America's 25 Most INTENSE Coasters

No, your experience on the Hulk was not due to lack of sleep. I’ve been to universal several times over the years, so going into this year I thought had a really good feel for it. My mom and I rode it back to back in row 8 towards the end of our first day, and to say I was shocked is an understatement. I got off dizzy and having greyed out, and my 59 year old mother looked at me and asked if it was normal to experience temporary vision loss on a coaster. On a coaster we have both ridden dozens of times, and had some pretty weak ones during my most recent visit, I’ve never been as shook as I was this time around. I don’t know what the hell happened to this ride but I’m all for it.

I’m 53 and will be getting credit #600 in a few weeks with Iron Gwazi. You definitely feel the G forces more with age, especially the inversions on inverts. You’re not old yet Chris! Enjoy it!

Yeah I305 still one of my favorites because of it’s intensity and I haven’t ridden it about 10 years. Hoping to go back to Kings Dominion this year though!

Backrow of Aftershock at Silverwood was like riding a drop tower and coaster all in 1! Rest of ride is nuts, including getting caught on the back spike backwards.

I'm 34 so I guess I'm old too..HAHA! But I definitely cannot handle intense coasters like I used to. It's insane how I could marathon a Batman The Ride clone 10 years ago, and now I ride twice and need to take a break lol. When I go to SFMM I'll ride X2, Twisted Colossus, Viper and Tatsu and I am completely wiped after them. It's insane.

Nice representation of older coasters. I think mfg's are much better at smoothing out overly intense elements today and in days gone by some pretty crazy forces made it through to the final product.

Surprised that none of the larger rmcs were here. Steve, Iron Gwazi, and Zadra are some really intense rides.

Incredible Hulk was absolutely hauling this year. Hadn't ridden it in a while, and when I went back over the winter, I was amazed at how intense it was. Had to brace myself, and I was still graying out entering the cobra roll. The crushing forces plus the slight rattle combined into an absolutely amazing experience, definitely moved it up my list in my opinion.

Definitely agree with putting Batman over Montu. Montu's individual elements are probably more forceful; but they're spread out over a much larger course, giving the rider a chance to breathe between doses of positive Gs. Batman is far more relentless. Also agree that Hulk is more intense (and also better) than Kumba. The first section before the misty tunnel is just insane. I need to give X2 another shot. My one ride on it was super uncomfortable. I couldn't quite get the restraints tight enough to prevent me from being jostled around, and I was in an outboard seat. If pain equals intensity, X2 easily tops my list, lol.

Excellent work 👍🏻! Definitely agree with Intimidator 305 being number 1. I've heard it said that Intamin blended the height and speed of Millennium Force with the intense layout of Maverick to create I305. I definitely agree with that, and, you're assessment at number 1. Love your channel man, seeing things about your presentation that I may start to add into my own niche! Well done!

After riding Kumba and Kraken basically back to back this year I'm absolutely amazed at how smooth Kumba remains and just how good it is. Kraken unfortunately is in dire need of a refurb but Kumba runs every bit as well as it did the last time I rode it 20 years ago. A 30 year old coaster has no business being this smooth and this good! The Hulk is a great coaster but it's almost TOO much for me at this point. I still enjoy it a lot but I always come off of it with a slight headache. And you aren't that old. I'm 51 and my mom is 69 and we both still ride coasters.

"Twister" at Knoebels, with its nonstop laterals, always leaves me shaken up when I get off.

Legend is easily one of the most intense coasters I’ve ridden. The laterals on it are no joke, especially in the wild helix

I'm glad the intensity of roller coasters increases with age. I always thought that roller coasters needed to be more intense.

Good point on flight deck, I’d forgotten that, the final helix especially is seriously intense! Maybe I’m confusing it for the roughness, but I always found the Deja vu clones pretty intense?

This coaster list is fire. I would love to see a video like this, but of flat rides. Gravitron, that little spaceship with the 99° heat inside with the DJ in the middle playing Def Leopard always gives me a 4 second greyout. I think it would be a fun vid to make and watch. Love your work. All your stuff is quality

Your content and research is nothing short of amazing. Being an "old" coaster enthusiast myself I definitely can't hang the way I used too. That being said, Tastu deserved a spot on this list. The lift hill looking STRAIGHT DOWN over 180ft in the air is a hell of an intense way to start the ride. The Zero-G roll is a Tatsu exclusive, the dive toward the ground by Ninja and let's not even mention that pretzel loop that pulls 4.5gs. Joker at SFDK also could have made the list. The underflip inversion topped off with the stall, heart line rolls and wave turn in such a compact layout definitely fits the rapid-fire intensity definition and the airtime humps will throw you out of your seat ESPECIALLY in the back. Now about the Great Nor'easter. This is the ONLY SLC I actually WANT to ride. It was updated in 07 with the freedom restraints (shoulder bars with rubber straps like Blue streak at SFOG) and again in 2009 with brand-new track from CMS that used a slightly more flexible track material. The park went crazy with advertising the make over with "It's so smooth your grandmother can ride it" and topped it off with the first ride being nothing but grandma's. From all the reviews I've read/watched this is something that all parks should do to not only their SLCs but also their Boomerangs.

I can’t believe you didn’t find Steel Vengeance that intense. I’ve been on many intense coasters on this list and otherwise, I305, Batmans, Wonder Woman, Titan, etc., and expected SV to be very intense. I was still blown away. It’s like a marathon, with strong/sudden/sustained air, HARD lats at points (slammed my ribs against the seat many times), combo ejector air and lats, quick direction changes, rapid fire elements at times, high speeds. Maybe it’s not super heavy on positives like say I305, and I respect that these are your thoughts, but I know for sure it would be near the top of my list if I were to make one. Xcelerator on the other hand…just perfect launch and tophat, but the rest was decently fun but not remotely intense to me.

The really old intense coaster I’d say I went on is Hades at Mount Olympus as after I got off I felt like I couldn’t breathe.

I really appreciate the fact that you consider all the forces here. Too many people just equate intensity with positive g's, but like, are you going to tell me then that the Rolling Thunder Hill isn't intense?