Forza Horizon 6 Getting Started Guide: Pro Tips for New Drivers
Key Takeaways
- Spend your first 20 minutes unlocking the Horizon Festival Outpost and completing the intro race series. Don't skip the tutorial—it unlocks fast travel.
- Your starter car choice matters. The 2019 Ford Focus RS is the best all-rounder for early races, but the 2020 Toyota GR Supra handles tighter corners better.
- Turn off traction control and ABS in settings after the first hour. You’ll gain 2-3 seconds per lap once you learn to manage throttle and brakes manually.
- Accolades are your best friend. Focus on the "Road Racing" and "Street Scene" accolades first—they unlock the best early-game upgrades and a bonus 50,000 credits.
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Your First 5 Hours in Forza Horizon 6
I’ve put over 200 hours into the Horizon series, and the first few hours in FH6 are make-or-break. Here’s exactly what to do.
1. The Intro Race: Don’t Rush
You start with a short prologue race in a 2021 Ford Bronco. Win or lose, it doesn’t matter. The game then drops you at the Horizon Festival Outpost. Listen to the tutorial—it shows you how to fast travel between outposts, which costs 5,000 credits per jump until you buy the Fast Travel Board for 2 million credits later.
Pro tip: After the intro, immediately drive to the nearest Horizon Story marker (the orange icon on the map). The first story unlocks the "Showcase" event, which gives you a 2022 Porsche 911 GT3 for free. Sell it if you don’t like Porsches—it’s worth 120,000 credits.
2. Best Starter Car Choice
You get three choices after the intro. Here’s how they compare:
| Car | Class | Best For | Weakness |
| ----- | ------- | ---------- | ---------- |
| 2019 Ford Focus RS | A 800 | All-around racing, dirt events | Poor top speed on highways |
| 2020 Toyota GR Supra | A 800 | Street racing, tight corners | Fragile when hitting walls |
| 2018 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 | A 800 | Straight-line speed, drag races | Understeer in wet conditions |
My recommendation: Pick the Focus RS. It’s the most forgiving for new players, handles dirt and asphalt equally well, and has a cheap upgrade path to S1 class (around 25,000 credits).
3. Settings to Change Immediately
Go into settings before your second race. Here’s what I run:
- Traction control: Off (you’ll gain speed in corners once you learn throttle control)
- ABS: Off (learn to brake manually—it shaves off 0.5 seconds per corner)
- Steering: Simulation (gives more precise input, but switch to Normal if you use a controller)
- Transmission: Manual with clutch (optional, but gives 5% faster shift times)
- Difficulty: Start on "Highly Skilled" drivatars. You’ll win 80% of races once you get the hang of it, and the credit bonus is 20% higher than "Average."
Warning: Turning off traction control makes wet races harder. If you’re struggling, keep it on for the first 10 races, then switch.
4. The Credit Grind: Faster Than You Think
You don’t need to grind races for credits. Instead, focus on Accolades—the game’s achievement system. Each accolade gives 5,000 to 50,000 credits. The fastest early ones:
- Road Racing 101: Complete 5 road races (10,000 credits)
- Street Scene Starter: Win 3 street races (15,000 credits)
- Speed Trap Master: Hit 150 mph in a speed trap (5,000 credits)
Example: I unlocked 75,000 credits in my first 90 minutes just by doing accolades, without repeating a single race.
5. Hidden Secrets in the First Map Area
The starting region (Cascadas de Luz) has three secrets most players miss:
- Bonus Barn Find: Drive to the eastern waterfall (coordinates: 1.2, 3.4 on the map). Behind the waterfall is a cave with a 1967 Ford GT40 MK IV. It’s a free S2-class car worth 1.5 million credits.
- Fast Travel Board #1: On the roof of the main festival building. Use a ramp from the nearby hill to jump onto it. Saves you 5,000 credits per fast travel.
- XP Board: Under the bridge near the first Horizon Story marker. Break it for 10,000 XP.
6. First Upgrades: Don’t Waste Credits
Your starter car can carry you through the first 20 races with smart upgrades. Here’s the order I use:
1. Tires: Sport tires (5,000 credits) — biggest handling improvement
2. Brakes: Race brakes (7,000 credits) — prevents overheating on long straights
3. Engine: Sport air filter + exhaust (4,000 credits) — cheap horsepower
4. Weight reduction: Street weight reduction (6,000 credits) — improves cornering
Total cost: 22,000 credits. This bumps your Focus RS from A 800 to A 835, enough to win most early races on "Highly Skilled."
7. Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Don’t buy cars early. The game gives you free cars for completing stories (you get a 2021 Lamborghini Urus from the "Stunt Driver" story). Save credits for upgrades.
- Don’t ignore the weather. Rain reduces grip by 15%. Swap to rain tires (free from the garage menu) for wet races.
- Don’t fast travel blindly. It costs 5,000 credits per jump. Walk or drive if the destination is under 2 miles away.
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FAQ
1. What’s the best starter car in Forza Horizon 6?
The 2019 Ford Focus RS is the best all-around choice for new players. It handles dirt and asphalt well, has cheap upgrades, and is forgiving in corners. The Toyota GR Supra is better for street racing if you’re confident in your skills.
2. How do I unlock fast travel in FH6?
Fast travel is unlocked automatically after the intro race. You can fast travel between any discovered outpost for 5,000 credits per jump. To eliminate this cost, find and smash all 30 Fast Travel Boards hidden around the map. That reduces the cost to zero.
3. What’s the fastest way to earn credits early?
Focus on Accolades, not races. Complete the "Road Racing 101," "Street Scene Starter," and "Speed Trap Master" accolades for a quick 30,000 credits. Then grind the "Horizon Story" series—each story gives a free car worth 50,000+ credits that you can sell.