FH6 Multiplayer Guide — All Horizon Play Modes
6
Online modes
72
Max shared-world players
12
Max convoy size
Forza Horizon 6 bundles all multiplayer under a single system called Horizon Play. Every online mode — competitive races, drift events, battle royale, and co-op exploration — lives here. Unlike previous Forza games with scattered menus, everything is one click away from the main Horizon Play panel.
Horizon Play has its own independent leveling system, separate from the single-player Wristband and Stamp tracks. Every online match earns Horizon Play XP, and every level up to 25 also awards Festival Points — meaning playing online literally advances your campaign Wristband progression simultaneously.
Horizon Play unlocks after the Prologue
All multiplayer modes become available after the Tokyo opening drive — you don't need to earn any Wristbands first. Jump into Spec Racing or Touge Showdown immediately if you want.
All 6 Horizon Play modes
NEW
Spec Racing
Everyone drives the exact same car — pure skill, no garage advantage
The biggest new addition to FH6 multiplayer. In Spec Racing, every player drives the identical car with the same stock tune, same tires, same setup. No meta builds, no expensive purchases, no downloaded tunes. The only differentiator is driver skill. Races rotate through different cars and classes weekly — one week identical Mazda MX-5s on a mountain pass, the next matching GT-Rs on Tokyo's C1 loop. Learning to adapt quickly to different cars is the real skill challenge.
Best for: players frustrated by meta abuse in standard online racing. Spec Racing is FH6's answer to the long-standing community request for fair, skill-first competition.
NEW
Touge Showdown
1v1 mountain pass head-to-head — the most Japanese mode in Forza history
Built around Japan's mountain-pass racing culture. Two players race 1v1 across five preset tight, technical mountain routes in a lead/chase format — both players race each route, swapping leader and chaser roles. Three races per match. Knowing the routes is half the battle — brake points, corner apexes, where the road narrows. Crashing into the leader as chaser costs you points. Going off-road as leader gives your opponent free distance. Clean, consistent driving wins over aggressive moves.
Five preset routes rotate through matchmaking continuously. The championship mode cycles all five routes back-to-back for anyone who wants extended head-to-head competition.
RETURNING
The Eliminator
Battle royale — last driver standing wins
The fan-favourite battle royale mode returns. All players start in the same low-tier car — a 1984 Honda City — giving every match an equal, chaotic start. The map shrinks via a closing safe zone. Challenge other players to 1v1 races: the winner upgrades their car class, the loser is eliminated. Winning enough duels lets you reach S2 class before the final showdown. Last player inside the safe zone wins.
Tip: Don't upgrade your car too early. A nimble, lower-class car is often better than a powerful one that's hard to control as the safe zone closes. Use the terrain to your advantage.
RETURNING
Hide & Seek
One hider vs five seekers — stealth driving in open-world Japan
One player becomes the Hider and must stay hidden from five Seekers across Japan's open world for the full duration. Hiders use terrain, buildings, and forests to stay concealed. Seekers use the minimap and line-of-sight to track them down. Both roles unlock separate achievements — you need to play both sides for 100% completion.
Hider tip: Japan's dense forests and mountain terrain are your best friends. Avoid open roads. Seeker tip: converge from multiple directions — a lone seeker is easy to evade.
RETURNING
Horizon Racing
Standard online racing across all terrain types
Classic multiplayer racing across Road, Dirt, Cross Country, Street, and Touge event types. Players bring their own tuned cars within a set class bracket. Regular matchmaking with rotating event types. Also includes The Trial — a co-op championship where 6 players team up to beat Unbeatable AI. The Trial is available each Festival Playlist week and is required for maximum Playlist Points.
The Trial is the hardest weekly Playlist activity — 6 players vs Unbeatable AI. Use Discord or the in-game LFG to find coordinated teammates. 5 points per win, worth the effort for completionists.
RETURNING
Horizon Drift
Competitive drifting championship — highest score wins
Competitive online drifting. Players score points for drift angle, speed, and clean transitions. The highest cumulative score wins — not finishing position. Great for players who have invested in dedicated drift builds and want to showcase them competitively. Also a strong earning mode for Horizon Play XP if you have a well-tuned drift car.
Horizon Drift scores angle × speed — not just survival. A fast, shallow drift consistently beats slow, deep drifts. See the drift guide for optimal builds.
Convoy — open-world co-op
Convoy is the foundation of FH6's shared-world co-op. Up to 12 players form a caravan and roam Japan's open world together. Convoy members share Festival Playlist progress, can chain LINK Skills together for bonus XP, and can tackle any open-world activity including Barn Find hunting, PR Stunts, and Story events. No party invite needed — you can also encounter other players spontaneously in the shared world and form impromptu convoys.
Online play advances your campaign
Every Horizon Play match earns XP and Festival Points — the same currency that pushes your single-player Wristband progression. Every level up to 25 grants Festival Points directly. Playing multiplayer and advancing your campaign simultaneously is one of FH6's best design decisions.