Dakar Desert Rally

Dakar Desert Rally is almost great with its beautiful environments and nice variety, but falls short because of its inability to nail down some of the basics.

59%Game Brain Score

graphics, gameplay

optimization, stability

55% User Score Based on 896 reviews

Critic Score 67%Based on 7 reviews

Platforms

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About

Dakar Desert Rally is a single player and multiplayer arcade racing game. It was developed by Saber Porto Ltd. and was released on October 4, 2022. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and neutral reviews from players.

"Dakar Desert Rally" is an off-road racing simulation game that features the famous Dakar Rally. Players can compete in various stages across the desert, with different vehicles such as cars, trucks, bikes, and quads. The game offers challenging terrains, realistic physics, and a career mode where players can progress and manage their team.

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55%

Audience ScoreBased on 896 reviews

graphics100 positive mentions

optimization50 negative mentions

The game offers a unique and immersive Dakar rally experience with a variety of vehicles and stunning graphics.
The navigation aspect using the roadbook adds a challenging and rewarding layer to the gameplay.
The game has improved significantly with updates, addressing many initial bugs and performance issues.

The game suffers from frequent crashes and performance issues, making it frustrating to play.
The AI is often aggressive and can cause players to crash, detracting from the overall experience.
The co-driver's navigation calls can be inaccurate or poorly timed, leading to confusion during races.

graphics
196 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
51%
44%
5%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the stunning visuals and impressive damage models, particularly when settings are optimized for higher-end hardware. However, numerous players report significant performance issues, including stuttering, crashes, and poor optimization, especially on lower settings, leading to a frustrating experience. Overall, while the graphics can be breathtaking, they are often marred by technical problems that detract from the gameplay experience.
- “The graphics of the game are absolutely outstanding, and they give a wonderful realistic impression of Saudi Arabia, where I used to live for a while.”
- “Graphics are gorgeous as this is powered by Unreal Engine, and I have an RTX, so graphics are great at 1080p.”
- “A great game, hours of fun, game modes for all kinds of audiences, impressive graphics without being very demanding with the hardware, immersive experience in pro mode, they promise new DLC content, every minute of play is enjoyed... wonderful game, and sure to get better.”
- “Poor graphics, glitches at the beginning tutorial race that crashes the game.”
- “Excluding only the dunes environment and the car models, the game generally has subpar visuals and is almost completely outdated graphically (PS3 era graphics just in high resolution) while terribly optimized with stutters, pop-in, low FPS, and crashes.”
- “This game still contains a lot of bugs, giving me crash/fatal errors randomly within the race, at the bivouac, or just at the main screen while doing nothing. It's not about your machine not meeting the system requirements; no matter how far I lower my graphic settings to a prehistoric look, the game still gives me crash/fatal errors.”
optimization
161 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
16%
53%
31%
The game's optimization has received widespread criticism, with many players reporting severe performance issues such as constant stuttering, low frame rates, and crashes, even on high-end systems. While some users have found success by lowering graphics settings, the overall consensus is that the game is poorly optimized and still requires significant improvements to deliver a stable experience. Despite occasional patches that have addressed some issues, many players feel that the game is not ready for a smooth playthrough and continues to suffer from outdated graphics and unpolished performance.
- “The game is very well optimized on my i5-12600 and 3080 with maxed out settings at 4k with DLSS quality.”
- “Patch 1.4 resolved most people's performance issues and helped a good bit with wheel support, but there is still work to do.”
- “I hope Saber keeps improving the game's optimization and, personally, I also hope they allow for even faster steering response in the next updates since it's still a bit on the slow side.”
- “Performance is absolutely horrendous, with extremely low frame rates and constant stutters on good hardware.”
- “The performance issues are so severe that it impacts my entire system when the game is running.”
- “It doesn't help that the game is very poorly optimized and doesn't get good performance even on medium graphics, and on low graphics, the game looks worse than something from 2010 while having worse performance.”
gameplay
92 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
54%
13%
The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players praising its solid mechanics and unique pathfinding features, while others criticize it for bugs, poor AI behavior, and a lack of engaging driving dynamics. Many users noted issues such as graphical glitches, unrefined vehicle handling, and a career mode that forces players to use less desirable vehicles. Overall, while there are glimpses of potential and enjoyable elements, significant flaws and inconsistencies detract from the overall experience.
- “The gameplay is enjoyable, the graphics are pleasing to the eye, and rock music is entertaining.”
- “But the core gameplay is very solid, it captures the Dakar endurance experience like no other game building massively on the earlier installment and most of the hiccups can and hopefully will be patched out.”
- “The gameplay is actually quite in depth and I like how it's not just about driving flat out everywhere with no fear of crashing or rolling.”
- “And because the gameplay is immensely boring and uninspired, and the driving is flat and monotone to the extreme, the game tanked so hard, it was a massive flop.”
- “Horrible game and mechanics for a new game, not to mention the amount of times the AI throws you off the track by pushing you or the amount of crap that makes you lose control.”
- “Even if all this was fixed, the core gameplay and driving mechanics feel horrible.”
stability
62 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
5%
97%
The game's stability is heavily criticized, with numerous reports of severe bugs, graphical glitches, and frequent crashes, even on high-end systems. Players experience issues such as stuttering, pop-in graphics, and erratic physics, leading many to label it as unfinished and unplayable. While some find enjoyment in the core gameplay, the overwhelming consensus is that the game requires significant patches and improvements to address its stability problems.
- “I love the Sahara setting; it's more varied than I thought it would be. It looks great and runs smoothly with everything on epic settings.”
- “The game performs exceptionally well, maintaining stability even with all settings maxed out.”
- “The graphics are stunning, and the game runs flawlessly, providing a stable experience throughout.”
- “Countless visual glitches and low effort production value; you can be driving through a canyon and the entire sunlight and shadows just flicker on and off. Road markers and grass always pop in 20 feet in front of your vehicle on maxed settings.”
- “At this moment in time, the game is extremely buggy. The car is too unstable, and the steering is like an on/off switch (either full lock or not). There are an extreme amount of frame drops, and I'm on a fairly high-end system.”
- “Unfinished and buggy over a year after release with most DLC and post-launch content still nowhere to be seen. However, this is the only option for rally raid fans.”
music
39 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
69%
8%
The music in the game is generally praised for its pumping orchestral rock soundtrack, reminiscent of classic racing games, with many players enjoying its energetic vibe. However, some users find the soundtrack overly dramatic and have experienced issues with the music settings, including difficulties in turning it off. Overall, while the soundtrack is a highlight for many, it may not appeal to everyone, particularly those who prefer a quieter gaming experience.
- “There's pumping orchestral rock 'epic' music everywhere.”
- “The soundtrack may be my favourite original racing game OST since the days of pre-EA Burnout.”
- “Right from the very start of the intro video and the swooping nights over Egypt style music, I could tell it would be good.”
- “Music and sound effects disappear in the main menu after naming a stage created in the roadbook editor.”
- “Super fun...the only issue I have encountered so far is that the music cannot be turned off.”
- “Overdramatic soundtrack - the first thing I did was to turn off the racing playlist.”
story
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
The story aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many users noting a lack of depth and minimalism, leading to low ratings. Comparisons to other titles highlight frustrations with overlapping story modes and AI behavior that detracts from the racing experience. Overall, players express a desire for more engaging narrative elements, even if they don't require a complex story.
- “I don't need a story either, but a little more depth wouldn't hurt; that's completely missing here.”
- “The AI is playing a different genre of game entirely and is on a mission to make each race into a demolition derby; when in proximity to you, they will more often than not attempt to ram you with their vehicle.”
- “✅ no story”
humor
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is derived from its numerous glitches and absurdities, such as the comically poor bike handling and the chaotic AI behavior, which can lead to entertaining moments if players don't take the experience too seriously. While the game's mechanics can be frustratingly suboptimal, they often result in laughable situations, particularly in online modes where AI antics provide unexpected amusement. Overall, the humor is a mix of unintentional comedy from technical issues and the ridiculousness of the gameplay.
- “Online sport mode is hilarious when not taken seriously (AI shenanigans are amazing).”
- “That and the AI is brainless, but if you can avoid them, it's hilarious to watch them mess up sometimes.”
- “Buggy, unstable, wheel support is hilariously bad; strange use of speed limits without the real world's speed limiters. The co-driver is a mess, and bike handling is hilariously bad (ever spun out like a car while on a bike before? Yeah, me neither).”
replayability
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Players appreciate the replayability of the game, largely due to the variety of vehicles available for exploration on the engaging courses. The developers have also made significant optimizations to enhance the overall gameplay experience.
- “The choice of different vehicles you can drive and ride gives great replayability to the already awesome courses.”
- “The variety of gameplay options ensures that each playthrough feels fresh and engaging.”
- “The game offers multiple paths and strategies, making it enjoyable to replay and discover new experiences.”
atmosphere
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised, receiving a score of 9/10, with reviewers noting a refreshing absence of the typical party vibe found in many contemporary racing titles like Forza and Grid Legends. This creates a more immersive and focused racing experience.
- “Atmosphere: 9/10”
- “No party atmosphere that plagues many modern racing games from Forza to Grid Legends.”
- “There is no party atmosphere that plagues many modern racing games from Forza to Grid Legends.”
- “There is no party atmosphere that plagues many modern racing games from Forza to Grid Legends.”
emotional
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviews indicate that the game lacks emotional depth, failing to create a lasting impact on players. Many users express a sense of emotional detachment, noting that their experiences with the game do not evoke strong feelings or connections.
- “I’m leaving my original review below because I think it shows my emotional descent with this game.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express frustration with the grinding aspect of the game, noting that it can feel tedious and unenjoyable, particularly due to poor handling and annoying AI. While some are willing to endure grinding for completion, the overall sentiment leans towards it being a negative experience.
- “Frustrating handling, annoying AI, progression grinding.”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviews indicate a strong dissatisfaction with the game's monetization strategy, with users expressing concerns that the developers may prioritize profit over player experience, potentially abandoning the game for future cash grabs.
- “It's a shame that they are going to pull an EA and abandon the game as soon as they legally can to move on to another cash grab.”

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67%Critics’ scoreBased on 7 critic reviews

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8h Median play time

20h Average play time

6-50h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 24 analyzed playthroughs

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Frequently Asked Questions

Dakar Desert Rally is a arcade racing game.

Dakar Desert Rally is available on Xbox Series X|S, PC, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4 and others.

On average players spend around 20 hours playing Dakar Desert Rally.

Dakar Desert Rally was released on October 4, 2022.

Dakar Desert Rally was developed by Saber Porto Ltd..

Dakar Desert Rally has received mostly positive reviews from players and mostly positive reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its graphics but disliked it for its optimization.

Dakar Desert Rally is a single player game with multiplayer support.

Similar games include JDM: Japanese Drift Master, Dakar 18, DIRT 5, Forza Motorsport, Assetto Corsa EVO and others.

Dakar Desert Rally

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