The Joker is a steel 4D Free Spin roller coaster located at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, New Jersey. Built by S&S – Sansei Technologies and opened on May 28, 2016, the ride stands 120 feet tall and reaches a top speed of 38 mph along 1,019 feet of track.
What sets The Joker apart from traditional coasters is its magnetic free-spinning seat technology. Riders sit in wing-style vehicles that rotate independently of the track, allowing them to flip unpredictably—sometimes forward, sometimes backward—creating a different experience on every single ride. The coaster was originally announced under the name Total Mayhem before being rebranded in January 2016 to tie in with the DC Comics supervillain.
Stats at a Glance
- Park: Six Flags Great Adventure, Jackson, NJ
- Manufacturer: S&S – Sansei Technologies
- Model: 4D Free Spin
- Opened: May 28, 2016
- Height: 120 ft (37 m)
- Drop: 54 ft (16 m)
- Top Speed: 38 mph (61 km/h)
- Length: 1,019 ft (311 m)
- Track Inversions: 2 (riders can flip up to 6 times)
- Capacity: ~720 riders per hour
The Ride Experience
The Joker places riders in wing-style vehicles arranged four across in two rows, with each car holding eight passengers. The magic lies in the seats’ magnetic rotation system—unlike fixed roller coaster seats, these pivot freely, meaning the precise number of flips any rider experiences depends on weight distribution and momentum rather than a scripted sequence. Riders may flip six times or just a handful, and no two rides feel quite the same.
The layout features two track inversions paired with the unpredictable seat rotations, sending riders head-over-heels in ways they cannot anticipate. That element of chaos is the whole point: The Joker is designed to disorient, to thrill, and to keep even repeat riders guessing.
From Total Mayhem to The Joker
Six Flags Great Adventure announced the coaster in September 2015 under the working title Total Mayhem. By January 2016 the park revealed the DC Comics rebrand, aligning the attraction with the park’s longstanding Justice League and Batman theming. The ride’s queue area and support structure are styled in black, fitting the Joker’s chaotic aesthetic.
The Great Adventure installation is one of four S&S 4D Free Spin coasters operating across the Six Flags chain under The Joker name, with sister rides at Six Flags Great America, Six Flags Over Texas, and Six Flags New England. The shared design makes The Joker a signature experience across the company’s parks.
Explore more: Roller Coasters hub.
The Joker FAQs
What type of roller coaster is The Joker at Six Flags Great Adventure?
The Joker is an S&S – Sansei Technologies 4D Free Spin steel roller coaster. Its defining feature is independently rotating wing seats that allow riders to flip unpredictably throughout the ride, independent of the track’s two inversions.
How many times do you flip on The Joker?
Riders can flip up to six times, but the exact number varies every ride because the seats spin freely based on rider weight and momentum—not a fixed program. No two rides are guaranteed to feel identical.
When did The Joker open at Six Flags Great Adventure?
The Joker opened to the public on May 28, 2016, following season pass holder preview days. It was originally announced in September 2015 under the name Total Mayhem before being rebranded in January 2016.
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Photo: Jeremy Thompson / CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.