Key conclusions
- Motorcycle racing games offer a lot of challenges and thrills for speed game lovers.
- Moto Racer 4, SBK X, Ride 4, TT Isle of Man and Trials Evolution are great games in this genre.
- These games offer an immersive experience, realistic visuals, intense racing action and exciting game mechanics.
In the dangerous world of motorsports, motorcycles stand out as a particularly high-octane mode of transportation. MotoGP, the Grand Prix of motorcycle racing, has been showcasing the masters of their craft for years. Both MotoGP and other similar associations have helped inspire the creation of many racing games that give players a lot of thrills.
From simple racing simulations to more inventive tests of players' reflexes filled with obstacles, the motorcycle racing subgenre has quietly separated itself from the more mainstream car racing subgenre. These games provide an exciting reflex-testing experience for racing enthusiasts, with a new set of challenges for those who are used to racing with simulated cars. The best motorcycle racing games tirelessly strive to capture the adrenaline rush of the racing track for players to enjoy.
Updated on September 25, 2024 by John Cunningham: This list has been updated to include five more motorcycle races that have had a positive impact on the genre. The exciting, daring world of bike racing has been extremely well portrayed in video games over the years. The following 10 games all brought something exciting and memorable to motorcycle racing, from simple, grounded takes on the world of racing and its many tournaments to wilder and more brutal classics from the early years of the home console.
10 Motorcycle racer 4
An old school racer with virtual reality functionality
- Original release date: October 13, 2016
- The developer: Microïds, Studio Artefacts
- Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC, VR (PSVR, HTC Vive, Oculus Rift)
Despite the surprisingly negative reception upon release, Motorcycle racer 4 has a lot to offer players. With a variety of racing tracks and bike tricks to discover, the game is a high-octane thrill ride for bike racing enthusiasts.
Players must avoid many disturbing crashes, Motorcycle racer 4 successfully cultivates a high-risk atmosphere throughout the gameplay. The game also supports virtual reality, offering players the chance to experience an exciting – if somewhat terrifying – racing experience that further challenges the player's senses. While its old-school gameplay and presentation annoyed some players and critics, it also serves as a useful piece of nostalgia for long-time racing players.
9 SBK X: World Superbike Championship
A fun racer with an epic career mode
- Original release date: June 4, 2010
- The developer: Milestone
- Platforms: PS3, Xbox 360, PC
This fast-paced release from Milestone quickly gained attention with three different game modes. Multiplayer, simulation, and arcade, in particular, provide players with a variety of gaming experiences.
Differing from its predecessors with an all-new career mode, the game offers players a whopping eight years of action to play as a racing character. For racing fans, SBK Kh offered to raise the level of championships on offer as it finally added Supersport and Superstock to its roster. All in all, with a long list of fresh features and a fun old-school arcade mode, this game marked a new peak for the SBK series at the time of its release.
8 Trip 4
It impresses with exciting visual effects
- Original release date: October 5, 2020
- The developer: Milestone
- Platforms: PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Amazon Luna, Microsoft Windows, Xbox Series X/S, GeForce Now
When it comes to realistic graphics, Trip 4 more than delivers the goods with its modern visual appeal. With 170 bikes to choose from, players are spoiled for choice in this sophisticated game from Milestone.
At the time of release, some critics scorned the game's old approach to controls. Some may see this as a negative. However, the combination of more old-fashioned gameplay with modern visual quality makes for the perfect modern gaming experience for longtime fans. It combines the best of different generations of games. While this may not be a groundbreaking effort, Trip 4 deserves props for a neat and tidy approach to the often frustrating thrill of high-difficulty video game racing.
7 TT Isle of Man: Ride on the Border 2
A sharper and heavier effort than its predecessor
- Original release date: March 19, 2020
- The developer: Kylotonn
- Platforms: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, GeForce Now
As the name suggests, this racing series throws players into the heat of the well-known Isle of Man TT race. The 13-day TT (Tourist Trophy) is one of the most challenging and prestigious motorcycle races and is perfect for the exciting world of gaming.
The second Ride on the edge ups the ante compared to the original, reaching players at breakneck speed on the racetrack. Constantly testing gamers' reflexes, the action-packed races provide the game with an amazing level of tension. The blistering intensity of the ride never lets up. With sharp graphics and richly colored landscapes, the game serves as a visual treat, improving on the already respectable bar set by its predecessor. Of course it's hard Edge 2 ride it's a treat for experienced racer players looking for a tough challenge.
6 Tourist trophy
Rewarding, progression-oriented racing experiences
- Original release date: January 16, 2006
- The developer: Polyphony Digital Inc.
- Platforms: PlayStation 2
This 2006 classic gave players one of the most immersive motorcycle racing experiences in gaming history. Featuring multiple game modes including challenge mode and grand races, the game has impressed players with its advanced racing gameplay.
To even go as far as accepting challenges and racing, players must first go through the License School mode. Practices serve as a challenging but rewarding progression mode for gamers to earn their way into the larger racing simulations the game has to offer. While its graphics and gameplay aren't exceptional by today's standards, Tourist trophy deserves recognition for its lasting influence on racing sims in the years since its release.
5 Valentina Rossi: Game
A quick look at the titular racing legend
- Original release date: June 16, 2016
- The developer: Milestone Srl
- Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC
Released in tandem with the 2016 MotoGP World Championship season, this well-received Milestone program allows players to spend an entire season in the world of gaming. Unsurprisingly, the game also focuses on title racing driver Valentino Rossi, charting his career and adapting it for the game's environment.
Given his standing in the world of motorsport, as well as his numerous accolades, Rossi's career makes for quite an exciting game. Boasting a smooth action MotoGP gaming fans have come to expect over the years, Valentino Rossi is a gritty, well-crafted dive into the dangerous world of motorcycle action that pays homage to both the sport and the legendary competitor it's named after.
4 MotoGP 20
A new AI for the series debuted
- Original release date: April 23, 2020
- The developer: Milestone
- Metascore: 76
- Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Microsoft Windows
2020 edition MotoGP the series is of some historical interest to racing fans. Released during the pandemic, the game gives players a chance to see what that year's MotoGP season would have looked like had it gone through.
With some interesting tracks and international Grand Prix races that ultimately didn't exist in reality, the game also offers an intriguing new AI model. The addition of Neural AI 2.0 proved to be a huge improvement, providing players with a much smoother experience when it comes to key riding issues such as fuel and wheel condition on each bike. With a diverse set of game modes to choose from, MotoGP 20 is a spectacular, richly detailed piece of Grand Prix motorcycle racing.
3 MotoGP 21
Great, strong race
- Original release date: April 22, 2021
- The developer: Milestone
- Platforms: PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC, Switch
At the time of exit, MotoGP 21 actively marketed as the most realistic two-wheeled racing experience to date. Sometimes eerily similar to its predecessor, 21 offers many updates that help improve the overall MotoGP experience.
Along with showcasing a lot of even scarier crashes than usual, the game also emphasizes the pressures of driving a car. Between the speed and the addictive nature of the first-person gameplay, players can enjoy a vivid sensory approach to the ever-dangerous world of bike racing. The overall attention to detail is extraordinary, with even the temperature of the brakes noticeably affecting the player's car. All in all, it's a slick showcase of thrills and spills MotoGP series has to offer.
2 Road rash
A new, action-packed classic
- Original release date: September 1991
- The developer: Electronic Arts
- Platforms: Various (classic platforms: Sega Genesis, PS1, PC)
This staple from the early years of home console racing has enjoyed an influential legacy over the years. The game is set in California, and its races combine surprisingly brutal combat.
Each successive race becomes noticeably more difficult as players progress through the game. On top of increasingly challenging racing tracks, players must brace themselves for fierce attacks from their opponents, fighting fire with fire as they engage in a tough battle at high speeds. Highly praised at the time for the exciting quality of racing on offer, Road rash still remains a surprisingly fascinating 16-bit work after all these years.
1 Tests Evolution
A masterpiece of a racing motorcycle
- Original release date: April 18, 2012
- The developer: Ubisoft RedLynx
- Platforms: Xbox 360, Microsoft Windows
This fast-paced platformer benefits greatly from an emphasis on high-stakes obstacle courses. Players take control of racers who undergo dangerous racing tests.
Featuring technically sound gameplay, thrilling multiplayer action, and smooth, well-realized visuals, Tests Evolution have created a new dashboard for motorcycle racing moving forward. With both the track editing feature and the wide range of famous race tracks, the game also gives players a lot of fun to play. Tests Evolution is an almost flawless example of the high-speed thrills that the dangerous world of motorcycle racing can bring to the video game medium.
