Does Game Fuel Citrus Cherry Live Up to the Hype?

It’s the moment Mountain Dew fans have been waiting for all year: the return of fan favorite Game Fuel Citrus Cherry (which originally released way back in 2007 as a promotion for Halo 3) and the arrival of brand new Game Fuel Citrus Blackberry. As one of Sporked’s resident Mountain Dew connoisseurs, I have acquired both Mountain Dew Game Fuel flavors and tasted them to find out if they’re worth all of the hype.

New Mtn Dew Flavor!

Mountain Dew Game Fuel Citrus Blackberry

Walmart

Pros: Even though this new Game Fuel flavor is called Citrus Blackberry, the flavor is described as having a “blackberry raspberry flavor” on the packaging. The berry flavors and the citrus come together in a very satisfying way. It is a good addition to the Game Fuel line. Fans of Mountain Dew Spark (which of course, includes Rhett & Link, who ranked it as their #1 favorite flavor of Mountain Dew) will be happy to know that this flavor is quite reminiscent of the soon-to-be-discontinued Spark. It certainly smells like Spark.

Cons: There’s a disturbing lack of blackberry flavor here. You get it in the aftertaste, but the flavor is largely dominated by the raspberry. Considering how many other flavors of Mountain Dew this year that have featured raspberry (specifically Baja Point Break Punch and Star Spangled Splash), it’s a little disappointing that the raspberry doesn’t take the backseat here a little bit more. I would have much preferred to see a blackberry dominated flavor. While this is still a solid flavor addition to the Game Fuel line, I can’t help but wonder what it could have been.

Credit: Liv Averett / Walmart

Rating:

7/10

Sporks

New Mtn Dew Flavor!

Mountain Dew Game Fuel Citrus Cherry

Walmart

Pros: Folks, I won’t mince words. There is a lot of hype surrounding this flavor—and I’m here to tell you that all of it is absolutely correct. The blend of citrus and cherry comes together to form an iconic flavor that just simply can’t be beaten (except by Mountain Dew Supernova, of course). It manages to differentiate itself from Code Red by featuring a more natural Cherry flavor (it has clarified cherry juice in the ingredients) and a kick of citrus flavor you don’t find in Code Red. This flavor frequently sells out quickly every time PepsiCo releases it and there is a good reason. It is absolutely phenomenal.

Cons: The only con here is that PepsiCo has not released this iconic Game Fuel flavor as a permanent flavor. For now, we know it will return in 2025. Maybe one day PepsiCo will annoint it with the ever-elusive “permanent” status. 

Credit: Liv Averett / Walmart

Rating:

10/10

Sporks