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.

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"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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Play Modes

Reviews

54%

Audience ScoreBased on 494 reviews

graphics52 positive mentions

optimization27 negative mentions

Stunning visuals and immersive environments that capture the essence of the Dakar Rally.
Engaging gameplay with a unique navigation system that challenges players to rely on roadbooks.
Diverse vehicle selection with distinct handling characteristics, providing a fun driving experience.

Frequent crashes and performance issues, making the game unplayable for many users.
AI behavior is often frustrating, with aggressive driving leading to collisions and hindering the racing experience.
The co-driver's navigation calls can be inaccurate or poorly timed, causing confusion during races.

graphics
100 mentions
52 % positive mentions
43 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the stunning visuals and impressive environments powered by Unreal Engine, while others criticize the poor optimization leading to frequent stuttering, crashes, and inconsistent performance across different settings. Some players report that lowering graphics settings can worsen performance, suggesting a need for better optimization. Overall, while the graphics are often described as beautiful and immersive, technical issues detract from the experience for many users.
- “The graphics are absolutely outstanding, and they give a wonderful realistic impression of Saudi Arabia, where I used to live for a while.”
- “The graphics and effects are amazing.”
- “The game is visually amazing, the environment is beautiful and the water and other elements really make the graphics that much 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
82 mentions
16 % positive mentions
51 % neutral mentions
33 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received widespread criticism, with many players reporting severe frame rate stuttering, crashes, and overall poor performance even on high-end systems. While some users have managed to achieve stable performance by lowering graphic settings, the game is generally considered poorly optimized, with persistent issues that detract from the gameplay experience. Despite some patches improving performance, significant optimization work remains necessary to meet player expectations.
- “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.”
- “What I want to know is, why does Dakar 18 - even though it uses the same game engine - run at max settings without stuttering when Dakar Desert Rally can't even run at lowest settings without stuttering?”
- “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
48 mentions
33 % positive mentions
54 % neutral mentions
13 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players praising its solid mechanics and unique features like pathfinding and repair systems, while others criticize frequent crashes, AI issues, and a lack of engaging driving dynamics. Many users noted that despite impressive graphics and potential, the overall experience is marred by bugs and unrefined controls, leading to a frustrating experience for some. Overall, while there are glimpses of fun and depth, significant flaws hinder the gameplay from reaching its full potential.
- “The gameplay is enjoyable, the graphics are pleasing to the eye, and rock music is entertaining.”
- “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.”
- “But the core gameplay is very solid, it captures the Dakar endurance experience like no other game, building massively on the earlier installment.”
- “It's a shame because the gameplay is fairly solid, despite the fact the AI literally cheats in order to be competitive.”
- “This extends beyond visual mediocrity; I've had my truck clip through the ground in the first hour of gameplay, and I got stuck on and behind scenery while exploring in freeroam multiple times in the 90 minutes I played.”
- “Even if all this was fixed, the core gameplay and driving mechanics feel horrible.”
stability
33 mentions
9 % positive mentions
-6 % neutral mentions
97 % negative mentions
The game's stability has been widely criticized, with numerous reports of severe bugs, glitches, and performance issues, including frequent crashes, visual artifacts, and inconsistent frame rates even on high-end systems. While some players found enjoyment in the gameplay despite these problems, many expressed frustration over the game's unfinished state and lack of support from developers. Overall, the consensus is that the game is currently plagued by instability, making it difficult to recommend until significant improvements are made.
- “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.”
- “The game maintains a solid frame rate even during intense action sequences, which really enhances the overall experience.”
- “I've experienced no crashes or bugs so far, making for a seamless and enjoyable gameplay experience.”
- “Broken buggy mess.”
- “Poor graphics, glitches at the beginning tutorial race that crashes the game.”
- “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.”
music
21 mentions
29 % positive mentions
57 % neutral mentions
14 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for its engaging orchestral rock soundtrack, reminiscent of classic racing games, and adds to the overall enjoyment of gameplay. However, some players find the in-race music overly dramatic and have experienced issues with the music settings, including difficulties in turning it off. Despite these concerns, many appreciate the background tracks and sound effects that enhance the racing experience.
- “There's pumping orchestral rock 'epic' music everywhere.”
- “The soundtrack may be my favorite original racing game OST since the days of pre-EA Burnout.”
- “The gameplay is enjoyable, the graphics are pleasing to the eye, and rock music is entertaining.”
- “Music and sound effects disappear in the main menu after naming a stage created in the roadbook editor.”
- “Overdramatic soundtrack - the first thing I did was to turn off the racing playlist.”
- “Super fun...the only issue I have encountered so far is that the music cannot be turned off.”
story
8 mentions
25 % positive mentions
38 % neutral mentions
38 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players criticizing it for minimalism and lack of depth, leading to lower scores compared to other titles like WRC23. While some appreciate the absence of a complex narrative, many feel that a more engaging story would enhance the overall experience. Overall, the consensus suggests that the story mode is underdeveloped and could benefit from additional depth.
- “The story so far is engaging and keeps me interested in the characters and their development.”
- “The narrative elements add a layer of immersion that enhances the overall experience.”
- “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.”
- “I don't need a story either, but a little more depth wouldn't hurt; that's completely missing here.”
- “Due to the completely minimalist and lazy story mode, I would rate it an 8.5/10.”
humor
5 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is derived from its various quirks and absurdities, such as the buggy mechanics, unstable handling, and the comically poor AI behavior, which can lead to entertaining moments during gameplay. Players find the unrealistic speed limits and the co-driver's ineptitude amusing, while the chaotic online sport mode offers a lighthearted experience when not taken too seriously. Overall, the game's flaws contribute to a humorous atmosphere, making for a fun, albeit frustrating, experience.
- “Buggy, unstable, wheel support is hilariously bad, strange use of speed limits but without the real world's speed limiters. The co-driver is a mess, and the bike handling is hilariously bad. Ever spun out like a car while on a bike before? Yeah, me neither.”
- “Online sport mode is hilarious when not taken seriously; the 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.”
replayability
3 mentions
67 % positive mentions
-67 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the replayability of the game due to the variety of vehicles available, which enhances the experience on the well-designed courses. The developers have also made significant optimizations to improve overall gameplay, contributing to a more enjoyable replay experience.
- “The choice of different vehicles you can drive and ride gives great replayability to the already awesome courses.”
- “The developer team did their best to optimize the game to bring it up to a more playable state before summer of 2023.”
- “The game lacks significant content to encourage multiple playthroughs.”
- “Once you complete the main story, there's little incentive to replay.”
- “The limited choices and outcomes make replaying feel redundant.”
atmosphere
2 mentions
150 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
150 % negative mentions
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.
- “The atmosphere is immersive and captivating, creating a unique experience that stands out from other racing games.”
- “I appreciate the lack of a party atmosphere that often overshadows many modern racing games, allowing for a more focused and intense experience.”
- “The overall ambiance enhances the gameplay, making every race feel like a thrilling adventure.”
- “There is no party atmosphere that plagues many modern racing games, from Forza to Grid Legends.”
- “The game lacks the immersive atmosphere that draws players in and keeps them engaged.”
- “The overall ambiance feels flat and uninspired, failing to create a captivating experience.”
emotional
2 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that the game lacks emotional depth and fails to leave a lasting impact on players, with some expressing a noticeable decline in their emotional engagement over time.
- “I’m leaving my original review below because I think it shows my emotional descent with this game.”
monetization
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Reviewers express concern that the game's monetization strategy resembles that of EA, suggesting a likelihood of abandonment for profit-driven motives rather than long-term support for the game.
- “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.”
grinding
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
300 % negative mentions
Players express a strong aversion to grinding, particularly when it feels tedious or unenjoyable, as seen in titles like Dark Souls. Many prefer a more balanced approach that rewards skill and strategy over repetitive tasks. Overall, excessive grinding can detract from the overall gaming experience.
- “I'm not one to give up on grinding something out that I hate just to complete it, like in Dark Souls.”
- “The grinding feels endless and tedious, making the game more of a chore than an enjoyable experience.”
- “I find the grinding mechanics to be overly repetitive, which detracts from the overall enjoyment of the game.”