VMX makes pulling off BMX tricks in VR feel surprisingly natural, even if the ride can turn your stomach
VMX surprised me. I expected a fun novelty, maybe a few minutes of wobbling around on a virtual bike before moving on. Instead, I found a convincing little action-sports sandbox where BMX, mountain bikes and scooters all feel like they belong. The physics are the star. Riding up a halfpipe, pumping back down, popping a wheelie and carrying momentum into a jump all feel intuitive in a way that is genuinely impressive for a VR game.
I ride a bicycle in real life, but I have never tried any tricks on one. VMX still made me feel like I could learn, even though my 33-year-old body has no business trying to do a frontflip. The tutorial explains the basic gestures, then leaves you room to figure out how they flow together. You can let go of the bar in midair to grab the seat or wheel. A button and circular hand movement spin the bike for a tailspin. Other inputs let you whip your head to perform frontflips, backflips and sideflips. The gestures make sense quickly, and landing with the bike tucked back underneath you feels fantastic.
There is more to discover, including tricks that involve spinning the wheel, but the important thing is that the control scheme feels dependable. When I messed up, it usually felt like I mistimed something or sent the bike out of position, rather than the game ignoring me. That distinction makes a huge difference. The fun is in linking moves together and finding a line through a ramp or jump, a little like the pleasure of building a clean combo in OlliOlli, though VMX asks you to perform those actions with your whole body.
There are five maps, each built around a different kind of riding. The Bull Arena is the big spectacle, with a giant bull head that shoots fire as you launch through its transitions. Miami brings a more urban feel, while Stoke Valley trades concrete for dirt tracks, jumps and ramps. The other locations add more spaces to explore, and together they give you plenty of routes to practice. I liked that the courses encourage experimentation instead of funneling you down one correct path.
The modes support both structured challenges and casual messing around. Time Attack gives you a reason to learn the courses, races add some friendly competition, and Trick Repeat asks you to copy combinations against other players. Free Ride is where I was happiest, with no pressure to do anything but find a jump, try a trick and see if I could stick the landing. You can play solo or join multiplayer sessions with up to eight riders. I was glad to find active lobbies, often full of people showing off, chatting and generally treating the park like a hangout spot.
Customization is another nice touch. You can spray-paint individual parts of your BMX or scooter, which makes changing its look feel hands-on rather than buried in a menu. There is avatar customization too, with shirts, hats and other gear. Neither system changes the riding, but they give you room to make your setup feel personal.
On Quest 3, VMX looks great and ran smoothly for me, with only the occasional bit of physics jank. Its colorful maps and readable ramps do a good job of keeping the action clear while you are moving quickly. The main thing to keep in mind is that the camera follows a sport where your body and the world can suddenly rotate in every direction. That can be a lot for your stomach to process.
I rarely get motion sick in VR, even in space sims with full six-degrees-of-freedom movement, but VMX got to me. Barreling down the giant slope in Bull Arena, flipping through the air, then moving my head to line up a landing was enough to make me stop for a break. Comfort Mode helps considerably by easing the view through tricks, but even with it enabled, the queasiness can sneak up on you. Start with short sessions and be ready to take a breather. I found standing helped me reach the seat and wheels for grabs, though you can play seated.
That discomfort is the one big reason VMX is not a game I expect to keep playing after this review. The other is simply that, as good as the riding is, the BMX and scooter fantasy is not something I personally want to revisit for hours. But that is a matter of taste, and VMX does an unusually good job of realizing its idea. The movement feels responsive, the trick inputs are clever, there are several appealing places to ride, and multiplayer gives the parks a lively energy.
If you are curious about riding BMX, mountain bikes or scooters in VR, VMX is an easy recommendation, especially if you already have strong VR legs. Its physics and gesture controls make even a basic jump feel involving, and there is enough freedom to keep chasing a cleaner run or a bigger trick. Just take it slowly at first. This is a great sports game that may also remind you, very quickly, that your real body is standing still. Thanks for reading!
