DiRT Rally Reviews
Shorn of gymkhanas, energy drinks and blaring angst rock, Dirt Rally is the simulation racer fans of the sport have been waiting for. Don't let the name fool you, this is not a Dirt sequel in any shape or form, this is the return of a breed of rally racer we thought was long forgotten.
Dirt Rally is a good simulation that features a soli8d set of core mechanics and a lot of variety when it comes to both the tracks and the vehicles, clearly targeted at the kinds of players who already love the sport and its unique challenges.
Merciless, more simulative than any other rally game released in the last year and pretty darn satisfying. Thanks, Codemasters.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Codemasters goes hardcore with this no-frills, punishing off-road sim, resulting in its best game in years.
A fantastic new addition to the Dirt franchise. Less approachable for new players but clearly the best outing from Codemasters in years.
This is how racing games should be - plenty to see, plenty to do and plenty to crash into. If you have any interest in the racing genre, if you remember the quality Codemasters games of the past or if you like titles that provide more than their fair share of value, Dirt Rally deserves to be on your watch list.
It's not a sim, but it's the best rally game in years.
There's a specific corner during one of the German stages in Dirt Rally where your co-driver will supplement his flurry of warnings with a professional request: "Be brave." It's a slight left kink, framed on both sides by half-buried stones. To be honest I'm not certain what it is about this corner in particular that warrants the added advice – there are plenty of deceptive corners in Dirt Rally you can take faster than you'd expect – but "be brave" potently sums up how you need to approach Dirt Rally. Dirt Rally is a brilliant looking and incredible sounding racing sim that feels absolutely outstanding, but it won't tolerate the timid.
DiRT Rally carefully simulates the endurance of rally and offers a brutal driving experience that builds satisfaction through vehicle and track mastery.
DiRT Rally is a game that CodeMasters needed to create. While the similarities between prior games are obvious, DiRT Rally feels new and plays great.
Codemasters has made some tough games in the past that make it difficult for newcomers to get in, and Dirt Rally is along the same lines – well, in a way. The game does require you to work to earn your keep and master your racing skills, but it does so with fluid controls and an outstanding presentation that keeps you on your toes at every turn. Eventually, it does offer an enriched experience that surpasses most of its other racers – including the classic Dirt games we love so much. This series has truly grown up, but in a very good way.
On the highest settings the game looks superb, with extremely detailed cars and environments, as well as some particularly impressive weather effects
A stunning return to Dirt's routes. Truly worthwhile.
DiRT Rally isn’t a game of player vs competitor, but a trial by fire as the battle between driver and machine rages on throughout a punishing gameplay experience that is as much frustrating as it is rewarding as you improve your driving skills over time. But as immersive as the game is when it comes to its core gameplay, the setup of the game when it comes to the career mode and the limited scale make DiRT Rally more of a side-stop, albeit one that shows great promise for the future of the franchise.
Dirt Rally isn't deep in every area, but the gameplay alone makes this my favorite rally game
This is the game rally fans have been waiting for. DiRT Rally boasts a simple title that reflects its deceptively simple goal: to be the best rally game, or even the best racing game, released to date. While they may fall a little short of being the best racing game ever made due to its purposely limited scope, DiRT Rally is by far the best rally game we've ever seen. DiRT Rally sports world-class visuals, visceral, challenging racing, and true-to-life audio design. This is really a complete package for rally fans the world over.
One nice conversion of a driving game as demanding that only experts on the genre will fully enjoy it. We miss a couple of new features on the console versions, but it's still a great racing game.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Dirt Rally's arrival on consoles lets more people join in Codemasters' celebration of this brutal motorsport. [OpenCritic note: Richard Wakeling separately reviewed the PC and PS4 versions.]
Dirt Rally gets Codemasters back to their roots, with a game that focuses on rallying through and through. It's tough and unforgiving of your mistakes, but that's what rallying is about and it makes getting to grips with the car's handling, measuring your approach to a stage and coming out on top all the more satisfying.