Monster Jam Showdown (v2024.12.18 & ALL DLC)

Monster trucks feel properly huge here: loud, heavy machines that skid through mud, launch from ramps, and turn every collision into part of the show. Monster Jam Showdown trades simulation-minded driving for fast, forgiving off-road arcade racing built around boost, destruction, and airborne spectacle. Official favourites such as Grave Digger, Megalodon, and El Toro Loco sit alongside classic trucks and toy-inspired creations, giving the roster a welcome mix of recognisable icons and more outlandish rides. The mood is colourful, energetic, and deliberately over-the-top, whether the action takes place beneath stadium lights or in a blizzard-covered wilderness.

Races revolve around holding momentum across loose terrain, using a simple dual-control steering system to correct slides, and spending boost at the right moment to pass rivals or smash through obstacles. Aggressive driving pays off, as wrecking scenery and pulling off stunts helps refill the power needed for another burst of speed. Freestyle events shift the focus from finishing first to chaining wheelies, donuts, flips, jumps, and other gravity-defying manoeuvres while keeping the truck under control on landing. The Showdown Tour provides a flexible career path across racing, figure-eight contests, survival-style Horde events, Best Trick challenges, and Extreme Freestyle, with new trucks, paint schemes, and perks unlocked through progress.

Its best idea is treating Monster Jam as more than circuit racing: the same truck can be a racing vehicle, a stunt platform, and a battering ram depending on the event. Tracks spread from purpose-built arenas to dusty Nevada expanses, Colorado forests, and icy Alaskan routes, while sandstorms, rain, and snow add visual drama and occasionally complicate visibility. Split-screen competition makes it a strong couch multiplayer choice, especially for players who prefer immediate fun over exacting vehicle physics. Fans of Hot Wheels Unleashed, Trackmania’s stunt-friendly side, or classic arcade off-road racers should find plenty to enjoy, while Monster Jam devotees get the most value from its extensive truck collection and event variety.