Like most Ubisoft games, Riders Republic wants to be a lot of things at once. It wants to have Tony Hawk's Pro Skater's score-based competition. It wants to have Descenders' blistering speed. It wants to have Just Cause's wingsuited freedom.
But most players wouldn't describe Riders Republic as Zen. It's not surprising, given how bombastic each of the game's trailers and screenshots have been.
But now that, after multiple delays, Riders Republic has finally released, and players are finding the game has an unexpected Zen Mode. Hidden in it is a very different way to play the game.
Rider's Republic's Zen Mode
Ubisoft knows that there's a market for relaxing video games out there, and it's no surprise that Riders Republic tries to fill it. A person can take a death-defying mountain course on their bike, but they can also take a relaxing bike in the park.
Rider's Republic's Zen Mode allows players to free roam the game's world, without having to worry about earning any scores, competing with any other players, or finishing any objectives. The helicopter can take them to any starting point.
Conversely, there's no way to accidentally stumble into an achievement or progress. The game turns off progression systems while in Zen Mode, so there's no way to abuse it for easy stars. While the player can switch between any of their already earned gear in Zen Mode, they can't unlock new ones.
Similarly, players can't connect with friends while in Zen Mode, it's only accessible while playing offline. That also means, if the connection goes down, Zen Mode will be the only way to play the game.
It's not totally wasted time, however. Zen mode can be used as a practice mode, letting players familiarize themselves with Rider's Republic's maps before going online. The game also gives stars for finding important landmarks, so Zen Mode can be a way to scout ahead for them before visiting them in standard play.
Accessing Zen Mode
Thankfully, Zen Mode isn't hidden behind some unlock condition or hidden menu. Players can find it clearly labeled, right on the main menu.
It's not a drop-in drop-out experience, however. Players can't jump instantly from Rider's Republic's Career Mode to the Zen Mode. They have to back out all the way to the main menu to access it.
It's up in the air whether Zen Mode will be a frequently used feature. It removes a lot of what makes Rider's Republic unique, but it gives players a good training ground and relaxation tool.
Rider's Republic is available now for PC, PS4, PS5, Stadia, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.