‘Monster Energy Supercross 25 – The Official Video Game’ is roaring back onto the track, and developers, Milestone, have absolutely outdone themselves. This installment does not feel like another yearly update; it’s been refined, exhilarating, and immersive. Milestone has revamped the physics and added deeper customisation and a career mode that makes you feel like you are strapping on the boots and putting on the helmet.

The newest season featured in Monster Energy Supercross 25 is delivering an unmatched level of authenticity and excitement for fans, featuring all the official Supercross tracks from the 2025 season. Milestone has pulled out all the stops with tracks being added and being playable before even being raced on in real life. The game also has an upcoming DLC that will feature the 2025 official SuperMotorcross Championship tracks alongside five original MX tracks and four intense Rhythm Tracks, which the developers have designed.

The AI system is, hands down, the best I’ve seen to date in any racing title. It’s been overhauled since the last instalment, and the new “Neural AI” sets a new standard for realism and authenticity. This isn’t like previous years with path-following AI riders; the AI will create multiple racing lines and keep adapting to changes in the race to make it feel authentic. If you are a little bit on the more aggressive side like me, they have improved with this too, and they will respond and fight more for the positions if needed.

The thing I loved the most was the spatial awareness, which means the AI won’t turn into you anymore like a bunch of clueless bots. It feels like you are battling real opponents, which makes each race unpredictable and very satisfying.

There have been some well-needed upgrades to the game’s physics, which have transformed how the game plays, bringing more control and immersion. Groundworks have been reworked, which allows players to control their rider and bike with precision. It lets you navigate the track more, being able to power through whoops or pin the throttle back on the straights. The physics in the air have been refined as well, which allows you to throw the bike around in the air a little easier so you can look like you’re Travis Pastrana throwing a whip before you land and pray you can bring it back.

The thing that complements both of these refined features is the animations being reworked, which have made everything smoother and with a more realistic flow. Sometimes, less is more, and that philosophy has been absolutely nailed here. The biggest new feature that has been highly requested from the community is “Dynamic Ruts”, and this caught me more times than I would like to admit. This new feature will change the track for each lap, which will make no two laps feel the same. I was too comfortable coming into corners sometimes and not realising a berm had been carved out in the middle, so I needed to navigate or end up flying over the track sides. It’s unpredictable and raw, and it’s what the community wanted, so it’s what we got.

As I mentioned before, they have been fine-tuned to complement the new physics system. The adjustment made a noticeable difference, offering a smoother and more responsive feel. If you spend some time in the Supercross Academy, you can fine-tune the controls, as the game is quite simplistic once you get the controls sorted.

Career Mode has received a major overhaul since the last instalment, offering a fully immersive experience that evolves based on your performance both on and off the track. As you race and interact with your social media, you can increase your fame, which in turn means you need to do some more work.

I loved that how you respond will change your reputation so you can be a racer of the people or a complete asshole like my racer. You need to ensure you are keeping a solid relationship with your team, as it will help improve and develop your bike, which is needed in career mode to keep up with the opposition. You can upset the other teams by making rivalries if you want, and there is nothing quite like getting under someone’s skin and then throwing them off the track while racing.

Rhythm Attack is a game mode that I loved more than I’d like to admit, and it’s easy to see why. It’s a thrilling 1v1 challenge where you go head-to-head in a single, long rhythm section that is packed with jumps and hoops. Whether you’re in for a quick match or a best-of-three, if you would like to dive into a tournament, they are quick and fun.

If you’re looking to jump into a quick race with friends, play in split-screen, or even just race by yourself without committing to a full session, the “Single Event” mode is perfect for you. It lets you easily adjust the rules, weather conditions and tracks to your liking. It’s a great little feature if you are looking at pumping out some track time or even getting your achievements all done without the hassle of a full race series.

Time Attack is a game mode I’ll forever love, as you are alone on the track and pushing the limits of the track and your bike to make the best time. It adds a great competitive side, which I enjoy getting amongst that you need to beat the ghost of the next fastest person, and you can do that for as long as you desire. I ended up getting to the point where I started pushing too hard and flying all over the joint, or hitting the top of a tabletop and flying off the bike.

If you have some time and want a more structured challenge, the Championship mode offers two great options that allow you to jump into the official championship, or if you want to make your own customised championship, you can do that as well.

Whilst reviewing this game, I learned how slow my response time was in the ‘Supercross Academy’, and let me tell you, it was eye-opening. The academy is a set of lessons that break down key riding techniques in the game, designed to help you become one of the best. The lessons covered everything from cornering to jumps, but for me, the toughest part was nailing the starting technique, which was the second-to-last lesson, which made it super frustrating.

If you want to spice up your gameplay, online mode is back and better than ever. It is split into three exciting game modes: Ranked, unranked, and private Lobby. Both ranked and Unranked players will join races through a playlist-style system, which makes matchmaking a breeze. Each playlist category comes with its own set of rules and tracks, which streamlines the whole process compared to what it used to be. If you are not in the mood for more serious racing, then you can jump into some Private Lobbies with your friends and just have a good time without worrying about ruining someone else’s race. Monster Energy Supercross 25 – The Official Video Game is also cross-platform, so there is no limit on who you can play with.

The game will feature 12 online ranked seasons, which are designed to keep players coming back regularly to climb the competitive ladder and earn some exclusive rewards. Each season will last a month, kicking off the first Monday of each month, starting with Season 1 on May 5th 2025. Every season will feature a unique theme with dedicated rewards tied to the theme, giving players something fresh each season. A specific leaderboard will track the top riders each season, showcasing the best of the best. Let’s be real, I definitely won’t be on that leaderboard, but I’ll keep trying.

For all the creative gamers out there, the editor system in this game has had a serious upgrade. Whilst some familiar modes will return, there are some new additions, and with the system being updated, it’s easier than ever to create exactly what you want. For people like me who are not artsy or crafty, the super simple UI makes it easy to whip something pretty cool up. If designing something is not your thing, then the developers have thought about you as well, and you can now download other players’ creations and use them on your own gear. The editor system is broken down into six modes, which are livery, riding suit, patch, track, helmet and sticker editor. I’m going to need someone reading this to make me a “The Doctor” buttpatch so I can rep some Valentino Rossi vibes even if he was in the MotoGP.

The sounds are in line with last year’s, and as I’ve said countless times, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, which I’m glad the developers didn’t. The bikes sound fantastic, with each engine note easily distinguishable between the different powerplants. The one that was a letdown for me, and I ended up turning it off, was the music whilst racing; it became more distracting than it was enjoyable. It’s not a deal-breaker as it didn’t take away from the overall experience, but it was enough for me to turn it off.

The developers have taken full advantage of the power of Unreal Engine 5 in the game, bringing the game to life with incredibly realistic visuals. The attention to detail in the bikes, riders, tracks and terrain looked amazing, apart from one bug where it all kinda looked meshed into one, which was not ideal, but you’re going quick enough; you only had to look at it for a couple of seconds. I love seeing all these games using new engines and pushing the boundaries of what was once impossible.

Monster Energy Supercross 25- The Official video proves to be a fantastic instalment in the series. The updates are evident throughout the game, delivering a fresh and enhanced experience for the player base. Whether you’re a die-hard Supercross fan or a casual player, the game offers something for everyone. It is an exciting and worthwhile addition to your gaming library.

Written by: Hayden Nelson