DiRT Rally Reviews
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.
It's not a sim, but it's the best rally game in years.
Dirt Rally transcends its simplistic presentation to offer one of the most engaging and dramatic representations of the motorsport yet.
Codemasters goes hardcore with this no-frills, punishing off-road sim, resulting in its best game in years.
One of the best driving sims of the new generation, and although it still lacks content in some areas the console versions are just as good as the PC.
An honest, often brutal celebration of rallying that will exhilarate racing fans but intimidate newcomers.
Dirt Rally isn't deep in every area, but the gameplay alone makes this my favorite rally game
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 is a realistic, beautiful-looking off-road racing simulation that's really exciting to drive. Its high level of challenge and unforgiving nature means it won't appeal to everyone, but for those who want to experience the trials and tribulations of rallying, it's an absolutely brilliant game.
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.
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
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
DiRT Rally delivers a stunning performance on console, offering a difficult but rewarding experience which cements it as one of the best rally simulators available.
DiRT Rally, then, isn't a true successor to the DiRT series you might know and love, but it's a better rally experience if you're willing to put in the work.
Codemasters' latest often makes a task out of just finishing races. Placing first – if it ever actually happens – is just a bonus.
After enjoying almost a year of Early Access on PC, the final release is now available on PS4 and Xbox One, complete with a few dozen of history's most iconic cars from over 50-years of rally, a smattering of tracks from some of the world's most beautiful point-to-point hotspots. It's an impressive return to form; an intense, hardcore recreation of rally with an emphasis on careful trial and error rather than race and rewind.
Codemasters has been making rally games since the original PlayStation era, but it is now closer than ever to perfecting its craft
DiRT Rally is hands down the best rally game I have ever played – stand aside Richard Burns Rally, in fact it's the best Codemasters racing game I have ever played. Rally games have always been about accessibility and ease for the player and DiRT Rally went against the grain and came out on top. Amazing gameplay, brilliant aesthetics, the list is endless. You can tell the community has been involved and for that Codemasters has almost achieved Rally perfection.
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.