Forza Horizon 6 vs Mario Kart World
Both are open-world racers, but one is a scenic road trip with crash risks, the other a chaotic party game on a new console.
Updated 23d ago
The Japan map and its spec-racing criteria are the whole pitch — skip unless a new map alone justifies full price, and budget for weekly server disconnects.
Knockout Mode's elimination rounds are what make 24-player lobbies land — it earns the box price for Switch 2 owners, though the first ten hours run thin.
By the numbers
Prices checked Aug 7; they move faster than we refresh, so confirm on the store page.
Recent-review figures are Steam's own last-30-days window, read Aug 7.
| Measure | Forza Horizon 6 | Mario Kart World |
|---|---|---|
| Value | ||
| Price now | $59.28 −15% · PlayerLand | — |
| All-time low | $60.49 | — |
| Cost / hour | $2.20/hr $59.28 · 27 h main story | — |
| Off its low | At its low low was Jun 2026 | — |
| Main story | 27 h | — |
| Health | ||
| Steam reviews | 83% 92k reviews | — |
| Recent reviews | 78% 5k votes · vs 83% lifetime · souring | — |
| Peak players | 63,652 Jul 2026 · ↓ 65% MoM | — No PC release |
| Launch peak | 21% of May 2026 launch peak · as of Jul 2026 | — |
| All-time peak | 301,394 May 2026 | — |
| Support | ||
| Last patch | 3 weeks ago | — |
| Patch cadence | 4+ in last 90 days, at minimum | — |
| Steam Deck | Gold | — |
What players say
Patterns from long-haul reviewers, taken from each game's verdict. Not live sentiment — each side is dated below.
Forza Horizon 6
The Japan map's authenticity and the spec-racing criteria keep 200+ hour veterans coming back, along with the polished handling model.
Weekly server disconnects and cloud sync lockouts are the recurring friction, with high-hour players also flagging the Horizon Online ramming culture.
from our August 2026 verdict
Mario Kart World
Knockout Mode is the crowd-pleaser, with elimination rounds keeping every race tense and lobbies buzzing.
The Switch 2's higher price and lack of backwards compatibility with old Joy-Cons is the friction long-time fans keep airing.
from our August 2026 verdict
Key differences
Which one is for you?
Pick Forza Horizon 6 if
- You want a realistic open-world driving game set in scenic Japan.
- You own an Xbox Series X or gaming PC and play with friends.
- You can tolerate crash bugs and paywalled premium car packs.
Pick Mario Kart World if
- You own or will buy a Switch 2 and want a flagship party racer.
- You love Mario Kart 8 and want 24-player chaos and new modes.
- You prefer a one-time purchase over microtransactions despite high upfront cost.
Bottom line
Choose Forza Horizon 6 for a scenic driving sandbox on existing hardware; choose Mario Kart World for the ultimate Mario Kart party—if you buy a Switch 2.