MX Bikes

Gameplay

Riding a motocross simulator while your feet are moving sounds like a great way to turn one missed corner into a very long jog, so I’d treat MX Bikes as a game for an easy workout rather than a race you need to win. The bike physics are the point, and they also mean you can’t just lean on the throttle and hope the track sorts itself out.

I think the appeal is that riding a lap asks you to pay attention the whole time, since you’re managing speed, turning, and the bike’s balance instead of waiting for a story scene to finish. That can be a nice distraction from steady exercise, because there’s always another corner or jump coming up. It also means a small mistake can interrupt your rhythm, and now you’re thinking about what the bike did instead of how long you’ve been moving.

The setup options make sense for a simulator, but I’d leave them alone at first. Learning how the bike reacts is already a handful, and trying to tune your way out of every awkward turn before you know what you’re doing sounds a bit like adjusting your running shoes every time you miss a step. I don’t know how much patience you have for that kind of learning, but MX Bikes seems to ask for some.

There’s a good kind of repetition here. You can keep working on the same stretch of track and get a feel for it, rather than having a plot pull you away every few minutes. I like games that let you settle into a rhythm, and this one seems built around earning that rhythm through control rather than handing it to you. When you’re tired, though, getting the bike around a technical section could feel like a second job. Not the worst job, but still.

I’d expect the game to be more interesting once you stop trying to ride perfectly and start accepting that you’re going to make mistakes while learning. That is probably true of motocross in general, and it’s a useful thing to remember when the simulation is making every little correction feel important. There’s no need to make your workout another performance review.

Category Score: 2 out of 3

Treadmill and Bike Compatibility

The controller is a reasonable way to play, but the important question is how steady your hands and attention are while you’re using it. MX Bikes depends on measured inputs, and a controller that feels simple in another racing game can still ask a lot of you here. I’d keep the exercise pace easy enough that you can make small corrections without turning every bend into a guess.

A stationary bike sounds like the more manageable option to me, because you can keep pedaling while you focus on what the bike is doing onscreen. I’d start with the least demanding pace you can tolerate and give yourself room to learn the handling. The game is always asking you to steer and control the motorcycle, so there isn’t much time to look away and admire how athletic you’re being.

On a treadmill, I’d walk rather than run. The combination of moving feet and precise steering seems like a lot to coordinate, and if you’re bouncing with each step, your controller inputs could get messy right when the bike needs a small adjustment. I don’t know that I’d want to practice a difficult section at a pace where I’m already working hard just to stay comfortable.

I’d also skip the urge to chase a perfect lap while exercising. This is a simulation, so crashing or losing your line can cost you the flow you were trying to build, and suddenly your whole workout is about making up for a turn. That’s not a dealbreaker, but it’s not ideal if you want a game that forgives distracted inputs. Some people probably enjoy that extra pressure. I’d rather keep the ride calm.

Controller play makes it possible, and the constant attention could help the time pass, but I wouldn’t call this an easy game to manage while moving. If you’re on a treadmill, keep the pace modest. If you’re biking, I think you’ll have an easier time staying focused on both things, though you’ll still need to pay attention to the track.

Category Score: 2 out of 3

Computer Requirements

The listed minimum requirements are very modest for the non VR version, so an older computer with a compatible graphics card should be enough to get started. I’d check the graphics compatibility first, since the minimum calls for OpenGL support, and save the stronger VR requirements for someone planning to use a headset.

Category Score: 3 out of 3

Conclusion and Score

MX Bikes makes sense if you want a demanding motocross simulator that keeps your attention on riding, and I’d suggest it for easy cycling or a slow treadmill walk rather than a hard run. If you want forgiving controls while you exercise, this probably isn’t the one.

Overall Score: 2.33 out of 3