MXGP 2019: The Official Motocross Videogame key

I've put enough hours into Milestone's two-wheel lineup to know when one of their games actually clicks, and MXGP 2019 is the point in this franchise where things start feeling genuinely coherent rather than just competent. It sits firmly on the simulation side of the dial, but the assists menu is generous enough that a newcomer can dial back the rider body-weight simulation and advanced physics, find a difficulty that doesn't humiliate them, and gradually work up to the full experience. The very first thing the game teaches you is how to nail the holeshot off the start gate, which is exactly the kind of onboarding detail that tells you the developers were paying attention this time around. The on-track product is where MXGP 2019 earns its Very Positive rating. Running on Unreal Engine 4, the mud and dirt surfaces look genuinely convincing, and the track deformation system is real: ruts get deeper as more riders chew through them, rain creates impromptu puddles, and by the end of a race you are navigating a different piece of ground than the one you started on. That forces you to adapt your line mid-race rather than memorise one clean path and repeat it. Bikes from Kawasaki, Yamaha, KTM, and Honda are all here with full licenses, and pre-race bike setup, covering things like gearing for tight tracks versus sweeping layouts, actually matters to your lap time. The AI respects your space on track and does not rubber-band when you are riding well, which is a bigger compliment than it sounds for this genre. The mode list is the honest point of debate. Season mode lets you race the full 2019 MXGP and MX2 calendar, choosing to join an official factory team or sign with a sponsor in a custom outfit. Grand Prix, Time Attack, and Championship round out the solo options. The two headline additions for this entry are the Track Editor, which lets you build and share custom layouts across four environments including forest and desert, and the Playground, a free-roam area set in Provence that hosts Waypoint challenges, timed runs, and general practice. The Track Editor is approachable thanks to a solid tutorial and a three-minute cap on track length that keeps community content from becoming a chore to sample. The Playground is the looser, more laid-back corner of the game and the best spot to hand a first-timer a controller and let them mess around without consequence. Neither mode is flawless: the Playground feels a bit thin compared to genuine open-world racers, and online matchmaking has historically been patchy with long lobby waits. A few rough edges are worth flagging. The auto-reset system, which teleports your bike back to the track if you drift too far off-course, fires too quickly and will cost you positions in a way that feels punitive rather than fair. Load times between races in a Grand Prix are longer than they should be. The audio side of things is the weakest link: engine sounds do the job but there is no race commentary, and the atmosphere that other licensed sports titles build through TV-style presentation is largely absent. On PC specifically, keyboard controls are a non-starter so a gamepad is the minimum, and if you own a wheel with force-feedback the rumble effects add a noticeable layer of feel to rough terrain. No split-screen is present, which is a genuine miss for the couch crowd. For motocross fans who want the full 2019 FIM World Championship license, proper track deformation, and a physics model that rewards learning its depth, MXGP 2019 is the strongest the series has been. Casual riders and those looking for a four-player party game will want to manage expectations: this is a solo or online sim first, a social experience a distant second.

Riley · Scout Team

Sports & racing

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