Monster Energy Supercross 6 review: Riding high?

In my Monster Energy Supercross 6 review, I put my digital dirt-bike skills to the test to see whether the series has finally come of age.

Okay, I will be honest. I have been sitting on the Monster Energy Supercross 6 review code (not literally) since its release date in March 2023. While the fifth game was pretty decent, I found myself losing interest fast.

As a huge fan of two-wheelers, it was a crying shame. Fortunately, Monster Energy Supercross 6, while not radically different, is pretty rad in the fun department. But before we get to my verdict, here is a summary of what is new.

Please note: This is the script from my YouTube video, click play above to watch or go here.

What is new in Monster Energy Supercross 6?

Monster Energy Supercross 6 features eight game modes, two of which are brand-spankers. The first is Rhythm Attack, which sees two riders go head-to-head. Success here involves getting into a rhythm over ‘whoops’, as they are known, by carefully controlling all bike inputs and rider position.

Unfortunately, there are only three corner-less courses. So the mileage is limited despite the inclusion of different weather types. However, it is fun while it lasts and hopefully more content is added later.

Meanwhile, we have a heavily revised Supercross Park area with five zones. Not only is it larger and features more interesting terrain, there are more optional tests and races to complete as well as a Fan Fest hub that has more than a whiff of a Forza Horizon outpost. Minus Papa bloody Fernando.

Career future

As for the Monster Energy Supercross 6 career mode, you start out in the 250cc Futures series. This is a fun and good way to learn how not to land on your spine from great heights. Here you can earn your first sponsorship deals.

After that is Rookie, where you start to get training sessions and challenges. Do well here and eventually you reach the Pro series, where all coach related content is unlocked and you get to play on the big-boy 450cc bikes.

As you progress, it is possible to upgrade the five skill trees: Cornering, bike control, braking, scrub and physical resistance. A mixture of race success and the Supercross Park award you skill points.

Monster Energy Supercross 6 also has two-player split-screen local multiplayer, cross-platform multiplayer across all consoles, a new leaderboard system, guidance from supercross legend Jeremy McGrath, new riding aids to help you progress and enhanced bike setup options.

And if you want to customise your look, there are now more than 600 accessories. Plus a helmet design editor, the fruits of which can be shared with other players online. Or spend time making custom tracks for the community – some Rhythm Attack straights, perhaps.

Ride to glory?

Forza Horizon 5 levels of polish and content are obviously not expected in an annually updated game. But then it is the revised physics and AI that are the stars of the show. Most of the time, races are frantic, competitive and involving.

A combination of being able to control your bike and rider at the same time, combined with more fluid physics, make riding the bikes fast rewarding and challenging. This time around, I actually wanted to keep playing.

It is just really satisfying once you get into a groove as you lean back over whoops to maintain your speed, balance the throttle right to land jumps on the downslope and fully lean into steep corner berms.

And thanks to a combination of those new riding assists, including auto throttle and auto steering, and the Supercross Academy tutorial challenges, the learning curve is enjoyable. Things are far less brutal than in the most recent road-based bike racers.

What is wrong with Monster Energy Supercross 6?

Just a shame, then, that stunts are limited to a whip and a scrub. Those wanting to perform a superman or backflip will be sorely disappointed. But then this is meant to be an accurate representation of supercross and not SSX Tricky on wheels.

Points are also lost for the AI racers, which are usually pretty adept during a pre-made race but can become hopeless in track editor creations. I also dislike the loading screens, which are not slow but are numerous and as such slow the momentum.

You could also knock a point off for similar visuals to the fifth game from 2022. Then again, those still on PS4 and Xbox One benefit.

With that said, running at 4K 60 frames per second on PC, it is by no means a bad looking game. Even with some sparse and generic environment design.

Worth buying?

So should you buy Monster Energy Supercross 6? Well, if you had the fifth game, I am not sure there are enough shiny new things to grab you by the handlebars. Unless you are content with more of the same, only more refined.

For newcomers and fans of bike racing though, I would certainly give it a chance. Despite some quirks and a lack of polish in some areas, there is enough gameplay enjoyment here to keep you riding high for quite some time. Overall, I rate this game seven Earl Grey teas out of 10.

And on that questionable rating system, it is time to end this article/video. Feel free to post your impressions of Monster Energy Supercross 6 in the comments and subscribe and like to help me reach 100,000 subscribers.