Forza Horizon 6 Leads Metacritic’s Best Games of the First Half of 2026

Forza Horizon 6 has taken first place in Metacritic’s ranking of the best new games released during the first half of 2026.

The Xbox racing game earned a score of 90 and finished ahead of Mina the Hollower, which also scored 90. Other highly rated releases in the overall top 20 include Schrodinger’s Call, Pokémon Pokopia, Resident Evil Requiem, Mewgenics and 007 First Light.

Metacritic’s method can produce unusual results because it selects the platform version with the largest number of reviews for each game. That means the score used in the overall ranking is not always the highest available score across every platform.

Resident Evil Requiem is a clear example. Its Xbox version holds a score of 93, but the overall list uses the PlayStation 5 score of 89 because that version received more reviews. As a result, it finishes fifth rather than challenging Forza Horizon 6 for the top position.

Rank	Game	Metacritic score
1	Forza Horizon 6	90
2	Mina the Hollower	90
3	Schrodinger’s Call	89
4	Pokémon Pokopia	89
5	Resident Evil Requiem	89
6	Mewgenics	88
7	007 First Light	87
8	Saros	87
9	Hermit and Pig	87
10	Titanium Court	87

Forza Horizon 6 earns praise for its Japanese setting

Forza Horizon 6 launched in May and moved the open world racing series to Japan.

Its map includes Tokyo, described as the largest urban area in the franchise so far, along with sections inspired by the Japanese countryside. The game also features around 550 vehicles, giving players a large selection across different racing categories.

Critics praised its scenery, amount of content and overall refinement. The score continues a strong pattern for the series, with several recent Forza Horizon games also receiving averages in the 90s.

The result gives Xbox a major first party success during the opening half of the year. Racing games do not always receive the same attention as large action or role playing releases, but Forza Horizon has consistently remained one of Microsoft’s most reliable series.

Its first place position may change later in the year as more major games arrive, but it currently stands as Metacritic’s highest ranked new release of 2026 under the site’s chosen method.

The Xbox specific ranking looks very different

Metacritic’s separate Xbox Series X and Series S ranking produces another order because it uses Xbox review scores directly.

Hades 2 leads the Xbox list with a score of 95, followed by Resident Evil Requiem at 93 and Mixtape at 92. Forza Horizon 6 appears in fourth place with the same score of 90 used in the overall ranking.

007 First Light scores 88 on Xbox, which is one point higher than the score used in the general list. Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade also reaches 88, while Pragmata, Vampire Crawlers and LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight appear in the Xbox top 10.

Xbox rank	Game	Xbox score
1	Hades 2	95
2	Resident Evil Requiem	93
3	Mixtape	92
4	Forza Horizon 6	90
5	007 First Light	88
6	Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade	88
7	Pragmata	87
8	Vampire Crawlers	86
9	LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight	86
10	Monster Hunter Stories 3	86

The difference between the two lists shows why aggregate rankings should be treated carefully. A game may have a stronger score on one platform but appear lower in a combined feature because of review volume.

Several Xbox releases appear across the broader top 20

Xbox players have had access to many of the highest rated games from the first six months of 2026.

Alongside Forza Horizon 6, the wider list includes 007 First Light, Mixtape, Pragmata, Monster Hunter Stories 3 and other multiplatform releases available on Xbox hardware.

The Xbox specific top 20 also features Reanimal, Marathon, MOUSE: P.I. For Hire, Planet of Lana 2, MIO: Memories in Orbit, EA Sports UFC 6 and Life is Strange: Reunion.

Scores near 80 may appear low beside games in the 90s, but they still generally indicate positive critical reception. The difference between an 81 and an 86 can also be influenced by the number of reviews, platform performance and individual scoring standards.

Aggregate scores provide a broad view of critical opinion, but they cannot determine whether a game will suit every player.

The second half of 2026 could change the rankings significantly

The list only covers games released during the first half of the year.

Several major Xbox releases are still expected before the end of 2026, including Halo: Campaign Evolved and Gears of War: E-Day. Their final review scores could affect both the overall ranking and the Xbox specific list.

Other large releases from third party publishers may also push current entries lower. A score of 90 is enough to lead at the halfway point, but previous years have often produced games with averages in the mid 90s.

Forza Horizon 6 has still given Xbox a strong start. It combines a familiar open world structure with a new setting, a large vehicle roster and extensive content, helping it stand above the competition under Metacritic’s current ranking system.

The final 2026 list will likely look different, but Forza Horizon 6 has already established itself as one of the year’s most critically successful games.