Parents' Guide to MotoGP 21

While this realistic racing series has never really been for casual riders, the 2021 model is clearly not for novices, newbies, or people just looking for a fun Sunday drive. Like previous installments, MotoGP 21 is a motorcycle racing simulation that gives you total control of your bike, letting you customize everything from the tires to the number on your rider's back. It also boasts realistic controls and physics, even if you opt to turn on some or all of the assists. It also has all of the events of the 2021 season, over 20 real-world tracks, and over 120 professional riders.

The problem, for more casual fans, is that you have to be one of those pros to do well at this game. Even with all the assists turned on and the game set to "Easy" instead of "Normal" or "Hard," it's hard to just take a hairpin turn, let alone do well in a race. It also doesn't give you the option to just run a race for fun. The career, for example, isn't just a series of races. Instead, you -- like a real pro -- have to deal with sponsors and manage your team. Similarly, both the Grand Prix and Championship parts of the Quick Modes section require you to do practice laps and then a qualifying run before you even get to a race. But while this game may be frustrating for casual riders and unwelcoming for newcomers, serious bike racing fans, and veterans of this series, will appreciate all the details and complexity. Not only have they reworked the suspension system to be even more realistic, but you now have to worry about your brakes overheating. This even now includes the official Long Lap penalty rule to punish slowpokes. All of which make MotoGP 21 a very serious ride for hard-core racing fans only.