Nothing beats riding a real motorbike or scooter, of course. But there’s plenty of virtual fun to be had, and unlike real life you can indulge in some risky moves and crazy stunts. We’ve chosen our favourite games.
Think we’ve missed one? Kickstart a conversation and tell us what we should have included. And don’t forget, if you want to try the real thing you can still book your free trial ride at a training centre near you.
10. GP500 (PC)
Released by Microprose in 1999 on the PC, this game is regarded as one of the best motorcycle racing simulation games. Developed by Melbourne House, it’s still popular across the world. The game features superbikes such as the Honda NSR500, the Suzuki RGV500 and the Muz 500.
9. Motocross Maniacs (Gameboy)
One of the simplest but most enjoyable motorcycling games of all time. Released in 1989 by Konami on Nintendo’s handheld Gameboy console, the player rides a motocross bike in one direction around a black and white, 2d environment and can perform flips from the many jumps and loops.
8. MotoGP 2 (Playstation 2)
This game was based on the 2002 Motorcycle Grand Prix Season - players could race on all 16 official circuits from that season. The game also featured a stunt mode where players had to race around one lap and perform wheelies, powerslides and burnouts. MotoGP 2 featured all 22 riders riding bikes such as Suzuki GSV-R and Kawasaki ZX-RR.
7. Project Gotham Racing 4 (Xbox 360)
The fourth game in the hugely popular Project Gotham Racing series, PGR4 is the first that allows players to race in both cars and motorcycles. The developers have used ‘Hollywood’ style dynamics so a slight knock from a car won’t send a biker off the road. The rider can wobble and recover from a low speed bump, though colliding at 200mph will send the rider flying through the air. There are visually stunning digital representations of tracks and bikes such as the Yamaha YZF-R6 and the Honda CBR600RR.
6. Road Rash (Sega Mega Drive)
A game in which players race in illegal street races and must finish in the top three to proceed to the next race. They can also win money that can be used to buy faster bikes and pay for repairs. In order to survive players can fight at high speeds and weave through traffic, pedestrians and roadside objects such as signs and trees.
5. SBK-X (Playstation 3, Xbox 360, PC)
One of the few games that can give the MotoGP series a run for its money is this graphically stunning release from Black Bean Games. The simulation mode allows experts to master the controls and fine tune their bikes to suit wet or dry conditions. It features some of the fastest motorbikes in the world from the likes of Suzuki and Kawasaki.
4. Motocross Madness (Playstation 2)
Released in 1998 Motocross Madness was developed by Rainbow and published by Microsoft games and set the standard for off road motorcycle video games. It is known for its realistic terrain and alarming crashes.
3. Moto Racer (Playstation 1, PC)
This game, made in 1998 by Electronic Arts, allows players to race both motocross and superbikes. It has 32 tracks and 16 different bikes. It was also one of the first games to allow players to edit any track they race on.
2. Motorstorm (Playstation 3)
Motorstorm was one of the first games to be released on the Playstation 3. It allows up to fifteen players to race motocross bikes, ATVs, buggies and even lorries across the desert and includes death defying jumps, cliffs, ledges, mud pits, obstacles and lakes.
1. Grand theft Auto: Vice City (Playstation 2, PC)
The second 3D game from Rockstar’s Grand Theft Auto Series, was released in October 2002 and is the first GTA to include motorcycles. Riding a motorcycle around a beautifully rendered 1980s Miami, the player gets a more realistic sense of speed and danger than any other video game ever made. The fastest motorcycle in the Game is the PJC 900. Vice City draws much inspiration from 80s American Culture and is often said to be loosely based on Scarface and Miami Vice.
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