Excitebike 64 is a motorcycle racing game developed by Left Field Productions and published by Nintendo. It first launched for the Nintendo 64 in North America on April 30, 2000, followed by Japan on June 23 and Europe on June 8, 2001. As the sequel to the 1984 NES classic Excitebike, it brought the series into 3D for the first time, delivering a more realistic and thrilling off-road motorcycle experience.
Players can choose from six distinct riders, each with unique handling attributes. The game features a season mode with 20 tracks, and completing races unlocks more tracks and features. It also includes a tutorial mode to help players master 17 different tracks. Actions like accelerating, braking, sliding, and using turbo let players feel the rush of high-speed riding.
A standout feature is the built-in track editor, which lets players create and save custom tracks, boosting replay value. It also has various minigames: stunt courses, hill climbs, a giant soccer match, and an infinite randomly generated desert track where players put out ten campfires.
Excitebike 64 received widespread acclaim upon release. Praised for its strong 3D engine, realistic physics, intuitive controls, and rich content, it became a Nintendo 64 classic. It was re-released on Wii U via Virtual Console in 2016, introducing the iconic motorcycle racer to a new generation of players.