Skip to main content

Ride 3

Despite its niche appeal, RIDE 3 arguably delivers the best two-wheeled video game experience to date.
Ride 3 Game Cover
73%Game Brain Score
graphics, gameplay
stability, grinding
78% User Score Based on 1,592 reviews
Critic Score 68%Based on 17 reviews

Platforms

Xbox Series X|SPCPlaystation 5Playstation 4Xbox OneXboxSteam DeckWindowsPlayStation
Ride 3 Game Cover

About

Ride 3 is a single player and multiplayer open world racing game. It was developed by Milestone S.r.l. and was released on November 30, 2018. It received mostly positive reviews from both critics and players.

Ride the most beautiful and powerful bikes ever crafted. Explore the most amazing roads in the world on your two wheels companion. Customize your bike's every single detail, making it a reflection of your riding style and your own personality. Feel the adrenaline, the competition, the freedom.

Skip User Reviews

78%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,592 reviews
graphics131 positive mentions
stability24 negative mentions

  • Extensive variety of realistic motorcycles from different manufacturers and eras with distinct handling and customization options.
  • Realistic and enjoyable riding physics providing a satisfying sense of speed and immersion, especially in first-person helmet view.
  • Good selection of detailed tracks including official circuits and road-based courses with weather effects and day/night cycles.
  • Unfair and inconsistent AI behavior where opponents often ram players, have unpredictable difficulty spikes, and utilize faster DLC bikes without penalty.
  • Frequent crashes and technical issues on modern hardware and Windows 10/11 making the game unplayable for some users.
  • Career mode can be repetitive and restrictive with frustrating requirements such as winning every race to progress and locked bikes behind DLC and achievements.
  • graphics
    238 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game show a significant improvement over its predecessor, featuring detailed, realistic bike models and smooth performance on capable hardware, with visuals praised for their sharpness and vividness. While the overall graphical quality is considered good to great for its release time, some reviewers note dated track backgrounds, occasional bugs, and issues particularly on AMD graphics cards. Customization options and the livery editor add to the visual appeal, though the game’s graphics sometimes strain optimization during intense races.

    • “The graphics are razor sharp with an awesome feeling of speed when playing the game in 1st person view.”
    • “Graphics are stunning, the amount of customization for hundreds of bikes is insane, the controls are very easy to pick up and play, and the physics have a very different learning curve from that of cars.”
    • “The graphics are beautiful, the tracks are very well made and realistic, the bikes are of the utmost quality and are highly customizable.”
    • “So many graphical issues and bugs, still rife years later.”
    • “So i guess theres a bug where all of the characters are invisible and a wrong texture if you have an AMD graphics card and I'm surprised this game has been out this long and not fixed that.”
    • “The helmet view still hasn't improved (it's changed but now it feels crappier), the gameplay is boring and feels somewhat like the game Road Rage and the visuals are bad; it just sucks, I'm sorry but it does.”
  • gameplay
    90 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay is praised for its realistic bike handling, extensive bike variety, and mechanical depth, appealing strongly to motorcycle enthusiasts and simulation fans. While physics and tuning options offer an engaging experience, some players note issues such as unbalanced difficulty, occasional bugs, and a somewhat niche appeal due to a steep learning curve. Overall, the gameplay delivers solid, immersive racing mechanics with smooth, intuitive controls, though it may not satisfy those seeking more casual or visually polished experiences.

    • “The gameplay feels good, and riding the bikes is fun, mainly because each type handles a bit differently.”
    • “Riding experience is exceptionally good, with over 300 bikes, each one a bit different than the others, good sound quality, good quality graphics with reasonable low hardware requirements, plenty of events, around 100 hours of gameplay. There are bugs but they do not affect gameplay enough to get distracted or angry.”
    • “Mechanically, players can fine-tune their bikes by adjusting suspension settings, modifying gear ratios, and upgrading performance parts.”
    • “Gameplay and graphics seem buggy and cheap.”
    • “The bad: cardboard crowd, janky physics, baffling control mechanics.”
    • “But these few blunders in game-play mechanics make it totally unplayable.”
  • optimization
    52 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game generally runs smoothly and is well optimized on a range of hardware, with improved performance over its predecessor and options for various graphical settings. However, users report occasional stuttering and inconsistent frame rates, especially during multiplayer or races with many AI opponents, alongside balance issues in AI performance that affect the fairness of races. The performance points system and AI behavior also contribute to perceived imbalances, somewhat detracting from an otherwise solid tuning and customization experience.

    • “Mechanically, players can fine-tune their bikes by adjusting suspension settings, modifying gear ratios, and upgrading performance parts.”
    • “These changes have a tangible impact on handling and speed, rewarding players who take the time to understand how adjustments influence performance.”
    • “The optimization is also great, considering that I'm running a 1070 and put the graphics to max it runs at a steady 140fps.”
    • “Great, smooth sim-cade driving model, pleasant graphics, perceptible love for motorcycles and overall style – they’re all ruined by random AI performance, artificial boost for first two opponents during most events in career mode, forced grinding and favoring only the fastest motorcycles with a full set of upgrades for specific races.”
    • “9/10 for a bike game, 7/10 in general (due to UE4 being dogfooded, the devs being incompetent, thus making this game's performance inconsistent).”
    • “Third performance is random; there are random times where FPS drops with no reason despite running the game at max settings with 32GB DDR4 3200MHz, R7 3700X, RX5700XT, all up to date drivers, and audio issues on the game as well where random occurrences cause audio to be out of sync.”
  • stability
    27 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Stability in the game is highly inconsistent, with some users experiencing smooth performance and no major issues, while many others report frequent crashes, freezes, buggy graphics, and glitches affecting gameplay and animations. Problems are particularly prevalent on certain hardware like AMD cards and in career mode, leading to frustration despite the game's visual appeal and potential. Overall, the game suffers from notable technical flaws that detract from the experience for a significant portion of players.

    • “Runs great and looks beautiful on both my Steam Deck (60fps/720p/medium) and 4070 gaming PC (120fps/4K HDR/ultra).”
    • “So initial thoughts are this is fun, it's fast, looks great, runs great at 4K so optimization is good.”
    • “If you have an AMD card, stay away from Ride 3 on PC; the game causes crashes and black screens every 2 races (even if the game runs great on your system). It's such a shame, I was enjoying it at the time. I don't know if it also happens on GTX cards. If you want the game, get it on Xbox or PS4. Milestone puts more effort into those versions.”
    • “Way too many freezes, chopped frames, and occasional misplaced textures.”
    • “My passion is riding motorcycles and this game is good enough to fill the need to ride during COVID, but it is buggy, with sudden quits to Windows showing fatal error messages during gameplay. The sound also starts crackling and gets worse, with only wind and other effects audible and the bike sound cutting in and out.”
    • “The game simply doesn't work; it freezes basically every race.”
  • music
    22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's music receives mixed feedback: while the background and menu tracks create a pleasant atmosphere, the in-race soundtrack is often seen as lacking or unimpressive. However, the authentic engine sounds are praised for enhancing immersion, and many players prefer using their own playlists during gameplay. Overall, the soundtrack adds ambiance but leaves some wanting more variety or an integrated music player.

    • “While the soundtrack outside of races may not stand out, the mechanical symphony of revving engines more than compensates during competition.”
    • “Within a minute of launching the game the background music gave me good vibes, the game had me at the 'o...oowoe'.”
    • “First impressions, it looks great in 4k, plays superbly with good stable framerate, engine sounds are spine-tingling and the music adds atmosphere.”
    • “The music is nothing to write home about.”
    • “Also, something I missed out of my original review, but the background music sucks.”
    • “Game sound and music is far from being anything special.”
  • grinding
    15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Grinding in the game is often seen as excessive and sometimes frustrating, with many players citing forced repetition and artificial difficulty boosts that favor fully upgraded fast bikes. While some find the grinding rewarding when managing different classes, it remains a significant barrier for newcomers and casual players due to the time and patience required to progress and unlock content.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “A bit grindy sometimes.”
    • “The amount of grinding required just to unlock a fun bike is incredible.”
    • “I only felt relief after grinding out 25 tries to get that one gold I talked about before; the sense of accomplishment was not worth the effort, and I will not do any more of that.”
    • “Unless you have hours every day to waste 'grinding' a single race, this game isn't for you.”
  • story
    15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story aspect of the game is generally seen as lacking or minimal, with some users noting the absence of a clear storyline or story mode. The gameplay and racing experience overshadow the narrative, leading to frustration rather than engagement with any story elements. Overall, the story receives little to no praise and is considered a minor or negligible component.

    • “_meh for story but it's fine.”
    • “☯ story ☯”
    • “☐ few hours (10 - 20 hours) [if you focus on the main story]”
    • “No story line.”
    • “It's the same story over and over.... fight hard to the lead and on the last lap the AI suddenly shifts from motorcycle to bulldozer and just plows over you at any opportunity.”
    • “This has far more selection of bikes, but Ride 4-5 have been major letdowns in that aspect, as well as gameplay. The newer games look better but the story does not play better.”
  • humor
    8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game stems from amusing glitches and quirky physics, such as unexpected flips and awkward slow-speed handling, which add a lighthearted charm to the racing experience. Players often find the challenges and AI behavior both funny and rewarding, enhancing the overall enjoyment despite occasional multiplayer issues.

    • “Lean too hard and instead of a graceful slide, you’ll perform a weird mid-air somersault that’s equal parts hilarious and terrifying.”
    • “One was actually pretty funny, where I fell through the scenery and my leg was caught in the ground.”
    • “Funny thing: AI sticking like glue to racing line :)”
  • monetization
    5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players criticize the game's monetization for excessive microtransactions and advertisements, feeling it prioritizes profit over quality and comes across as a cash grab.

    • “Having played the previous games, it does honestly feel like they just "phoned this one in" and went for the cash grab option this time around.”
    • “Too many advertisements.”
    • “AUD $70 cash grab.”
  • atmosphere
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game creates a compelling atmosphere through detailed visuals, atmospheric lighting, and a fitting main music theme that enhance immersion. Coupled with spine-tingling engine sounds and smooth performance, the overall presentation exceeds expectations and contributes to an engaging, arcade-like driving experience.

    • “Visually, the game delivers detailed bike models and atmospheric lighting that elevate the overall presentation.”
    • “I like the atmosphere, the main music theme, motorcycles customization... the driving model is also very good, appropriately arcade-like.”
    • “First impressions, it looks great in 4K, plays superbly with good stable framerate, engine sounds are spine-tingling and the music adds atmosphere.”
  • replayability
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game offers high replayability thanks to its vast selection of licensed motorcycles, extensive customization options, and diverse, well-designed tracks. The variety of bikes and challenges, along with features like re-playable volumes, provide players with enduring depth and engagement. Recent updates have also enhanced playability, further boosting its replay value.

    • “With a huge selection of licensed motorcycles, extensive customization options, and beautifully crafted tracks from around the world, the game offers incredible depth and replayability.”
    • “The amount of bikes and challenges, plus the replayability and customization, is really well done!”
    • “The volumes are a great addition, which are replayable.”
  • emotional
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players find the emotional experience tense and frustrating, as strict penalties for minor mistakes like touching dirt, grass, or curbs can invalidate laps and disrupt gameplay flow.

Skip Critic Reviews
Skip Game Offers

Buy Ride 3

23h Median play time
44h Average play time
12-100h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 16 analyzed playthroughs
Skip Videos

Videos

Skip Games Like Ride 3

Games Like Ride 3

RIDE 4 ImageRIDE 4 ImageRIDE 4 Image
Games like RIDE 4
RIDE 4 ImageRIDE 4 ImageRIDE 4 Image
Games like RIDE 4
Ride 2 Image
Games like Ride 2
RIDE Image
Games like RIDE
RIDE 5 Image
Games like RIDE 5
Skip FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Ride 3 is a open world racing game.

Ride 3 is available on Xbox Series X|S, PC, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4 and others.

On average players spend around 44 hours playing Ride 3.

Ride 3 was released on November 30, 2018.

Ride 3 was developed by Milestone S.r.l..

Ride 3 has received mostly positive reviews from both players and critics. Most players liked this game for its graphics but disliked it for its stability.

Ride 3 is a single player game with multiplayer support.

Similar games include RIDE 4, RIDE 4, Ride 2, RIDE, RIDE 5 and others.