MXGP 26 is the latest installment in the officially licensed motocross racing series, featuring several game modes and 19 official tracks from the MXGP and MX2 seasons. Players can choose between Championship, Quick Race, Time Trial, and Online Multiplayer, offering a decent selection of ways to hit the dirt.

One notable omission, however, is a proper Career mode. While you can create your own rider and customize their gear and bike colors, there’s no meaningful progression system to speak of. You won’t be negotiating sponsorship deals, managing relationships with teams, or making the kinds of decisions that shape your rider’s journey from rookie to motocross champion.

Up we go!

I can imagine that the absence of a Career mode in an officially licensed racing game might disappoint some players, but personally, I didn’t miss it all that much. That’s largely because I’ve never been particularly fond of these kinds of extras. I play racing games to race, not to navigate endless menus or spend ages fiddling with sliders. Career mechanics in motorcycle racing games often feel tedious and unnecessary to me, although I can certainly understand why their absence might be a drawback for some fans of the genre.

When it comes to the actual gameplay and riding mechanics, MXGP 26 delivers a genuinely satisfying experience. Racing feels engaging and rewarding, with riders battling not only one another but also the increasingly rutted and uneven track surfaces. It’s this evolving terrain that I found particularly impressive. Watching the tracks gradually change over the course of a race, and learning how to adapt to those changing conditions, adds a welcome layer of depth to the experience.

Wide range of customisation options (though no one will recognise you here anyway).

Another aspect of the gameplay I particularly appreciated was the almost textbook implementation of the DualSense’s haptic feedback and adaptive triggers. The controller does a fantastic job of conveying the sensation of the bikes’ engines, adding an extra layer of immersion to every race.

Overall, I found the riding experience more enjoyable than in many other games of this type. I remember Monster Energy Supercross 25 occasionally making its gameplay unnecessarily frustrating, something that MXGP 26 largely manages to avoid. After all, it’s worth remembering that video games are supposed to be fun, and MXGP 26 seems to understand that simple principle remarkably well.

This is what birds see.

Of course, an enjoyable riding experience doesn’t necessarily have to be a realistic one. And to be perfectly clear, MXGP 26 has very little in common with a proper simulation. Its physics system often seems to follow its own peculiar set of rules, with bikes occasionally behaving in ways that might catch players expecting realistic handling off guard. Nevertheless, I genuinely enjoyed my time with the game, and the simple pleasure of racing was more than enough to keep me entertained.

MXGP 26 runs on Unreal Engine 5, although its visuals are serviceable rather than spectacular. The riders and bikes look decent enough, and little details like jerseys fluttering in the wind are a nice touch. The tracks themselves also hold up reasonably well during races, but some of the surrounding scenery looks like it belongs in a game released several years ago. Overall, the presentation feels somewhat dated, especially considering the engine powering it.

Playing the PS5 version, I didn’t encounter any significant performance issues during races. The replays, however, are an entirely different story. Their quality leaves a lot to be desired, with footage that appears to run at 30fps or possibly even lower. Frankly, the replays feel like they exist primarily to be skipped. I can hardly imagine anyone willingly sitting through them purely for the pleasure of watching the action unfold.

As for the audio, the bikes sound perfectly fine, at least to my admittedly untrained ears. Nothing about the sound design particularly stands out, but I didn’t notice anything especially unpleasant or distracting, either. It’s perfectly serviceable, even if it doesn’t leave much of an impression.

Dirty rider, happy rider.

MXGP 26 might lack substantial game modes, realistic physics, and the kind of visual polish you’d expect from a modern racing title, but it makes up for those shortcomings with satisfying, punchy gameplay and an enjoyable riding model. It may not be the most sophisticated motocross game out there, but it understands how to deliver a good time. If, like me, you value sheer fun over hardcore simulation, there’s plenty to enjoy here.

MXGP 26 is available now on PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S.

Reviewed on PS5.

A copy of MXGP 26 was provided by the publisher.