Nothing beats the enjoyment of actually riding a motorcycle. But as most of us probably won’t get to try a Ducati Desmosedici GP23, Honda RC213V or KTM RC16, the new MotoGP 23 videogame gives you a taste of racing against Bagnaia, Miller, Marquez and the rest of the grid.
It’s out now, and you can buy it for the PC, PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S and Nintendo Switch consoles, although it’s worth pointing out that the Switch doesn’t get all of the features added to the other versions.
Everyone gets the chance to race with dynamic weather, meaning conditions can change just as in real life. And with the exception of the Switch version, the events will run flag-to-flag, meaning you can choose to dive into the pits and swap bikes if you think it’s worth it.
All classes are included in the game, with MotoE, Moto3, Moto2 and MotoGP, and the redesigned career mode includes ‘Turning Point’ events, so an outstanding performance in the lower classes could see you jump up to the next tier before the end of the season. And your opponents will have a personality and riding style based on real life, along with an in-game social network which can allow you to make friends or create rivalries.
If you prefer racing real humans, then there’s local two-player split screen mode, a new ranked option to match you against online racers at a similar skill level (both don’t apply on the Switch). Xbox and PlayStation console owners will also be able to race against each other (cross play isn’t for the Switch or PC versions).
And if you’re new to the MotoGP 23 videogame, or want to race against less experienced friends and family, there are new ‘Neural Aids’ to help with acceleration, braking and steering. Obviously you can turn these off as you improve your skills. And if you get really good, there’s always the chance of competing in the MotoGP eSports championship as a virtual racer, part of the actual teams in the MotoGP series.
MotoGP 23 is available as a digital download for the PC via Steam, the PS4 and PS5 via the PlayStation Store, the Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S via the Microsoft Store, or the Switch via the Nintendo eShop. If you prefer a physical copy of your game, then you can find it at various retailers, including Game (including the exclusive Day One Edition with a VIP Multiplier Pack) and Amazon.
If you’re looking for something to practice your skills, learn new circuits or to try and encourage others into motorcycling, then check out all of our coverage of motorcycle games, here. And if you’re really into sim racing and games on two and four wheels, why not take a look at our sister site, OnlineRaceDriver, which has detailed info including things like the full track list for the MotoGP 23 game, or every bike included in titles like RIDE 5 or TrackDayR.
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