Riders Republic

Riders Republic - Come And Get Your Downhill Thrills

Steep 2, Electric Boogaloo.

Taking the Plunge

Riders Republic is a massively multiplayer sports game in a gigantic open world. It includes sports such as mountain biking, snowboarding, skiing, wingsuit flying, and rocket wingsuit flying. Developed and published by Ubisoft, Riders Republic is available for PC (via Ubisoft Store and Epic Store) PlayStation 4|5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and Stadia. 

The Spiritual Successor to Steep

If you heard of Steep back in 2016, this probably sounds familiar. While Steep didn’t do so well, Ubisoft is taking the plunge with Riders Republic by making an incredibly massive map based on various national parks in the United States, with a handful of different sports to explore them all at break-neck speeds. From the look of it, Riders Republic doesn’t take itself too seriously, best epitomized by bright neon pink suits or a giant panda costume. With maps being able to support more than 50 players at any given time, cross-play and cross-generation support is a good call on Ubisoft’s part.

Concept Rating: 4/5

I’m a Giraffe

With the huge scale map that Riders Republic uses, it’s a joy to find that every terrain renders beautifully at 4k and 60fps. Ubisoft has done a great job to make players feel as if they are speeding down steep slopes. Parts of your vision will blur the faster you go, accompanied by a shaking camera and even desaturation. All of this works to create a tactile feel to the game, which is an absolute must for any sports title. In addition, Ubisoft has gone wild with character customization, meaning you can fly over mountain peaks and deserts while driving an ice cream cart while dressed as a giraffe. 

Riders Republic also sounds great. Alongside an upbeat, lively soundtrack, the sounds of birds and other wildlife help populate the open world. When you’re surrounded by other players, you’ll be met with the sounds of yelling or panting, which only helps increase the immersion. 

Graphics & Audio Rating: 4/5

Not All Sports Are Created Equal

Riders Republic hosts a variety of game modes. There’s the classic Career Mode, but the wide array of PvP modes is where the fun lies: Trick Battles, Free For All, Shack Daddy Events, and Mass Races. Trick Races, for example, require players on two teams to try to “paint” the arena in their own color by successfully landing tricks on various parts of the arena.

With more than 50 players populating the map at any given time, each session is bound to be filled with a wacky, wild sense of fun. With the lighthearted direction, Ubisoft has opted for, some players may be reminded of Fall Guys. However, Ubisoft has forgone local multiplayer, which is a massively lost opportunity. 

From skiing to wing suiting, each sport has its own set of controls to master. However, having such a divided focus across so many sports may have been to Riders Republic’s detriment. Each sport doesn’t take too long to learn, with some sports just not offering enough depth. Between everything, players will find skiing and snowboarding to have the toughest learning curve. Furthermore, it becomes apparent that not all sports are created equal when some impacts still feel floaty, lacking the proper weight and oomph. 

Lastly are the Racer and Trickster Modes. At any time with any sport, players are given the ability to switch between control methods, depending on what they’re looking to prioritize. A bit more fine-tuning will be necessary on the devs' side since it isn’t a flawless switch just yet. Along with this, Riders Republic allows for auto-landing, which is a great quality-of-life feature. Unfortunately, auto-landing isn’t available in PvP modes. 

Gameplay Rating: 4/5

One Hell Of A Ride

Riders Republic is a thrilling spiritual successor to Steep, having added more sports and a massive, gorgeous open world to explore. With over 50 players on a map with you at any given time, Riders Republic is one hell of a ride.

Replay Value Rating: 4/5

TL;DR

Riders Republic is a massive multiplayer sports game that doesn’t take itself too seriously, giving players all the lighthearted, speed-seeking fun you could ever want from a sports game.