MotoGP 22 is probably the best MotoGP game I have ever played. That might be shocking to hear, especially if you, like myself, think most of these games are basically to motorbike racing what FIFA games are to football. As in, the same damn thing year after year, but with a roster update. You are not entirely wrong; MotoGP 22 is mostly the same game as its 2021 predecessor, which I also tackled on the PS5. But there’s one little thing, one tiny detail, one addition that made this game go from “ugh, another one” to “wait a sec, this is some good stuff”.

Technically speaking, there isn’t a lot that differs MotoGP 22 from its 2021 iteration. It still looks pretty decent, with well-built motorbikes and a phenomenal framerate backed by the highest of resolutions, with the rest of its assets (props, pilots, etc) being comprised of what I can only assume are the exact same props used in the PS4 and Xbox One versions of the game. Given how the game runs at incredibly high speeds, you won’t pay a lot of attention to them, but they do stand out in pre-race cutscenes.

It also retains the same gameplay as before, which can best be described as “still hard for newcomers, still somewhat punishing, but when compared to other motorbike racing simulators, it’s like playing Mario Kart“. As always, it does feature a ton of tutorials and racing aids to make this seemingly newcomer-unfriendly title less intimidating for rookies. However, it will require a bit of patience and hard work from you before you’re able to actually beat races with ease. You will fall down a few dozen times at first. The usage of the DualSense’s adaptive triggers remains the same; no need to fix what isn’t broken.

What makes this game better than any other MotoGP title, as well as any other motorbike racing simulator in recent memory, is a mode called Nine Season 2009. In it, you’re thrown into the 2009 MotoGP season. Yeah, you read that right. The best part about this 2022 game is being able to relive 2009. The reason for it is simple: 2009 is arguably considered the best season in MotoGP history, with four main pilots battling neck to neck for the trophy, with some shocking upsets and heroic antics along the way.

You’re then told to relive these highlights via a handful of scenarios, all while being greeted to some incredibly well-narrated cutscenes featuring footage of the season in question. It’s like having a Discovery Turbo documentary featured inside an already excellent story mode, complete with a surprising amount of unlockable pilots, which then become available on MotoGP 22‘s more traditional “arcade modes”.

MotoGP 22 might just look like another yearly (albeit competent) outing in Milestone’s long-running motorbike racing series, but the addition of the Nine Season 2009 mode, a jaw-dropping retelling and recreation of what’s considered the best season in bike racing history, makes it not only stand out from its peers and predecessors, but also turn it into an actual must-have for racing game enthusiasts. Take a bit of time learning its tricky physics and intricacies, then dive into one of the best modes I’ve seen in a racing game in the past few years.

 

Graphics: 7.5 Very little has changed in terms of visuals. Bikes look amazing, the framerate is incredibly smooth, while props and characters look like they’re still stuck in the PS4 era.	Gameplay: 7.5 MotoGP 22 is still harsh for newcomers, despite its myriad of racing aids, but it’s still somewhat more user-friendly than most motorbike simulators out in the market. As always, it does take advantage of the DualSense’s adaptive triggers.
Sound: 8.0 In theory, not very different from other MotoGP and Milestone outings (aside from Hot Wheels, that is). However, the narration during the Nine Season mode is just downright excellent.	Fun Factor: 8.0 What makes MotoGP 22 stand out from its predecessors and its peers is its fantastic retelling of the 2009 MotoGP season, complete with quests, unlockables, and phenomenal narration.
Final Verdict: 8.0

MotoGP 22 is available now on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X, PC, and Nintendo Switch.

Reviewed on PS5.

A copy of MotoGP 22 was provided by the publisher.