Six Flags Great America was my home park for many years, and I’ve ridden their roller coasters more than any others on the planet. My opinions on them constantly change each year, so it’s fitting that I update this “Worst to Best” list every so often. Let me know your rankings down in the comments!
Also, I won’t be including the two kiddie coasters on this list, since they can’t really compete with the larger coasters at the park. Sorry Little Dipper and Sprocket Rocket fans.
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13. American Eagle
American Eagle at Six Flags Great America is a wooden roller coaster known for its twin-track design, featuring two separate racing coasters that offer thrilling, high-speed rides for visitors. The coaster provides a competitive experience as riders race to the finish line on this iconic attraction.
Almost all of the fun has been sucked out of this classic wooden coaster. First off, it rarely duels anymore due to structural issues. Also, it’s incredibly rough. Sometimes rough wooden coasters can be fun, but not American Eagle. The giant helix is still terrifying (in a good way) and makes you feel like you’re going to fly off the track, but even that is kneecapped by unbearable roughness. I know Six Flags Great America already has Goliath, but can we please get RMC to re-track this thing?
12. Demon
Demon is an Arrow Custom Looping coaster that opened in 1976. It’s not exactly a bad ride, but it does suffer from being a bit dated. It features two loops and two corkscrews that used to go through some awesome rock formations, but unfortunately Six Flags removed them in 2023 due to some wear and tear. Sadly, the layout is pretty boring compared to the other coasters at Great America. It also has quite a bit of head banging during the corkscrews if you don’t brace yourself.
11. Dark Knight
The Dark Knight is an indoor, wild mouse-style roller coaster themed after the Batman franchise. This compact coaster offers sharp turns, sudden drops, and a dark, immersive environment, creating an unpredictable ride for guests.
This ride can either be looked at as one of the most uninteresting coasters at Great America or one of the most interesting Wild Mouse coasters on the planet. This is because it’s one of the few indoor Wild Mouse coasters. It has a decently themed queue with lots of batman theming. This theming kind of continues on the ride, but it is mostly pitch black and hard to see. At the end of the day, Dark Knight is still a by-the-numbers Wild Mouse in a box, which makes it just okay.
10. Superman: Ultimate Flight
Superman: Ultimate Flight is a thrilling flying coaster that lets riders simulate the sensation of flying like the iconic superhero, Superman. With unique seats that tilt riders face-down, it offers an exhilarating and immersive experience as guests soar through the skies.
Ranking Superman so low is probably my first unpopular opinion on this list. This B&M Flyer might not sound that terrible at all, but there’s quite a few reasons why I think this is one of Great America’s weakest offerings. For one, it always has a long line due to its poor capacity. The layout is also pretty boring, with the only interesting parts being the pretzel loop and the inline twist. Even the pretzel loop isn’t very enjoyable due to its overbearing intensity that can cause chest pain. I know there’s plenty of people who enjoy Superman, but it just doesn’t do much for me.
9. The Flash: Vertical Velocity
I would’ve ranked this much higher years ago, but sadly is just not as good as it used to be. The Flash: Vertical Velocity is still a pretty fun launch coaster with decent hang time, but it has received a rattle over the years. I can’t get a ride without head. banging no matter what seat I ride in. Also, after riding Steel Venom at Valleyfair, I can’t help but wish that Flash had a holding brake. While there was a rumor a while back that Six Flags might remove this coaster due to adding Maxx Force, another launch coaster, in 2019, the recent re-theming of Vertical Velocity to The Flash probably means this will be around for a few more years at least.
8. Whizzer
Whizzer at Great America is a classic steel coaster known for its smooth, family-friendly experience. It features a spiral lift hill and a serene ride, making it a great choice for visitors of all ages seeking a more relaxed amusement park experience.
This is the only true “family” coaster (that’s not a wild mouse) at Great America. It is also one of only two Schwarzkopf Speed Racer coasters in existence, which makes it an extremely rare credit. The layout is mostly just a bunch of straight track and banked turns, but it still does pick up quite a bit of speed and offers some good fun. It might not be the most mind-blowing coaster at Great America, but it is still a must-do because of how unique it is.
7. Joker
Joker is another clone at Great America (a 4D Free Spin clone, to be exact), but it’s still a very enjoyable ride. Sure, the randomness of the flips and spins do make some rides better than others, but the overall product is still very fun. Perhaps the best part of the ride is actually how smooth it is. Although the ride was designed by S&S, the track was actually produced by RMC which makes it a glossy smooth coaster. I definitely recommend facing forward instead of backwards, as I tend to have more enjoyable and less disorienting rides there.
6. Batman: The Ride
Batman: The Ride at Great America is an inverted roller coaster that suspends riders beneath the track, delivering intense thrills with multiple inversions and high-speed, high-intensity action. This might just be a classic inverted Batman clone, but it still offers arguably the most intense ride in the park. It tears through its five inversions and many banked turns with such speed and forcefulness, which really makes for an exciting ride. I’ve even greyed out a couple times in the back row before. The layout isn’t that interesting, but for the first B&M invert ever its pretty understandable why it doesn’t feature more unique elements. If you want an intense ride then I highly recommend Batman.
5. X-Flight
X Flight at Great America is a wing coaster that offers a unique and exhilarating experience. Riders sit on either side of the track with no track above or below, creating a sensation of flight. This coaster delivers inversions, drops, and near-miss elements, providing a thrilling ride for visitors.
There was a time where I considered X-Flight a top two roller coaster in the park, so it breaks my heart that it’s dropped to number five. The layout and inversions of this ride are still stellar, but the extremely uncomfortable vest restraints make it difficult to enjoy anything. The coaster has also developed quite the rattle, which gets worse the further back you sit. It’s wishful thinking, but I hope Great America decides to re-track X-Flight at some point.
4. Viper
Viper is a classic wooden coaster that, unlike American Eagle, seems to be getting better every day. There are a couple circumstances you need to follow in order to get an outstanding ride, but they’re pretty easy to understand. First, you need to ride in the back to receive as much airtime as possible. It will be a bit rougher there, but not any rougher than your normal classic wooden coaster. Secondly, you need to ride it later in the day once the ride has already warmed up. By then, it will be absolutely hauling around the track. You can still get decent rides without these conditions, but I’d say the best is towards the back in the afternoon/at night. Viper never really has much of a line, so it’s always pretty achievable. Also, the park turned Viper backwards in 2017 which made the ride ten times better than it already was. Hopefully they do it again in the future so that more enthusiasts can experience it in its best form.
3. Raging Bull
Raging Bull at Great America is a hyper coaster known for its towering height and smooth, airtime-filled experience. Riders enjoy a thrilling journey with large drops and sweeping turns, making it a favorite for coaster enthusiasts seeking high-speed excitement.
I’ve given Raging Bull a bad wrap for the past few years, saying that it’s a mediocre ride despite being the tallest and longest coaster in the park. However, I’d say it’s riding better in 2021 than it has any other year. It’s not the most airtime filled coaster, but you can still get some pretty great pops of it on certain hills. I would actually recommend riding in the front row because, although it has slightly less airtime, you don’t feel the effect of the trim breaks nearly as much as you do in the back. There’s also this “freeing” feeling of being left out in the open with nothing but a small lap bar restraint keeping you in that I just can’t get enough of.
2. Goliath
Goliath at Great America is a colossal wooden coaster offering extreme drops and high speeds. With record-breaking elements and an intense ride experience, it’s a must-visit for thrill-seekers looking for heart-pounding excitement.
Surprisingly, Goliath isn’t my number one at this park. It’s still a fantastic roller coaster with some incredible elements and inversions, but the more I ride it the less impressed I am by it. The zero-G stall is still my favorite inversion on any roller coaster, but besides that I’m not blown away by anything. That said, you’re still getting a wonderful first drop, one great airtime moment and some relatively intense over-bank turns. It also has one of the coolest night rides ever. Since Goliath is at the very back of the park, you get an awesome view of the other roller coasters and their beautiful lights. It really is a stunning sight.
1. Maxx Force
Maxx Force at Great America is a record-breaking roller coaster renowned for its incredible acceleration, reaching 78 miles per hour in under 2 seconds. With multiple inversions and a heart-pounding launch, it’s a must-ride for those seeking an intense, high-speed thrill.
I placed this ride at number two when it opened in 2019, but my more recent rides made me realize that it has one of the strongest layouts on any roller coaster, despite it being so short. This machine packs a forceful launch and five inversions into a 23 second ride time. Yeah, you read that correctly. 23 seconds. Keep in mind that, before it closed, Top Thrill Dragster was 30 seconds long and only features a launch and large top hat. Even with it’s new refurbishments and backwards launch, I doubt Cedar Point is going to have a much longer duration on it’s hands. I’m not saying Maxx Force is better than Top Thrill Dragster, but the fact that they packed this thing with so many elements in such a short duration is a force to be reckoned with. There’s absolutely no filler, and each second of the ride counts. It’s really hard to pick a favorite part, but I’d probably have to go with flying through a heartline roll at 60 mph, which just so happens to be the fastest inversion in the world.
At Six Flags Great America, roller coaster enthusiasts are in for a thrilling adventure like no other. The park boasts a diverse lineup of coasters, each offering a unique and exciting experience. From the classic wooden coaster charm of Viper to the intense inversions of Batman: The Ride, there’s something for everyone. Raging Bull delivers towering heights and smooth drops, while Goliath provides record-breaking thrills. For those seeking a different kind of excitement, Maxx Force offers unparalleled acceleration and G-Force. And don’t forget the immersive fun of Dark Knight or the family-friendly Whizzer.
With so many options to choose from, ranking these coasters is a delightful challenge, as each one brings its own flavor to the amusement park experience. Whether you’re a fan of high-speed loops, gravity-defying inversions, or classic wooden coaster nostalgia, Six Flags Great America has a ride that will leave you breathless and craving more.
So, as you embark on your own coaster conquest at Six Flags Great America, remember that the rankings may differ from person to person, but the one thing that remains consistent is the adrenaline-pumping fun you’ll have on all of them. It’s a roller coaster paradise where the only certainty is that you’re in for a wild ride, no matter which coaster you choose.
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