Every year, I find myself curious to see what Milestone has cooked up in their latest Monster Energy Supercross entry, and with “Monster Energy Supercross 25 – The Official Video Game,” that curiosity led to some surprises, both good and not-so-good. I’ve played my fair share of racing sims and have reviewed a few games in this series now, and while this series has always been aimed at a niche crowd of motocross diehards, there’s something admirable about how committed it stays to its lane, which sometimes to its benefit and sometimes not.
This time around, the game’s powered by Unreal Engine 5 (which is something they can’t help but advertise as much as they can), and it really shows. From the very first race, I noticed how alive the track felt, surfaces shifting just enough to throw off your rhythm. It’s not just visual flair either; the track evolution genuinely affects how each lap plays out. Cornering feels more dynamic, and jumps carry that extra weight depending on your speed and approach. That realism, paired with the newly improved riding physics, gives Supercross 25 a distinct edge over its previous releases. Still, it’s not the most welcoming game. I won’t lie, my first few hours felt like I was wrestling the bike rather than riding it. The new tutorial system and Neural Technology riding aids helped a bit, but they’re not exactly beginner-friendly. You’re mostly left to fumble through trial and error until something clicks. Once it does, though, there’s a bit of a sense of accomplishment in finally nailing a clean line through a particularly gnarly rhythm section.
One of the big headliners this year is the full 2025 season integration, which for the first time lets you race on real-world tracks before the pros even hit them. As someone who doesn’t watch the competition, it’s a cool hook, and for diehard fans, I’m sure it’s a dream come true. There’s also cross-play now, and that’s a huge win, no more worrying about where your friends are playing. Whether it’s casual matchmaking or sweating it out on ranked leaderboards, the multiplayer side of the game feels more alive and accessible than ever before. I’m curious if this will help with the overall longevity of this title. But when it comes to Career Mode, I was a little underwhelmed. The structure has been revamped with a greater focus on narrative beats, rivalries, social media management, and relationship-building, but it never really grabbed me. The idea sounds good on paper, but in execution, it feels like window dressing rather than meaningful gameplay. I appreciated the attempt at immersion, but I never felt like my decisions had real weight or affected my journey in surprising ways.
There’s also the matter of cut content. “The Compound,” which is essentially a practice free roam area from previous titles, is gone, and while the new Rhythm Section mode tries to compensate, it doesn’t quite fill that sandbox-shaped hole. On the flip side, the editor tools remain robust and seem better than ever, but it’s not something I mess with that much personally. Also, being able to create and share your own tracks via cross-platform is a huge bonus. If the community leans into this, we could be looking at an endless supply of fresh, player-made content down the line. Visually, “Supercross 25” takes a noticeable step forward. The lighting, texture detail, and animation work are far more polished than in the last few entries. Rider animations are smoother, and the stadiums, especially when fully packed under the lights, really create an atmosphere that’s easy to get swept up in. The audio is solid but nothing groundbreaking. Engine roars, crowd cheers, and dirt kicks all sound as they should, but don’t expect to be blown away. The music selection felt serviceable, just enough to fill menus and pre-race hype, but not something I’ll remember in a few months.
In terms of gameplay depth, I still wish there was a bit more variety. Once you’ve tried the core race modes and spent time in Career, there’s not much else to do beyond chasing lap times or grinding leaderboards. The foundation is strong, but it lacks the kind of feature-rich side modes that keep you coming back week after week. For genre newcomers, the steep learning curve might be a barrier, but for returning players and motocross fans, this is easily the most refined and feature-complete installment yet. All in all, “Monster Energy Supercross 25” feels like a game that knows exactly who it’s for. It’s not trying to reinvent the wheel but rather polish the ride. There’s a ton of potential here, and while it may not reach the heights of more mainstream racing titles, it firmly holds its own within its niche.
7/10
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Related: Reviews by Nick Navarro
Gaming since I was given an original Nintendo as a kid. I love great storytelling and unique ingenuity. When both collide in a single game, I'm a happy gamer. Twitter/IG @NickNavarro87
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