You could take all of the actual goals and objectives out of Riders Republic and I still think I’d be happy to just simply drive around and soak it all in (there’s a Zen mode included where you can do exactly that, too). The landscapes are carefully constructed to turn simple stretches of terrain into bike paths or snow trails that put my skills to the test, even when I’m just freely riding around. No matter what sport I’m doing, the controls feel intuitive enough that I can navigate around the intricately designed world with ease. It’s a small complaint in the grand scheme of things. It’s a shame that the more natural and rewarding control scheme is the less practical one. You also get more points on tricks if you land them yourself in Trickster mode. Considering that the game gets chaotic with its massive multiplayer races, there were times when I really needed to adjust the angle to see over the herd of riders wearing long giraffe costumes that engulfed my field of view. Unfortunately, that means sacrificing camera control, which isn’t always feasible.
The latter feels much better, giving players much more precise control when it comes to executing and landing tricks. One maps tricks to face buttons, while the other (called Trickster) let’s players use the right stick instead. Players have a few different control schemes, but there are two primary ones. The only spot where the game gets tricky is in its control options. There’s such delight in flying through a canyon with a jetpack and instantly switching to a snowboard, then plummeting out of the air to slide down a snowy mountain below.
#Riders republic full#
The effectively simple mechanics put focus on what’s important: The sheer thrill of zipping around an open world with full freedom. Certain equipment can drift, boost, or pull of tricks, but nothing ever feels overly complicated. Riding a bike or skiing is as simple as accelerating and steering. That hook works as well as it does because the moment-to-moment sports gameplay is so easy to pick up and play. No activity feels like a waste of time or something you have no choice but to muscle through. It doesn’t matter if you’re good at the game or just there to mess around Riders Republic will make sure you feel like you’re progressing no matter what. Accidentally pull off a stunt while exploring? Here’s your star. Discover a landmark on the map? Take a star. Complete a race? Get a star, even if you place dead last. Just about anything players do grants them stars.
There’s a simple, but effective hook here.
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I’ve never felt so free in a genre that’s supposedly built on freedom. The game doesn’t really care what you do once it cuts you loose - and that’s a relief. The only real direction they’re given is to start competing in different events - there’s biking, snowboarding, skiing, jetpacking, and wingsuiting to be done - and earn enough stars to reach the ultimate Red Bull-sponsored race. Players are dropped into a huge map made up of California state parks Frankensteined together into a natural sports utopia. Riders Republic is, essentially, a much goofier spin on the Forza Horizon series. It’s not the deepest experience, but it’s one I was happy to pop into for an hour at a time and leave just as easily without feeling pressured to continue on. Whether it’s asking players to wingsuit through a canyon or bike down a mountain alongside 31 other players while wearing a giraffe suit, every micro challenge is a quick and digestible hit of extreme sports joy. Riders Republic works because it never forgets to be fun above all else. Who cares if a game has a million things to do if they aren’t actually enjoyable to complete? The key difference, though, is that I found myself actually wanting to complete activities, not feeling like I had to.
A big world with a laundry list of icons to bounce between? That’s exactly what you’ll find here. Riders Republic: Official Deep Dive Trailer | #UbiForward | Ubisoft ĭeveloped by the team behind Steep, Riders Republic is an open-world extreme sports game that’s not structurally far off from Assassin’s Creed Valhalla - just with bikes instead of longships.
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