You’re standing in the North End section of the park, and you hear it. It’s not just the standard scream of a roller coaster; it’s a weird, metallic clack-clack-clack followed by the sound of people genuinely losing their sense of where the ground is. That’s the Six Flags New England Joker. If you’ve spent any time in Agawam, Massachusetts, you know this purple and green monster isn't your typical loop-de-loop machine.
It’s chaotic. Honestly, it’s a bit of a psychological experiment disguised as a thrill ride.
Most coasters are predictable. You see the drop, you prep your stomach, you lean into the turn. But the Joker? It doesn't care about your plans. Because the seats are positioned on the outside of the track—literally hanging over thin air—and they spin independently based on gravity, no two rides are ever exactly the same. You might flip twice. You might flip six times. You might spend half the ride staring directly at the asphalt 120 feet below while your brain tries to figure out which way is North.
What Exactly Is the Six Flags New England Joker?
Let’s get the technical stuff out of the way before we talk about the sheer terror of the "beyond-vertical" drops. This thing is an S&S Sansei Technologies 4D Free Fly coaster. It opened in 2017, taking over the spot where the old Splashwater Falls used to be. It’s not the tallest ride in the park—Superman The Ride and Wicked Cyclone still take the cake for pure scale—but it’s easily one of the most disorienting.
The track is basically a massive "Z" shape. You go up a vertical lift hill, which is terrifying enough because you’re looking straight at the sky, and then you traverse three levels of zigzagging track.
There are no traditional "turns" on the Six Flags New England Joker.
Instead, you have these things called magnetic kickers. As your seat passes by them, they "nudge" your chair to start tumbling. Depending on how much weight is in your row—whether you’re riding with a linebacker or a toddler—the physics change. That’s the "Free Fly" part. You aren't being forced to flip by a motor; you’re flipping because physics says you have to.
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The First Drop is a Total Mind Game
The lift hill is 120 feet tall. That’s about 12 stories. As you crest the top, the seat usually tilts you face-forward. You aren't looking at the horizon. You're looking at the people waiting in line below you.
Then comes the first "beyond-vertical" drop. It feels like the coaster is trying to throw you out of your harness. Of course, the over-the-shoulder restraints are rock solid, but your inner ear doesn't care about safety ratings. It just knows that you’re upside down and moving at nearly 40 miles per hour. It's fast. It’s jerky in a way that feels intentional, mimicking the Joker’s own erratic personality.
Why Some People Hate It (and Why They’re Wrong)
If you read reviews of the Six Flags New England Joker on enthusiast forums like Theme Park Review or Reddit’s r/rollercoasters, you’ll see some "pro" riders complaining that it’s too short. And yeah, from the moment you leave the lift hill to the moment you hit the final brakes, it’s maybe 30 to 45 seconds of actual ride time.
But honestly? If it were any longer, half the riders would be sick.
It’s intense. It’s a sprint, not a marathon. Unlike the smooth, graceful airtime hills of Superman, the Joker is a brawl. You’re being tossed around. You’re seeing flashes of green track, blue sky, and your own shoes. For a lot of people, that sensory overload is the whole point. It’s the "palate cleanser" of the park.
The Seat Selection Hack
Here is something most people don't realize until they’ve ridden it five times: which side you sit on matters.
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The coaster has two sides—let’s call them the "park side" and the "woods side." Because of how the magnetic fins are positioned, one side often flips more aggressively than the other. Usually, the side facing the interior of the park provides a slightly more chaotic rotation. If you want a "tamer" experience (if you can even call it that), try to aim for the side facing away from the mid-way.
Also, the weight distribution is huge. If you want to flip like crazy, try to get two heavy adults on one side. The momentum becomes almost impossible for the magnets to stabilize, leading to those legendary "multiple-flip" sequences that make your vision go blurry for a second.
The Joker vs. The Rest of the Park
Six Flags New England is a heavy hitter in the coaster world. You’ve got the world-class steel of Superman, the RMC masterpiece that is Wicked Cyclone, and the floorless intensity of Batman The Dark Knight. So, where does the Joker fit?
- Superman: The king of airtime and speed.
- Wicked Cyclone: The king of smooth, inventive maneuvers.
- The Joker: The king of "What just happened?"
It fills a specific niche. It’s a high-capacity-ish thrill that doesn't require a 200-foot drop to scare the living daylights out of you. It’s also surprisingly accessible. The height requirement is 48 inches, which is lower than some of the "bigger" rides, meaning kids who are just starting their coaster journey can jump on—though whether their parents should let them is another question entirely.
Maintenance and Downtime
Let’s be real for a second. These 4D Free Fly coasters are complicated machines. Because they rely on such specific magnetic timing and have so many moving parts on the actual cars, the Six Flags New England Joker can sometimes have "finicky" days.
If you see it running with only one side of the track, or if it’s down for a couple of hours in the afternoon, don't be shocked. It’s a precision instrument. Usually, the maintenance crews are pretty quick at resetting the sensors, but if this is your "must-ride" for the day, try to hit it before 11:00 AM. Not only are lines shorter, but the ride is generally "fresher" before the heat of the New England summer starts messing with the electronics.
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Survival Tips for Your First Ride
If you’re headed to Agawam soon, you need a game plan for this ride. It’s not like a standard coaster where you just sit back and relax.
First, empty your pockets. I’m serious. Because the Joker flips you vertically, anything in your pockets—phones, keys, change—is gone. It’s not going to fall on the floor of the car; it’s going to fly out into the "No Man's Land" under the track. Use the lockers. They’re cheap compared to a new iPhone 16.
Second, keep your head back. The transitions between the "levels" of the Z-track can be snappy. If you’re leaning forward trying to look at the view, you might get a little "ear-slap" from the restraints. Trust the seat. Press your head against the headrest and let the ride do the work.
Third, watch the riders ahead of you. If you’re nervous, stand in the queue and look at how the seats are rotating. You’ll notice that some cars barely flip, while others go nuts. This will help you visualize what’s about to happen to your equilibrium.
The Verdict: Gimmick or Great?
Is the Six Flags New England Joker a gimmick? Sorta. The whole "4D" branding is definitely a marketing play. But is it a good ride? Absolutely.
It provides a type of thrill that you literally cannot get anywhere else in the park. It’s the unpredictability that keeps people coming back. While you can memorize every turn on Flashback or Pandemonium, you can never truly master the Joker. It’s a different beast every single time you click that harness into place.
It might not be the best ride in the park—that title is still a toss-up between Superman and Wicked Cyclone—but it’s arguably the most memorable. You’ll walk off that exit ramp feeling a little wobbly, a little confused, and probably ready to get right back in line to see if you can get one more flip than last time.
Practical Steps for Your Visit
- Check the App: Download the Six Flags app before you enter. The Joker’s wait times fluctuate wildly. It can go from 10 minutes to 60 minutes in the blink of an eye.
- Ride Early or Late: Like most popular attractions, the midday rush (1 PM - 4 PM) is the worst time to wait.
- Dress Right: Wear shoes with backs. Flip-flops will end up in the parking lot.
- Know Your Limits: If you are prone to motion sickness, maybe skip this one or take a Dramamine an hour before. The spinning is natural, but it’s intense.
When you finally get to the front of the line and the ride op checks your restraint, take a deep breath. Look at the person sitting across from you. You’re both about to have a very weird, very fast, and very purple adventure. Just don't forget to scream—it helps with the G-forces. Honestly.