Gear

Motorcycle Games Gift Guide

Games riders will love this holiday season

November 1, 2018

Riding is top of the heap when it comes to fun things you can do with a motorcycle. No question. But since life continues off the bike, sometimes you have to find ways to fill that non-riding time. Sure there's work, chores, exercise, travel, food, friends, family, books, music, hobbies, and things like that, but if motorcycles still persist at the back of your mind, maybe a game is in order. Specifically, a motorcycle game.

There’s no shortage of motorcycle games either. I lost countless hours glued to Road Rash on my first PlayStation and have made a massive fool of myself in public trying to show just how good a rider I am on a small plastic bike in the arcade. Whether you need to pass the time in the airport on your phone, have some time to kill at your computer, or have the latest, greatest game console available, there’s a myriad of games to choose from.

Check out these Americana-Inspired Gift Ideas For Your Favorite Motorcyclist

We’re picking 10 of our favorites though, new editions and old favorites, along with some out-of-the-box selections that will require you to have a few friends handy. If you’re looking for some great ideas for motorcycle games, we’ve got you covered below.

Road Rash

This game is great if you love roadracing and hand-to-hand combat. It was originally released for the Sega Genesis console in 1991 and had five follow-up versions after that up for other consoles like Nintendo 64 and PlayStation. These days you don't necessarily need the consoles to play, since downloadable versions are out there for the PC too, but a quick browse on Amazon shows there are plenty of game discs and cartridges available for purchase. Its longevity also makes it appealing to a pretty broad set of players. If you're into that nostalgic look and feel, the early versions are going to be great. If you want a little more refinement in graphics and gameplay options, later versions still hold up.Electronic Arts

MotoGP 18

Every year brings a new official MotoGP video game, and these are always a lot of fun. The 2018 version is available for PC, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and Nintendo Switch. There are single-player and multiplayer options, ridiculous graphics, true-to-life track layouts, and levels of detail that will satisfy even the most well-versed MotoGP fan. This is one of those games that might take a while to get the hang of, but once you're cooking you'll be able to dive down the rabbit hole on your way to the title. Tire choices, bike development, strengths and weakness of your package and your competitors at each track—it's as close as we're going to get to being a racer in MotoGP.Milestone

TT Isle of Man: Ride on the Edge

Some of the same appeal of the MotoGP games factors in to this choice as well. TT Isle of Man: Ride on the Edge offers a perfect reproduction of the iconic Mountain Course. It's available for PS4, Xbox One, and PC, has career and multiplayer modes as well as online options so you can battle it out with up to seven players. The graphics are fantastic and there are 23 riders to choose from on all variety of bikes. There are other, fictionalized courses to select in the game, but the main attraction is the Mountain Course. It's a bit of a niche game, since spending up to 20 minutes on one track doing one lap may not appeal to players unfamiliar with the IOMTT, but for me this approaches a dream come true.Maximum Games

Raw Thrills MotoGP 42

If you’ve got an extra nine grand to spare for an arcade game in your man cave, Raw Thrills MotoGP 42 is the way to go. This setup only comes with one bike, but you can link up to eight if you’ve got serious dough to spend on video games. It’s an officially licensed MotoGP product though, so you’ll be able to ride as Rossi, Márquez, Lorenzo, and others as you lean into and out of corners on some of the most beautiful courses around. Of course it’s pretty cost prohibitive, but these are scattered all over in arcades these days, and though I was terrible on one when I played a while back, it was well worth the dollar it cost to have a go.Raw Thrills

Harley-Davidson Live to Ride Edition Monopoly

The Harley-Davidson Live to Ride Edition puts an interesting twist on the classic Monopoly board game. Instead of gobbling up properties, you amass wealth by owning some of H-D's most iconic motorcycles and other rare H-D kit. I still enjoy a good analog game now and then, and even if I've been trounced at Monopoly too many times to count, this special edition would have me convinced to give it another go.USAopoly

Highway Rider

This is a fun but sometimes frustrating smartphone game. The premise is you’re a rider on the highway and you get points for close calls, dodging traffic, and other obstacles. You unlock other riders and courses as you progress, and there’s also a fugitive mode that has you dodging police lines and cops unexpectedly changing lanes. When you do crash, there’s a nice tally of all the bones you broke and the hospital bill you should expect to receive. You swerve by tilting your phone, so the controls couldn’t be easier, and graphics are decent. It’s free to download for iPhone and Android.Battery Acid Games

Mad Skills Motocross 2

This is another app for iPhone or Android, and it's for the off-road player. You’re pitted against another rider in career mode and need to stay hard on the gas to score the win. You can load the suspension and adjust your lean, front and back, before and during the jumps to keep momentum and gain speed, or when you get a little cocky to throw in some flips as you leave your competitor in the dust. It’s a scrolling game in the classic style that’s easy to learn but addictive. You unlock different courses and bikes as you win, and if you register with a social media account, can participate in multiplayer games. This one’s free to download also, but you’ll pay a little if you want to remove ads.Turborilla

Excitebike

Excitebike is where games like Mad Skill Motocross 2 come from. The quintessential Nintendo motorcycle game, Excitebike holds a special place in the hearts of players who grew up in the '80s and has become a bit of a cult classic in our current age of nostalgic reverence. It's a simple but fun game, and if you have an old original Nintendo system sitting around that's still operational, you can pick up a cartridge for a decent price.Nintendo

Motorcycle-Shaped Cribbage Board

To get out of the video game theme a bit, I think this motorcycle-shaped cribbage board would be a stellar gift for the rider/card player this holiday season. This particular board is made from cherry wood, is almost a foot long, and comes with peg storage out back in the luggage rack. While not technically a motorcycle game, this game with a motorcycle theme is a nice change of pace. Now all you'll have to do is learn to play cribbage…Maple Landmark

Sturgis Panoramic Jigsaw Puzzle

Again, stretching the game theme a bit, this 1,000-piece jigsaw puzzle will take up just as much time as Excitebike or Mad Skills Motocross, but it's something you can do in real life with friends or family. This winter when it's storming outside and there's nothing else to do than sit around and watch TV, a gift like this would be a great alternative to the normal, day-to-day routine.MasterPieces