Vex X3M

Summary

Ever wondered what would happen if two of the most popular browser games of all time had a baby? Well, that’s the outcome of what’s happened here!

Vex X3M takes the long-running Vex series (which is now officially 15 years old) and gives it a Moto X3M-style makeover, handing the keys to the legendary fearless stickman. The result is a 2D obstacle racer that’s super addictive and frustrating in equal measures.

They may have missed a trick (excuse the pun) by not naming it ‘VEX3M’, but you’ll soon get over that when you dive into the gameplay. Prepare yourself to dodge saws, outrun falling spikes, avoid high-voltage electric cables, and try to land your bike without going headfirst over the handlebars across a huge selection of increasingly savage levels.

You’ll need to unlock new levels (with kudos from us if you can complete them on hardcore!), earn coins for new bikes, and tick off achievements along the way.

It sounds and looks simple enough, but the difficulty escalates, and you’ll soon be grateful for the many checkpoints that’ll assist you along the way. If you’re after a quick, fun browser game that rewards skill and patience while punishing overconfidence, this one nails it.

Vex X3M features

• Release date – August 19, 2024
• Difficulty – Intermediate/Advanced
• Levels/environments – 60 (30 standard + 30 hardcore)
• Number of bikes – 16
• Vehicle customization/upgrades – No
• Multiplayer – No
• Mobile – Yes (iOS and Android)
• Developer – Azerion Casual Games

Physics

The Vex-style stickman visuals might make you have low expectations, but let’s not forget that these guys are the OGs when it comes to delivering epic browser-based physics. They’re momentum-based, tilt-sensitive, and super harsh if you get the balance even slightly wrong.

Every input matters here. Tilt too far forward on a landing, and you’ll eat gravel. Lean too far back, and you’ll likely end up flipping backwards.

The bike responds quickly and responsively to throttle, braking, and tilting, which is great for experienced X3M players but means newcomers and Vex fans will likely end up watching the restart animation a bit more than they expect to (don’t worry, it loads up again instantly).

It integrates the core formula of X3M and other trials motorbike games, with the same tilt-to-balance, flip-for-time bonuses, and checkpoint-based progression. The key difference is the Vex vibes, which lean heavily into puzzle-like trap sequences and color-coded tile mechanics rather than the pure stunt tracks many of you will be used to.

If you’d rather try something more realistic instead, Stunt Bike Extreme is the ultimate pick, and it’s available on just about any device and playable in your browser.

Graphics

You get clean, high-contrast 2D visuals with the signature Vex stickman-inspired art style. The minimalist design keeps the focus on the gameplay and helps levels stay readable even when packed with hazards. The game-over crash sequences when it all goes wrong are satisfying, too (and you’ll likely be treated to a lot of them).

If you’re a fan of the Vex series and want to revisit the classic version, we’ve got Vex 5 hidden away in the archives. Or, if you’ve enjoyed the simple style on offer here but fancy returning to four wheels with realistic crash physics, Deadly Descent delivers non-stop chaos where simply keeping enough wheels attached to cross the finish line is an achievement in itself.

Vex X3M controls

PC/laptop/Chromebook

• W/Up arrow – Accelerate
• S/Down arrow – Brake/reverse
• A/Left arrow – Tilt bike backward
• D/Right arrow – Tilt bike forward

Note that the tilt controls are reversed when you’re going backwards, so keep that in mind when a level forces you to do so.

Mobile/tablet (iOS/Android)

Press the on-screen buttons.

Vex X3M runs perfectly on mobile devices. If you’re on your phone and want to explore more browser-based options, we have an ever-growing mobile games collection with loads of popular browser titles optimized for touchscreens.

How to play Vex X3M

Initial setup

The main menu gives you all the in-game options. ‘Settings’ (top left) lets you toggle music and sound effects and select your language. Your coin balance sits in the top right.

Along the bottom, two icons. The bike icon opens the ‘Skins’ shop (we’ll cover that below), and the medal icon shows the 20 achievements you’ll need to try and earn. Hovering over each medal reveals the unlock requirement and your current progress as a percentage.

When you’re ready, hit ‘Play’ in the bottom right to head to the level selection screen. Only the first level is unlocked from the start, and each level shows your best time alongside the three-star target.

Getting started

When you start the game, the timer begins the moment you hit ‘Start’, and every second counts. Get to the checkered flag as fast as you can while avoiding the many, many things that’ll do their best to end your run along the way.

Red flags throughout each level act as checkpoints. Touch one, and it turns green, becoming your respawn point if you crash. The timer keeps running through crashes, though, so every failed attempt eats into your star rating.

After crossing the finish line, a reward slider lets you time a button press for a multiplier on your earnings from that level. Land on the 5x zone, and you’ll potentially get a massive payout (you’ll need to watch a quick ad to claim the bonus, but it’s worth it if you’re saving for a specific bike). Even one star is enough to unlock the next level, but consistent three-star completions will help you unlock your favorite rides in no time.

Despite being a bike game, the balance and timing skills convert well to drifting games too, since both demand precise inputs and require a (fairly basic) understanding of weight transfer and momentum. 

If you’re after a simple, addictive one-more-try drifting game with similar physics, Drift Boss offers a one-button drifting challenge with 31 unlockable vehicles.

Game modes

Standard

The 30 main levels take you through a steady difficulty curve where the early stages ease you in with basic jumps and a few hazards, teaching you the tilt mechanics, what to watch out for, and the various tile types. By the midway point, the levels start combining multiple hazard types with tight timings, and this is when you’ll start to be grateful for the checkpoints.

Each level is unique, so you’ll rarely feel like you’re doing the same thing twice. One might focus on high-speed driving over collapsing tiles, while the next throws explosive TNT crates, lasers, and buzzsaws at you in rapid succession.

Hardcore

Once you’ve built up some confidence (hopefully not misplaced), the skull icon in the top-right of the level select screen activates hardcore mode. Once selected, the level preview frame turns red, which feels like a fair warning!

Hardcore takes the existing 30 levels and puts the intensity on steroids. Think more saws and spikes, bigger jumps, tighter timing windows, and way less room for error. It essentially doubles the game’s total to 60 levels, so you might wanna get comfortable three-starring the standard versions before diving into these.

There’s no online multiplayer or competitive modes. If you’re after that, Survival Race offers chaotic online matches where you’ll be drifting and jumping around on collapsing hexagonal platforms while (hopefully) knocking your rivals off into the abyss. Not feeling that? Our multiplayer games collection has even more options.

Obstacles and hazards

Learning what each obstacle does is half the battle. Here’s what you’ll encounter across the levels.

• Gray (concrete) tiles offer a solid platform, and can often be ridden into to knock over like dominoes, clearing a path forward
• Green tiles typically move or slide in a set direction to help you out

• Brown (wood) tiles/logs usually collapse in whichever direction you apply your bike’s weight
• Blue (ice) tiles shatter when you ride over them, so don’t hang around

• Purple tiles fall into the void the moment you touch them

• Pink tiles disappear temporarily when ridden over, but respawn shortly after
• TNT crates explode on contact with a bigger blast radius than you’d expect. You’ve been warned.
• Red lines act as electric cables or lasers, and even the slightest touch means game over

• Buzzsaws and spikes are the usual suspects, scattered throughout every course. Hitting those shouldn’t require too much explaining!

Throughout the levels, blue arrows give directional hints in less obvious areas, while exclamation mark signposts warn of incoming hazards like falling spikes (they could do with more of these!). The checkered flag lets you breathe a sigh of relief at the end of each run.

If you’ve enjoyed the chaos, be sure to explore our other stunts and crash games, offering many more options where things fall (or explode) to pieces spectacularly.

Bike skins

There are 16 bike designs in total, starting with a standard (free) motorbike. The game calls them ‘skins’, but they’re completely different bike designs rather than simple paint/livery swaps like the name implies. Your starter bike is more than capable throughout the entire game, since the skins are purely cosmetic.

Prices for the other offerings range from 100 coins for the cheapest to 5,000 for the most expensive, which is a candy cane-themed Christmas bike, as you’d expect(!) The collection also includes futuristic designs, old-school retro rides, a police bike, scooters, and what looks like a military-spec machine.

Four additional bikes are unlocked exclusively by watching ads.

If you’re after even more bikes, the Moto X3M series has loads of entries to explore, along with themed spin-offs like Moto X3M Spooky Land and Moto X3M Pool Party, which not only switch up the bikes but also the environments and locations.

Advanced tips & tricks

Try to land on your rear wheel whenever possible

Landing on both wheels is also fine, but touching down on the rear wheel gives you the most stability and allows the suspension to “collapse” optimally. If you’re leaning too far forward when you land on the front wheel, you can expect to go straight over the handlebars (ask me how I know!)

Get into the habit of doing flips at every safe opportunity

Each successful backflip shaves time off your final result, which can often become the difference between two and three stars. Even small jumps can fit a quick flip if you commit early with enough momentum. If you’ve enjoyed the time-chasing aspect of this one, make sure you check out Polytrack, a low-poly car racer where you’ll need to execute perfect laps over 100 community-built tracks along with global leaderboards to showcase your talents.

Don’t be afraid to hit the brakes

Full attack isn’t always the answer, and it’ll sometimes send you heading into sawblades if you’re not careful. Some obstacles require you to slow down or stop completely to wait for the right timing window. You’ll likely learn the hard way, but if you’re struggling and desperate to get the three stars, you can always restart the level.

Use ‘Restart’ as a bail-out if things aren’t going to plan

If you crash multiple times in the opening section of a level, your three-star time is probably gone. If you want another chance, hit ‘Settings’ in the top left and restart the whole level rather than settling for one star. Every second spent respawning from checkpoints is a second you won’t get back.

Save your coins for the bikes you actually want

Every bike performs the same, so don’t rush to buy anything. If there’s a design you’ve got your eye on, save specifically for it and don’t waste the coins on impulse purchases. Three-starring levels with the reward multiplier will soon make even the 5,000-coin Christmas bike achievable (although it might not be too appealing if you’re playing in the summer!).

Use the achievements as a secondary progression system

The 20 medals range from straightforward completions (finish 15 levels) to specific feats like 100 front flips or dying 300 times. Hovering over each medal in the main menu shows your percentage progress, and they add a ton of replay value with a wide variety of tasks if you’re a completionist.

Vex X3M FAQ