Motorcycle Games

Motorcycle games put you on two wheels to win races, chain jumps and clear ramps. There are more than 150 here, free, in your browser and with nothing to download, and they're quite different from one another even though they all have handlebars.

Races, stunts and characters

The classic is the straight motorcycle race: MotorBike Racer 3D, GP Moto Racing 2, Ace Moto Rider or Dirt Bike Rally. You accelerate, brake before the corners and try to beat the other riders or the clock. On dirt tracks like Dirt Bike Rally, holding your grip is harder than on asphalt.

Then there are the stunt games, where the winner isn't the fastest rider but the one who lands best. Mega Ramp Stunt Moto is the clearest example: huge ramps and flips in the air. In these, work out your entry speed, because hitting a ramp too fast usually ends in a bad crash.

A good number of games use familiar characters. Super Mario Moto, Mario Motocross Mania, Mario Motorbike 2 and Wariobike Escape are the Mario family. Sonic Moto, Sonic Motobike and Sonic Ninja Motobike bring in the hedgehog, and Naruto Ride has Naruto. They're easy to understand and a good way in if you've never played a motorcycle game.

Some are themed, like Halloween Bike Racing, Zombies Rage Race or a Bart Simpson adventure game. They change the scenery but keep the same idea: ride and don't fall off.

What to pick

• First time on a bike: any of the Mario or Sonic ones.
• Racing that's a bit more serious: GP Moto Racing 2 or MotorBike Racer 3D.
• Big jumps: Mega Ramp Stunt Moto.

If you care more about balancing over obstacles than about speed, head to the Trial section. Here the usual routine is to accelerate, brake in time for the corners and tilt the bike in the air so you land on both wheels.