If you’re a fan of two-wheel racing games, Ride 6 on PS5 represents both a refinement and expansion of Milestone’s long-running series. This year, it is leaning into accessibility and breadth while still prioritising riding feeling and technical depth, even if it doesn’t dramatically change the formula of the series. Overall, Ride 6 is arguably the most complete motorcycle racing game to date, but its ambition shows through a mix of thrills and rough edges in equal measure.
At its core, Ride 6 is a racing simulation built around one simple idea: letting you experience life on two wheels in as many contexts as possible. The centrepiece is the Ride Fest career mode, a “festival-style” progression system where you choose your own path through events and challenges instead of grinding a linear ladder. You’re introduced to a cast of legendary riders, such as Casey Stoner and Guy Martin, and tasked with proving yourself across different classes and disciplines. This festival presentation brings more personality to the experience, and comparisons can be drawn very closely with the Forza Horizon series. Somewhat frustratingly however, the festival skin is really just that – a funky hub menu and UI that gives off a cool vibe (with some shockingly horrible generic rock muzak) without really tapping into biker culture.
One of the biggest strides forward for Ride 6 however is sheer scale. The game boasts over 340 licensed motorcycles from 21 manufacturers across seven categories, including familiar superbikes, quirky scooters, and newly introduced bagger and maxi-enduro bikes. Paired with 45 real and fictional circuits, this variety keeps things fresh, from tight technical tracks to sweeping road courses and, for the first time in the series, off-road terrain.
The choice to embrace a full range of bike types and events is a double-edged sword. On one hand, it gives you endless options and keeps races unpredictable. On the other, not every discipline feels equally compelling: I cannot get excited about riding scooters for example vs. some of the considerably more exciting street racing. In fact, some of the smaller disciplines feel just like that in terms of content, but also polish. Off-road is a nice inclusion, but limited track and handling differences make it feel close to being tacked-on.
Ride 6 introduces a dual physics system that aims to cater to both newcomers and veterans. The Pro Experience delivers simulation-oriented handling with nuanced braking, cornering, and throttle control, while the Arcade Experience smooths things out so you can jump into races without a steep learning curve. This is a great addition, and was seen in the most recent Moto GP franchise too, however even the pro handling here is more accessible than Moto GP’s so I would recommend this to begin with.
On PS5, the game runs smoothly at a locked 4K/60 fps, delivering crisp visuals and responsive controls that feel excellent with the DualSense… you can literally feel grip shifts and surface changes through adaptive triggers and haptics. Personally I’m still unconvinced by pressure triggers, but turning it down to ‘low’ in the settings still gives me the feel without breaking my fingers.
I suspect that some people will appreciate the accessible physics, as it can make Ride 6 feel like a natural progression from Ride 5 and easier to enjoy without constant crashes. Others may argue it leans too far toward “arcade-lite” physics, losing the weight and inertia that defined earlier entries and diluted the mechanical depth that simulation fans crave. Personally, I feel like even with the arcade option, it’s closer to the Project Gotham style of racing than Burnout. I’m all for it.
The festival vibe carries over to the Ride Fest career mode. It injects more personality and choice into progression, with a festival vibe, and events tailored to different bike classes. Unlockable content includes cosmetics, performance upgrades, and new racers. This progression feels meaningful without forcing excessive grinding although with Turismo-esque racers like this, the grind is par for the course.
Content-wise, there’s a huge amount to do, whether it’s chasing leaderboard times, unlocking every bike class, or trying different race categories. Yet even with all this variety, the presentation sometimes feels too familiar. For a series now in its sixth iteration, that may feel like both a strength and a weakness. Whilst the gamplay itself has been refined, I feel like the career progression is a casual at best attempt at iterating.
Milestone’s use of Unreal Engine 5 results in bikes and environments that often look stunning. Detailed bike models, realistic lighting, and smooth performance make the experience really sing. The engine notes are crisp and individually distinctive; V-twins growl, inline-fours scream, and baggers rumble with authority. Visuals aren’t flawless – some shadows can pop, shaders take time to cache, and certain ambient sounds, particularly music and crowd noise, can feel inconsistent or underdeveloped. These don’t spoil the experience, but they remind you that Ride 6 isn’t yet hitting the presentation heights of top-tier racing titles.
Online mode with cross-play broadens the game’s competitive appeal, letting you test yourself against others worldwide. Ranked and casual races offer plenty of reasons to hop online, although it is always a case of finding a lobby to race in – I would like some matchmaking options, or timed events like Gran Turismo or Forza offers. Still, it’s close and works well.
All of the customisation options you could hope for are here. Different manufacturers of equipment for both your rider and bike are here, with full flexibility to change the designs yourself. Whoever designed the UI needs a bit of a shake though, as the design editor in particularly is incredibly cumbersome and frustrating to use. There is not really an excuse where this has been mastered across many games over the years now.
Overall then, Ride 6 on PS5 is a passionate, content-rich motorcycle racer that gives fans of two-wheel action plenty to love. With a massive roster, varied tracks, dual physics catering to different skill levels, and thoughtful career progression, it’s easily the most complete entry in the franchise. That said, not every choice will satisfy everyone. Some players will miss deeper simulation fidelity, whilst others (probably most) will find the festival theme clunky. Despite this, if you want a motorcycle racing game with real depth, wide variety, and hours of enjoyment, Ride 6 is a strong choice that represents a genuine evolution of the series.
Reviewed on PS5
