Monster Energy Supercross 6 is the best Supercross game ever released. There’s really no other way to put it. For the first time since the franchise from Milestone S.r.l began in 2018, it truly feels like a complete package for Supercross fans to enjoy.
The game features officially licensed tracks, bikes, and riders from the Monster Energy Supercross series. It also introduces new ways to play ranging from new accessibility options to more modes than any other release.
Monster Energy Supercross 6 Review
Gameplay
On the track, Supercross 6 feels both familiar and fresh. Longtime players of the series will be able to jump right in and feel at home, but that doesn’t mean it will feel repetitive.
There are different gameplay settings to set the stage for how you’ll experience Supercross 6. Whether you are a veteran player or this is your first time on the track, the various options at your disposal allow you to make the game as challenging as you’d like. Settings such as the ability to change the on-track physics, weight distribution, flow and jump aid, braking, and much more. If you can think of a setting to adjust to change how the game plays, it’s likely there.
I was able to make the gameplay simple enough that my five-year-old son could enjoy the game right away. And then, without any issue, I adjusted the settings to quickly make the game challenging for my experience level. That level of accessibility is something that a number of games still go without. But not Supercross 6.
Another new element to the gameplay, which we’ll touch on more later, is the “Rider Shape System”. Focusing on your physical and mental health will impact your on-track performance more than you ever would think in a racing title.
One thing that still exists with Supercross 6 is something I’ve had a gripe about for years. Far too often you can run right into an opponent without anything happening. You can still even land on top of other racers, and just bounce off them without issue.
Game Modes
Supercross 6 has eight total game modes for players. Six of them you’ll be familiar with like Time Attack and Championship. But there are also new modes like Rhythm Attack and Supercross Academy.
Supercross Academy is led by legendary rider Jeremy McGrath. The mode gives you a more in-depth tutorial on Supercross, its strategies, rules, and how to become a champion rider.
Rhythm Attack is a quick 1v1 mode that has players race down a straight flow. The mode isn’t anything too deep, but it is a nice time killer. It’s just disappointing that it’s an offline-only mode, taking away a lot of its replay value.
Supercross Park is the game’s free-roam area that is available both offline and online. It’s just a large roaming map with five different areas to explore. Throughout those areas, you’ll come across three Motocross tracks, three Supercross tracks, and various trainings and exercises to take part in. Like Rhythm Attack, it’s a nice time killer, but you won’t spend all that much time in it.
Where you will spend a lot of time is in the game’s track creator. With new materials at your disposal, you can once again create the track of your dreams. With all the different tracks you can make, I found myself making more tracks than before. It also can be more fun racing on the custom tracks than the official ones.
Sticking with customization, a new helmet editor allows you to design your custom helmet to use on your rider. Both custom tracks and helmets can be shared with the community across all platforms, opening the door to more designs and tracks to race on than ever.
Career! There It Is!
Of course, the big thing to talk about is the overhauled Career. This year’s version of the mode is different than anything the series has seen before. Sure, there have been skill trees that you fill while you move throughout your time as a rider, but Supercross 6 features something much deeper.
You start out by customizing your rider and then jumping into the “Futures” series of races. After those three races, you’ll then join the 250 East or 250 West “Rookie” circuit. Depending on your performance in those three races, you’ll be offered a variety of contracts from teams and sponsors. Each contract offers you different goals and rewards. Team contracts seem to be more rider-friendly, especially at the start of your career. Sponsorship contracts, while offering you much more freedom in terms of customization, are far more demanding of you on the track. It’s just the first of many decisions you’ll have to make throughout your career.
Once that’s set and you’re ready to go, the Rookie circuit has you get missions to accomplish from Coach McGrath as well as trainings to improve your abilities on the track. There’s also the Rider Shape System that I mentioned earlier. This system requires you to keep track of your body and mind. Overdoing the trainings and not regularly checking your body could see you suffer setbacks such as injuries that reduce performance.
As you continue throughout your career you’ll earn credits, get better contract opportunities, and move up to the “Pro” 450 Championship series. With the credits you earn, you are able to buy new equipment such as helmets, gloves, goggles, and more. You can even buy new bikes to ride if you have that freedom in your contract. With your bikes, there are a number of liveries to make your bike stand out as well. It would be nice if you could create your own, but there are enough choices to get over the disappointment.
Presentation
Supercross 6 is the best-looking game in series history. Everything from the tracks to the bikes and riders to even the clothing looks incredible. The overall environment is near perfection to the point you can sometimes forget that it’s just a video game. And though it may sound hyperbolic, I assure you it’s not. You can get lost during long play sessions. It’s that good.
Don’t believe me? Just race in the rain and see how it looks.
Speaking of the rain, racing in it is one of the coolest experiences in any racing game available. Seeing how the mud and rain affect your riding adds a new layer of strategy to your races.
Sound-wise, the bikes all sound authentic whether you are racing 250 or 450. Finally, the pre- and post-race presentations all set the stage nicely for what’s to come as well as wrap up the action you just went through.
Monster Energy Supercross 6 Review Verdict
I said it at the start of this review, and I stand by it. Supercross 6 is the best Supercross game ever released. In the week-plus I’ve spent with the game before writing and publishing this review, I’ve put in more hours than any of the previous games I’ve reviewed in the series. And it’s not because the past games were bad. It’s just that this game is that damn good.
If you are any sort of Supercross fan, I can’t recommend this game enough even with a couple frustrations on the track.
NOTE: A copy of Monster Energy Supercross 6 for PlayStation 5 was provided to SGO for the purposes of this review. The game is available on PS5, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and Steam.