, and let it come naturally. For more guides, check out our Forza Horizon 6 wiki.