F1 2021 Reviews
An entertaining and surprisingly effective new story mode heads up an otherwise modest refresh for Codemasters' official series.
Another superlative simulation of the Formula One world, now with an enjoyable story mode too.
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.
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 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.
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 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
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.
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
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
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.
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?
For anyone who has even the slightest interest in Formula 1 racing – and thanks to the Netflix documentary series Drive to Survive there may be many with their curiosity piqued – F1 2021 will become their new sports gaming pastime. Catering to both casual newcomers and the most exacting simulation-seekers, F1 2021 offers a mind-blowing amount of polished and entertaining content, whether your preference is to race alone or with others. With the new Braking Point single-player story and improvements and expansions to just about everything else, F1 2021 is that rare instance of an annual sports game that has managed to continue to get better with every release.
With a bunch of smart additions, F1 2021 is a cracking simulator for both die-hard fans and newcomers. The Braking Point story mode doesn't have a particularly compelling narrative, but it's a brilliant gateway into the motorsport and a primer for the wider game. Two Player Career, the Expert driving style, Real Season Start, and more make this the most customisable and accessible iteration yet, allowing you to play how you like across the game's excellent career options. Of course, the driving itself seals the deal, and it's a winner on that front. This is a no-brainer for F1 fans, but it's also a fantastic entry for newbie drivers to start with.
With the raft of new features, the addition of Braking Point, vast customisation options and significant gameplay tweaks, F1 2021 is the most complete official Formula One video game ever made. F1 2021 has something for everyone, whether you're a newcomer to F1 or an avid fan of the sport, it's (almost) as epic as the real thing.
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.
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.