Trials Evolution

Trials Evolution is the sequel to the popular physics-based motorcycle series by Finnish studio RedLynx, which launched on Xbox Live Arcade in 2012 and significantly expanded on the concept of its predecessor, Trials HD. The player controls a motorcyclist from a side view and must ride through demanding, physically accurate tracks full of ramps, seesaws, explosives, and all sorts of industrial and natural obstacles, where the bike's balance and precise weight distribution are just as important as the throttle and brakes. Compared to the previous installment, the game for the first time brought outdoor, more open environments instead of purely enclosed halls and industrial complexes, making the tracks feel airier and visually more varied.

A major addition was a full-fledged track editor, which let players create their own levels and share them with the community, essentially extending the game's lifespan indefinitely beyond the dozens of official tracks. Besides the classic race-against-the-clock mode, the game also offers an FMX submode with jumping stunt tricks and a lightly story-framed structure, whose humorous animations between levels give the game a lighthearted atmosphere despite an otherwise demanding and strict scoring system. The controls remain simple at first glance, but mastering precise balancing on the harder tracks requires considerable patience and many repeated attempts.

Trials Evolution was received by critics as one of the best digital releases of its generation and confirmed the series' position as a model for physics-based racing platformers. Its influence on the genre is evident in later series entries as well as competing titles that adopted the combination of demanding riding and tools for creating custom content. To this day, thanks to community-made tracks, it's a game that can be played virtually forever, and it ranks among the most cited successes of Xbox Live Arcade and the entire era of digital game distribution on consoles.

Why play it: Thanks to community tracks and tools for creating custom content, it can be played virtually forever, and it rightfully ranks among the most cited successes of Xbox Live Arcade and the whole era of digital distribution.