Trials Evolution arrives on PC and Xbox 360 as a sequel built on a simple idea: make the motorcycle racing game faster, harder and more precise. The formula is familiar to anyone who played the original Trials HD, but Evolution pushes the difficulty curve higher than almost any other racer on the market. This is a game about failure, and it does not apologize for it.
Trailer, via Ubisoft.
Tracks and Physics
The core loop remains unchanged. Players guide a motorcycle through a course of ramps, jumps, and obstacles, aiming to complete each track as quickly as possible. The physics engine is the star here, punishing even the smallest mistake with a crash that sends the bike flying across the screen. Landing wrong means instant death.
New tracks arrive in packs, each with its own theme and hazards. Some courses add water, others sand, and some mix both. The variety keeps the game from feeling repetitive, even when the controls start to feel automatic. Each pack introduces fresh hazards, so a player who masters one set of tracks may find the next pack requires entirely different timing and positioning.
Controls and Feel
The motorcycle responds instantly to the keyboard or controller. A single nudge of the left stick sends the bike spinning, while a quick press of the jump button can send it soaring over a ramp. Mastering the timing takes dozens of hours, and the game rewards patience far more than instinct.
Difficulty settings exist, but they only change the number of lives available. The core challenge stays the same. That consistency means players either love the game or walk away frustrated, and there is little middle ground. The game does not ease the challenge by removing obstacles or forgiving mistakes; it simply gives players more chances to try again.
Multiplayer and Modes
Multiplayer is where Trials Evolution truly shines. Players race against each other online, competing for the fastest time on shared leaderboards. The multiplayer lobby lets friends join races together, and the game handles matchmaking well enough that finding a competitive match rarely feels like a chore.
There is also a mode that lets players build and share their own tracks, though the tools are limited compared to similar games in the genre. The creation suite is more a toy than a full editor, but it still offers enough flexibility to keep casual creators entertained. Sharing tracks with friends adds another layer of replay value, since a custom-built course can be raced against friends on the leaderboard.
Presentation and Sound
The presentation is clean and readable. Tracks are easy to follow, and the game rarely obscures the path ahead. The sound design is minimal, with crashes and engine noise doing most of the work. It is not a game that relies on music to set a mood, and that works in its favor, since the focus stays entirely on the ride itself.
Final Verdict
Trials Evolution is not for everyone. Its difficulty will alienate players who want a forgiving experience, and the lack of a gentle introduction means new players will spend hours learning the controls before they feel competent. But for those willing to put in the effort, the payoff is immense.
The game’s replay value comes from the desire to beat a personal best, not from a lengthy campaign. There is no story to speak of, and the game does not pretend otherwise. It is pure competition against yourself and others, and that purity is refreshing.
The score reflects this balance. Trials Evolution earns an 8.6 out of 10.
The physics engine is the star.
That line sums up the whole package. Everything else — the tracks, the modes, the presentation — exists to support the engine that punishes mistakes and rewards precision. If you can handle the punishment, the reward is worth it.
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