Lanesplit did something I thought was impossible – it made riding motorcycles feel boring

The idea for Lanesplit is perfect. Truly, there’s never been a video game concept that captures the rush and adrenaline of being on two wheels, weaving in and out of fast-moving traffic; I just wish this otherwise incredible concept were executed properly. As an experienced biker who’s spent plenty of time on two wheels, this doesn’t manage to excite as much as it could.

Anyone who has ever been on a motorcycle on a dual carriageway or the highway can tell you that it’s a daunting experience. Car drivers do not look for motorcycles; you’re always going to be in someone’s blind spot, and there’s a very high risk involved with changing lanes and overtaking. Lanesplit understands this danger, but doesn’t cash in on the fear and fun of it all. 

The Escapist recaps 

• Lanesplit came out on January 28, 2026. 
• The game was solo-developed by FunkyMouse. 
• It involves driving motorcycles at high speeds into traffic. 
• The punishment for failure is not severe enough. 
• The game suffered from glitches at launch. 

No real consequence for failure 

The biggest mistake that Lanesplit makes is removing the punishment for failure. There’s no getting around the fact that you are (inherently) vulnerable on a motorcycle compared to every other road user. There’s no metal cage to protect you, no seatbelt to secure you, or airbag to absorb shock. If you hit something at speed, you’re in for a bad time. As someone who has come off a bike, this is the one thing that the game really had to do right, and it does not.  

The allure of a game like Lanesplit is getting a simulation of what it would be like to dodge cars without the (very real) consequence of dying for a mistake. Smacking into the side of a truck, railing, or car resets your score counter, fine, but the rider is otherwise unfazed as the bike remains untouched. A harsh cut to black or a realistic animation of being thrown off before meeting a grim fate would have sold the harsh reality of what you’re doing. 

As we pointed out in our Lanesplit review, other games that don’t make this the sole purpose of the experience, such as Cyberpunk 2077 and Grand Theft Auto, execute this concept far more effectively. Take this recent viral short of someone who modded out the Wasted screen in GTA V. They’re riding a motorcycle, they make a mistake, and then we see them die from the impact. It was the one thing that Lanesplit had to deliver on, and it doesn’t, which is disappointing. 

Still stuck in neutral 

With that said, there is fun to be had in Lanesplit, as (when it works), it can be an enjoyable time-waster. Building a decent amount of speed will cause the soundtrack to swell, encouraging you to fall prey to the hype and take more chances with how close you get to oncoming (or opposing) road users. The closer you get to them at higher speeds, the more points you’ll earn; it’s that simple. Much like in real life, gunning it down a tunnel or highway and flying past everybody else feels good, but there’s something missing still. 

For context, I’ve ridden everything from lowly 11hp 125cc motorcycles to middleweight machines like the Suzuki SV 650 and Kawasaki Z650, and behemoths like my beloved Gen 1 1,300cc Suzuki Hayabusa. There’s no other feeling in the world that comes close to getting your knee and elbow down on a corner or executing a perfect pull at a red light, which is why Lanesplit feels so frustrating. 

Motorcycle handling in Lanesplit isn’t fun. I haven’t unlocked all the bikes yet, sure, but the ones I have used all have the same floaty, imprecise feeling. There’s no real discernible difference in flicking through gears from 3rd to 5th at the top end, no feeling of torque or responsiveness to gauge, and the steering leaves a lot to be desired. Counter-steering and counter-balancing obviously couldn’t be translated into an arcade-style game, but it results in a sluggish feel. 

As a result, you’re either going to rely on the third-person camera to judge distance, or you can take the “zoomed out” view and hope that you weave through gaps. Control in Lanesplit feels inconsistent, and this is compounded by traffic literally spawning right in front of you. Around 15-20ft ahead at top speed, cars and other vehicles pop in, and you must weave then and there. That means you can’t work on roadcraft or plan your journey, which isn’t helped by the fact that your mirrors aren’t functional either. 

Needed longer in the garage 

That’s when Lanesplit works, but playing the game in its current state is frustrating. You can choose from three maps, traffic density, and conditions from the jump, but it’s a roll of the dice if this will translate or not. I opted for “heavy” traffic on the Sendai Loop and Atlantic City, only to come off a slip road in 5th gear down the highway and encounter next to nothing. Other times, opting for “wet” conditions on Grimsel Spiral made handling genuinely unplayable. 

Yes, an icy map like the Grimsel Spiral should make your motorcycle slip and slide all over the place at low, moderate, and high speeds, but it results in a frustrating gameplay experience. Is it realistic? Sure, but Lanesplit cherry picks when it wants to adhere to realism and when it wants to deliver an arcade experience. Potentially, a toggle switch of cosmetic versus gameplay-impacting weather conditions could have mitigated this. 

Then there are the bugs and glitches, which are numerous. Full respect to a solo developer working on Unreal Engine 5 for getting a game like Lanesplit together and out the door, but this title clearly needed more time in the body shop before it was rolled out. It isn’t uncommon for the bike to glitch, for vehicles on the road to merge into one another, or for you to go out of bounds. It currently plays as a proof-of-concept Unreal Engine 5 demo, not a premium paid-for product. 

Another lap around the sun 

Despite my criticisms and disappointment around the current state of Lanesplit, there is potential for the game to thrive. Tightening the controls, eradicating the bugs, and adding additional content could make this one hard to beat. As it stands, the game offers a phenomenal idea that could work given the proper time and care. Dodging cars on a motorcycle is among the most thrilling things you can do as a human being, so it can work as a video game. 

I’ll be playing more Lanesplit in my downtime to go for high scores and unlock more bikes. I just wish there was more to it and that what’s here worked properly, so I can’t recommend it as is. My advice would be to run the demo version for the 20-30 minutes of enjoyment it can offer before the annoyance sets in. We could see a redemption story here, just don’t put money down yet. 

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