F1 2021 Reviews
F1 2021 is the best-looking and most customisable instalment of series so far and, while it's a little plain, the new story mode is a well-executed and fun new addition.
Another superlative simulation of the Formula One world, now with an enjoyable story mode too.
An entertaining and surprisingly effective new story mode heads up an otherwise modest refresh for Codemasters' official series.
Codemasters' best Formula One game so far adds an excellent story mode, along with a raft of new tweaks and options to make it more accessible.
Codemasters’ F1 series has taken hundreds of hours from me since 2017, and in return it’s given me a rich, new sports fandom even in my late 40s. And now, F1 2021 is teaching me to expect imperfection, to own my mistakes, and forgive myself. The result may be messy, but it’s mine.
F1 2021 is the perfect complement for any Formula 1 fan. The new game modes elevate this edition several points above its predecessor thanks to a simulator that Codemasters has turned into a gift for fans of single-seater cars, and that every year comes closer to perfection.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
F1 2021 is a great racing game, specially once you move into the car and feel the excellent handling and the great performance. Modes (specially Braking Point and classic content) could have been better, but you will feel like Hamilton and Verstappen racing each other for the victory.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
F1 2021 is one of the broadest depictions of the sport ever created, building on familiar cars and handling alongside returning multiplayer, esports, and My Team career modes, while the new Braking Point story gives you a taste of the teammate drama you loved to watch (and mock) in Netflix's Drive to Survive.
There isn’t a ton to dislike about F1 2021. The latest version adds to the series’ win streak with another strong iteration. With a few additional layers to the visual and audio presentation, we could have been looking at a form of racing perfection. As it is, F1 2021 is still really good.
The future of the F1 series is cloudy right now. EA is the new boss, but its influence probably won’t be seen until next year’s game. F1 2021 adds a few new fixins to the strong foundation of last year’s game, along with the misfire that is Braking Point. Having the option to add dynamic dramatic events to the existing Career mode would be preferable to bland pre-rendered cutscenes that come with Braking Point. There's a lot of fun to be had with F1 2021, even if a true next-gen leap may not come along until next year.
Perhaps the most important thing about F1 2021 is that Codemasters has not messed with the actual mechanics of driving the car much, beyond tweaks necessary for the 2021-spec cars. With a good force-feedback wheel, the cars are engaging to drive, and you can feel subtleties in cars from different teams—a McLaren handles differently to an Alpine to a Red Bull to a Mercedes, as you'd hope they would. If you're a fan of the sport, you'll probably enjoy playing F1 2021.
An excellent game on the track that presents Braking Point, its story mode, as a great novelty, and becomes the worst section of the whole title. If the idea is to keep this new mode, there is a lot of work to do. At the moment, it tastes like a precooked story, made in a hurry and without affection. Nothing to do with the rest of the proposals, which introduce us fully in the F1 world. If you come for the races, it is a spectacular videogame, but if you come for the story mode, be cautious.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
F1 2021 is the apex point of these last three editions. The simcade gameplay is refined at its best and the new game modes are solid, impressive and fun. In the best F1 year to date since long time, we have the best F1 game ever.
Review in Italian | Read full review
F1 2021 is the complete package. Braking Point is an excellent single-player experience, driving is perfection, and there's so much to do. It really does have everything, regardless of whether you are a fan of the sport or not.
Whether you’re looking for fierce competition or you simply want to get as close to driving around F1’s real tracks as life allows without becoming a professional driver, F1 2021 has you covered. It’s the closest you’re ever going to feel to the real thing while sitting on your couch, and isn’t that really what playing any sports sim is all about?
When Codemaster's acclaimed F1 series makes its debut on the new consoles, it is not the enhanced graphics that make the biggest impact, but a brand-new story mode. An exciting addition, which unfortunately does not reach its full potential. Fortunately, the superb career mode is intact and slightly improved, as are the many options available to those who prefer to play online. Although some content has been removed since last year's version, and a few other issues remain, F1 2021 offers almost everything an F1 fan could wish for.
Review in Swedish | Read full review
F1 2021 has undeniably struggled with COVID and the limitations it has put on both the sport and the game. However, either despite or because of these limitations, this manages a step forward that the series failed to take two years ago, it brings a genuine story to the game. Braking Point is an undeniable success and, one would hope, marks a starting point in which Codemasters can advance as the series moves forward. Beyond this new mode, almost every aspect has been polished to a diamond-like shine, with the only aspects needing improvement are the MyTeam mode, which already looks lacking as a story of progression when compared to Braking Point, and the poor AI in team management. Despite this minor issue, there's no doubt in my mind that this is the best of the franchise so far and a great launching point to the next generation.
F1 2021 incorporates (and improves) all the features of the previous F1 games developed by Codemasters. Driving is fun and can be adapted to suit both newbies and those looking for a sufficiently complex experience, although players who look for a full simulation might be slightly disappointed. Game modes are numerous, varied and well structured. Both those who love to run alone and those who prefer to compete with (or against) other players will find something that will keep them busy for months.
Review in Italian | Read full review
If you've grown tired of last year's game then you can probably sit this iteration out; for first time players, or those returning after a couple of years' hiatus, Formula 1 games have never felt so authentic, so in-depth, yet so accessible. Slip on your race suit and climb into the cockpit.
Overall, F1 2021 still provides an unrivaled and amazing racing experience thanks to its MyTeam and Career modes, as well as a multitude of options to help fine-tune your racing style. Unfortunately, it's marred by a disappointing and disjointed Braking Point flagship story. Moreover, the improvements and changes to existing modes aren't as impactful as I had hoped. As such, if F1 2021 isn't as compelling if you extensively played last year's offering.