MotoGP 20

The world of racing games is quite expansive and has two camps firmly situated in it. In the one corner, the more of a video game it is with weapons, mods, and gravity-defying stunts, the better. In the other, the gamers who demand hyperrealism. While I am firmly in the former, it doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy the latter, even if the latter is gruesomely punishing. MotoGP 20 is both beautiful to look at and a lot of fun, and it has a ton of ways to enjoy it but boy, is it ever not for the casual player.

All in all, MotoGP 20 is undoubtedly the best MotoGP game yet. Not everyone will be on board with some of the changes made to its core modes, though. There’s room for the managerial features of the career mode to be refined and expanded upon in the next iteration, and opponent AI could still do with a bit of work, but they do little to sully the racing experience provided this year. Needless to say, if you’re a fan of the sport or after a bike racing game that ties itself to tracks rather than open roads, MotoGP 20 is highly recommended.

Milestone's latest outing with the MotoGP series continues to show improvement, albeit slightly, as the end of the console generation is approaching fast. While the game definitely has a steep learning curve for those new to the franchise, MotoGP 20 is a lot of fun and a true representation of the sport when there is no way to experience the live events right now at all.

I went into this with only a basic understanding of serious motorbike track racing, so I am unable to speak to some of the superlatives or shortcomings that would only be apparent to diehards. Still, MotoGP 20 offered me a good time. I dove into the PC version of the game and it delivered a rock-solid performance outing at both 60Hz and 120Hz at max settings and high resolutions, making it the clear choice over its 30Hz console cousins. If you are going solo or not worried about missing out on playing with friends on a specific console, the PC is the version to snag. Admittedly, I am starting ...

You can say what you want about the reduced output of racing games in this current gaming generation when compared to ten or twenty years ago, but motorcyle racing fans surely can’t complain. Between the motocross brilliance provided by MXGP 2019 or the absolutely ridiculous real-life premise offered in TT Isle of Man, we do have a more than decent assortment of motorcycle racing games to choose from. Out of all franchises from this wide spectrum, not a single one is more appealing than Mot...

I’ve played many racing games, but MotoGP 20 is a new kind of challenge that I wholeheartedly embrace. The high-speed, demanding bikes require a slightly different approach from the traditional race car techniques I’m accustomed to, breeding an internal competition for understanding and mastery that leads to a heightened tension on the track. This creates an appreciation for the bikes – their power and handling – that is a welcome change from getting behind the wheel of just another race car.

MotoGP 20 offers exactly what it claims, and nothing else; a strong, detailed simulation for enthusiasts. For that audience, the game delivers in spades. For all others, your racing fix, motorcycles included, is better served elsewhere.

Milestone has made a name for itself as the de facto developer of motorbike racing games. If you trace it back, the Italian studio has been crafting this niche subset of racers for about 20 years. To say it has experience with two-wheeled motorsport would be a grave understatement. However, despite its expertise and dedication to almost singlehandedly bringing the sport to gaming, it's never really hit the big time. If MotoGP 20 is any indication, it's not hard to understand why.

MotoGP 20 tries to build upon the promise of recent developments with a raft of new features, but it's those very inclusions that don't quite feel fully formed yet. The presentation is more polished, there's a real attempt to try something new, and I enjoy the more serious focus of the riding, but I can’t help but think that this game needed a little more time in development to iron out the quirks.

Pull on your racing gloves and grab a helmet! Italian developers Milestone have hit the track with MotoGP 20, the latest entry in the motorbike racing series for PS4, Xbox One, PC, Google Stadia, and Nintendo Switch. Will it get your engines going?