MotoGP 25, Should You Buy It?

The current MotoGP season is in full swing. After six rounds of racing, the legendary and greatest motorcycle racer in the history of the sport, Marc Márquez, is in first place. The eight-time world champion is showing skills from his best days, and now we ordinary mortals have the chance to do something about it. MotoGP 25 has arrived in all its glory, promising a slightly different experience of riding our favourite bikes.

 Since this game was released annually, and we did cover MotoGP 24, many might wonder how many fundamental changes can be expected. The answer is clear—changes are there, albeit on a smaller scale, but they exist, along with some shortcomings. Let's go through them one by one! I believe some of you find MotoGP generally off-putting due to its complexity. 

In the mood for something completely different? Check out our Clair Obscur review!

So What's New in MotoGP 25?

This year's edition of MotoGP, MotoGP 25, is a reason to celebrate. The game has made significant strides in accessibility, particularly for those trying a motorcycle game for the first time. While it's not a complete overhaul, the improvements compared to previous titles make it feel like a whole new segment of the game, ensuring that everyone, regardless of their experience level, can enjoy the thrill of riding their favourite bikes.

MotoGP 25 now includes an Arcade option in its repertoire. This driving mode helps you start your adventure in the virtual world of motorcycling in an arcade-like way. You don't have to worry about bike balance, front and rear brakes, or accelerating too quickly. You can casually handle all of this in races.

However, you must be careful when braking before entering turns, because you can't just turn at 200 km/h. The arcade racing mode isn't that forgiving. The game still primarily leans toward simulation, so remember that some elements are still present in Arcade mode, not to the same extent as in the Pro option.

How Are The Driving Mechanics?

Speaking of the Pro option, the game delivers what you'd expect: a challenging and demanding learning curve that will reward you if you master it. This is especially evident in rainy conditions, particularly during transitional periods where you switch from dry to wet tires. Getting to the pit box will be difficult, as track conditions demand, but it's liberating when you successfully change your tire compound.

The driving mechanics in MotoGP 25 have seen significant improvements. The bikes are more agile than before, and unnecessary elements like wheelies have been removed. The introduction of a pit limiter has made entering the pit lane easier, eliminating the worry of speeding. However, there are still some areas that could be improved, such as the consequences of not taking a turn well or leaning the bike too much.

Here, that's almost impossible unless you run onto gravel or grass at high speed—or hit a wall, in which case you'll crash.

Although the driving mechanics are slowly improving, MotoGP's greater progress is noticeable in other aspects rather than on-track possibilities. This is a bit disappointing, but I guess it's easier to implement some victory podium animations on an annual basis than to deepen the driving mechanics.

Ok Sure, But is MotoGP 25 Fun?

Racing in MotoGP 25 is undeniably fun. This year, the artificial intelligence of rival racers is top-notch, creating tense and exciting situations in races. The AI riders adapt to your skills, attacking and defending intelligently, and even divebombing from a distance, making the races feel dynamic and unpredictable. This human-like behaviour of the AI adds a layer of excitement and fun to the game, ensuring that every race feels unique and engaging.

The most crucial single-player mode is Career. However, here we encounter a big problem. The career mode has barely any new features, and you won't miss anything if you skip it, especially if you play new MotoGP versions every year. What's also disappointing is that the game suggests you're involved in bike development, but that's not the case. It's too simplistic, and you don't feel you've achieved anything significant.

The career mode needs a refresh to keep players engaged beyond the first half of the season. They could borrow some basics from F1 games if they're out of ideas. There is a rivalry system, but it's poorly executed. On the Track, drivers are shown with emojis borrowed from Gran Turismo 7.

These emojis can be neutral, angry, or happy.

But your racing performance doesn't affect rivalries. No—what matters is how you respond on social media. That's right—only then will your rivals change their emoji expressions on the Track. Post something they don't like, and boom—you've angered them!

The Thrill of The Race Off Mode

If you want a break from the career mode, there's the new Race Off mode. It consists of three disciplines: Flat Track, Motard, and Minibikes, designed to give you a mental break after intense career challenges. These are also part of career events, but work better in standalone mode. However, I doubt this will hold up in the long run due to the limited variety of tracks. But to each their own.

Flat Track offers dirt racing focused on bike sliding, Motard is asphalt racing with tight turns, and Minibikes—as the name suggests—uses small, lightweight bikes. In all three categories, especially Flat Track, the AI riders seem poorly programmed, as they take turns effortlessly while you struggle to slide into corners properly.

The Look And Feel Of MotoGP 25

The game's transition to Unreal Engine 5 has surprisingly improved its technical side. Even though I played on PlayStation 5 (and I'm aware the PC version might differ), everything runs flawlessly on the console. I encountered no technical issues, except for occasional DualSense vibration loss.

The controller isn't utilized to its full potential—I didn't get the same immersive feel as in F1 games. However, I'm confident this can be fixed in updates, and judging by what I've seen, the development team is already on that path.

MotoGP 25 is generally high-quality in presentation. It looks excellent, backed by rich backgrounds, and its sound has been redefined. We all know sound perception is subjective, but it must be praised for how clearly you can hear gear shifts.

Not only that, but the sound also adapts when you switch camera angles. It is even more enhanced when we use our XP Panther Sky Gaming Headset. Opponents no longer sound like vacuum cleaners—their engines are now more realistic, matching real-life track conditions.

In Conclusion

All in all, MotoGP 25 is a solid game, but one that could have progressed further in certain aspects. The impression remains that the developers are just one year's pause away from delivering an excellent title. At the very least, we can now recommend MotoGP 25 to beginners. 

Veterans of the series won't miss too much if they stick with last year's edition, but they also won't go wrong by trying out some of the new riding modes.

Final Rating: 7.8/10

While the handling and AI are improved, the lack of innovation in Career Mode and oversimplified mechanics hold it back from greatness. Still, it's the most accessible MotoGP yet for newcomers.

Recommended Age: 12+

The game's complexity (even in Arcade mode) requires some patience, but it's accessible enough for teens and up. Despite this, MotoGP 25 has an ESRB rating of E for Everyone.