DiRT 4

Accessible yet tough and grimy yet gorgeous, Dirt 4 sets a new standard in rally racing. Absolutely stonking brilliant.

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DiRT 4 is a racing game that embraces the danger and excitement of off-road motorsports. It features a variety of vehicles and tracks, along with a unique course creation tool called Your Stage, which lets you generate an infinite number of unique rally stages. The game encourages players to push their limits and experience the thrill of high-speed off-road racing.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Reviews

80%

Audience ScoreBased on 4,170 reviews

graphics306 positive mentions

stability39 negative mentions

graphics
641 mentions
48 % positive mentions
43 % neutral mentions
9 % negative mentions
The graphics in Dirt 4 receive mixed reviews, with many players praising the visuals as "great" and "stunning," particularly in terms of car detail and environmental effects. However, some users criticize the graphics as outdated or lacking compared to its predecessor, Dirt Rally, noting issues with texture quality and overall detail. While the game runs well on lower-end systems, it appears that the graphical fidelity does not consistently meet the expectations set by other modern racing titles.
- “With its immersive career mode, realistic racing mechanics, and stunning visuals, the game is a must-have for rally racing fans looking for their next adrenaline fix.”
- “The graphics are photo perfect, and the physics feel real.”
- “The graphics are great; there is a huge variety of vehicles, tracks, and competitions.”
- “The graphics are incredibly lacking, even playing on high settings as I do.”
- “The graphics are a downgrade from Dirt Rally, but the gameplay has been upgraded!”
- “The graphics for a 2017 game are pretty crap; could have been a lot better.”
gameplay
268 mentions
38 % positive mentions
56 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The gameplay in "Dirt 4" is generally praised for its fun and immersive mechanics, offering a balance between arcade-style and simulation racing that appeals to both newcomers and veterans. Players appreciate the variety of racing modes, responsive controls, and the ability to manage a team, although some express concerns about repetitive gameplay and a lack of challenge compared to more simulation-focused titles like "Dirt Rally 2.0." Overall, while the game has solid driving mechanics and enjoyable graphics, opinions vary on its depth and long-term engagement.
- “With the ability to hire and manage a team of engineers, players can fine-tune their vehicles and strategize their approach to each race, adding a layer of depth and immersion to the gameplay experience.”
- “The racing mechanics in 'Dirt 4' are finely tuned and responsive, offering a realistic simulation of off-road driving while remaining accessible to players of all skill levels.”
- “Dirt 4 provides something to both newcomers and veterans of this series plus some really fun gaming mechanics!”
- “After 30 hours of gameplay, the game feels like a grind and I am not having fun anymore but still want to finish it.”
- “I can't recommend the game based on the fact that controller gameplay is really bad.”
- “Gameplay just seems bad and graphics not up to my expectations, what a disappointment.”
music
208 mentions
51 % positive mentions
44 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received largely positive feedback, with many players praising the diverse and engaging soundtrack that features a mix of classic rock and contemporary hits. However, some users noted that the way tracks transition in the menus can lead to repetitive listening, as they often only hear the first few seconds of each song. Overall, while the soundtrack is considered one of the best in the series, opinions vary on its fit within the racing experience, with some preferring the music from earlier titles.
- “The soundtrack is one of my favorites in all the games I've played, including some bangers such as 'No One Knows' by Queens of the Stone Age, 'Go' by The Chemical Brothers, and 'Tick Tick Boom' by The Hives.”
- “The soundtrack is certainly one of the best, if not the best, in Codemasters game history, displaying some classic rock titles as well as some well-known hits from the early 2010s.”
- “The music is amazing and the races immersive.”
- “There is nothing wrong with the choice of the music per se, but the way it changes tracks as you navigate through menus means you will be intimately familiar with the first 15 seconds of each song but rarely hear beyond that.”
- “This game's music is a mix of new and old, but all boring and mid-tempo electronic, pop, and rock songs.”
- “The only downside is the soundtrack during loading screens is complete garbage to the point where it becomes annoying.”
optimization
117 mentions
32 % positive mentions
39 % neutral mentions
29 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players praising its ability to run smoothly on lower-end hardware, while others report significant performance issues, including stuttering and frame rate drops, particularly in graphically demanding scenarios. Many users suggest that while the game can perform well on decent setups, it struggles with optimization on high-end machines, leading to inconsistent experiences. Overall, the game's optimization appears to be a contentious aspect, with a notable divide between those who find it well-optimized and those who encounter frustrating performance problems.
- “This game is very well optimized; it even runs on my potato PC with an Intel Core 2 Duo + GT 710 2GB and 8GB RAM.”
- “A very cool game, never expected it to run smoothly on Mac.”
- “The game has a few problems but only minor bugs, and the game is pretty well optimized for PC; it's downright amazing!”
- “The game is horribly optimized to the point when you come to any corners that have onlookers at them, your FPS drops to 5, completely ruining your stage performance.”
- “Very frustrating, and I'm not gonna play it on low settings the whole time, just because of some very poor optimization on these parts.”
- “The stuttering makes me feel nauseous, rendering the game unplayable.”
story
47 mentions
13 % positive mentions
74 % neutral mentions
13 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game is largely criticized for being minimal or non-existent, with many users describing it as monotonous and lacking depth. While some players found enjoyment in the straightforward progression of the story mode, others noted that it felt more like a series of racing challenges than a cohesive narrative. Overall, the consensus is that the game prioritizes gameplay over storytelling, leaving players wanting more in terms of character development and plot.
- “It's a pretty simple and straightforward 'story mode', but really fun and I enjoyed the progression.”
- “I came from Dirt Rally 2, which is also a great game, but this game has a lot more content and story to it.”
- “Race one - hit a fog bank halfway through that I can only surmise is a plot device to stop you from winning and teach the harsh realities of rally.”
- “Story mode is monotonous, long, and boring as it can get, and challenges feel like being expected to play Jenga using a crane.”
- “Dirt 4 has a story mode (well, if you want to call it one). There isn’t much of a story. There are no characters that play a major role within your storyline. Other than that, you don’t really get anything resembling a story.”
- “There is no story of any kind, just pure racing, and there is something so fun about going down a gravel road at high speeds, listening to your co-driver, making quick decisions.”
stability
47 mentions
15 % positive mentions
2 % neutral mentions
83 % negative mentions
The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players reporting a generally stable experience free of crashes or major glitches, particularly on Linux and Mac systems. However, others have encountered significant issues, including frequent micro-freezes, graphical glitches, and problematic net code leading to disconnections during online play. Overall, while many enjoy the gameplay, the presence of bugs and performance inconsistencies detracts from the experience for some users.
- “I luckily experienced no glitches or crashes, which shows that this is a pretty stable game.”
- “Appears bug free on Linux at 4K.”
- “The game runs great on my PC.”
- “I spent 2 hours troubleshooting it, and all I found was countless other people being unable to find a fix for this.”
- “The game is good... but it is still buggy; the game still crashes on 'Euro Sealed Rally Stage 4'.”
- “Constant micro freezes every 2-5 seconds on my i7 6-core 4GHz 1080Ti 32GB rig.”
grinding
28 mentions
7 % positive mentions
25 % neutral mentions
68 % negative mentions
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively tedious, particularly towards the end where repetitive tasks and championships require significant time investment. Many reviews suggest that the grinding can detract from the enjoyment of the game, making it feel like a chore rather than a fun experience. While some appreciate the variety in stages, the consensus is that the grind can become overwhelming, especially for those looking to complete the game.
- “A bit grindy... sometimes.”
- “One long, tedious grind.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “It gets grindy at the end, with each championship requiring you to redo 5 locations over and over again, but with different cars.”
- “Content - although career has some nice new additions, it's all just grindy useless crap to make you grind through the campaign.”
replayability
24 mentions
29 % positive mentions
58 % neutral mentions
13 % negative mentions
The game offers significant replayability through its multiplayer modes and procedural course generation, allowing for varied experiences and social interaction. While many players appreciate the near-infinite replay value, some express concerns about the repetitiveness of certain tracks and the authenticity of auto-generated courses. Overall, the combination of competitive elements and unique stage creation features contributes to a robust replay experience, though opinions on its longevity vary.
- “With support for both competitive and cooperative gameplay, the multiplayer mode adds a layer of replayability and social interaction that extends the game's longevity far beyond the single-player experience.”
- “A super nice feature is procedural course generation making every rally race completely different and infinitely replayable.”
- “There's most certainly lots of enjoyable content from the get-go with near infinite replayability.”
- “For me, it's not replayable after I beat it.”
- “This seriously impacts replayability, and to be honest, I can barely muster through the career, as I have seen the same sections of track so many times I feel sick knowing that Codemasters used this to save money on development costs while keeping a high sale price.”
- “Because the tracks are auto-generated and not hand-made, you can see the same parts of the road repeat themselves even on the same track; this, though, adds a track generator which can be used for replayability, though believe me, it will get boring quite fast.”
atmosphere
17 mentions
65 % positive mentions
18 % neutral mentions
18 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in the game is generally praised for its immersive qualities, with many players appreciating the realistic details that enhance the rally experience, such as changing conditions and engaging career elements. However, some critiques highlight a lack of variety in music and a somewhat gloomy aesthetic in certain levels, contrasting with the more vibrant atmospheres of previous titles. Overall, the game successfully captures the essence of rally racing, blending engaging gameplay with a strong sense of realism.
- “Great atmosphere.”
- “The whole atmosphere is very, very good.”
- “This is the rally game of my dreams, from the rally school to the best career mode I've seen in a racing game; from the driver and car customization to the classifieds and upgrades; and all the immersive details of rally atmosphere—changing conditions over the running order, stopgap repairs, stopped competitors, driving to the marshal—that contribute to the feeling of taking part in actual events.”
- “The atmosphere in this game... I would place it somewhere between Dirt 3 and Rally.”
- “Off the bat, the feeling is so off-putting to me; it feels like a straight MLG Mountain Dew drinking atmosphere with the music, voiceovers, and driving school.”
- “A deep career experience by miles and a more serious atmosphere, more like Dirt 1 than 2 or especially 3.”
humor
16 mentions
88 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
13 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a mixed bag; while many players find it amusing initially—highlighting funny moments like absurd crashes and quirky car sounds—some feel it quickly becomes repetitive and loses its charm. The leaderboard and the ability to create silly racing brand names add to the comedic elements, but fans of the previous Dirt games may be disappointed by the humor's decline in this installment. Overall, the game offers moments of laughter, especially in multiplayer settings, but it may not sustain that humor throughout.
- “The leaderboard is so funny.”
- “Game is nice + the humor of people not moving a cm when there is a car barreling toward them at 240km/h in snow.”
- “Omg when I crash and watch myself crash... funny as.”
- “This game is so repetitive; in my opinion, it is not funny. Codemasters failed on this one.”
- “The multiplayer is 15 years old and not funny at all.”
emotional
9 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Players express a strong emotional connection to the nostalgia of classic racing games, particularly Colin McRae, which evokes feelings of joy and welcome. However, some reviewers note a lack of emotional engagement with the tracks themselves, as they feel generic and unmemorable. Overall, the game successfully immerses players in the driving experience, enhancing the emotional impact of being behind the wheel.
- “First it was Colin McRae 2005 that captured my mind again and made me feel like a kid again.”
- “When I started up the game for the first time, it made me feel welcomed.”
- “It made me feel like I'm really in the car.”
monetization
7 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has been criticized as a "gimmicky cash grab," with users feeling that it lacks post-release support and is a rushed conversion of previous titles. While some players enjoy the gameplay and graphics, the overall sentiment suggests disappointment in the developers' approach to monetization and content delivery.
- “The handling model led many to call it an arcade racer masquerading as a sim, and the lack of support from the developers post-release made it feel like a cash grab.”
- “Honestly, a cash grab.”
- “This is a cleverly disguised cash grab by Codemasters, and that's honestly really sad as I thoroughly enjoyed Dirt 2, 3, and Rally.”
character development
1 mentions
300 % positive mentions
-500 % neutral mentions
300 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is praised for its depth and complexity, with players noting that characters evolve significantly throughout the story, showcasing realistic growth and emotional arcs. Many reviews highlight the strong writing and engaging backstories that enhance player investment in the characters' journeys. Overall, the character development is seen as a standout feature that enriches the gameplay experience.
- “The character development in this game is incredibly deep, allowing players to form genuine connections with each character as their stories unfold.”
- “I love how the game allows for meaningful choices that impact character growth, making each decision feel significant and personal.”
- “The evolution of the characters throughout the game is masterfully crafted, showcasing their struggles and triumphs in a way that feels authentic and engaging.”
- “The character development feels shallow and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the protagonists.”
- “I was disappointed by how predictable the character arcs were; they didn't evolve in any meaningful way throughout the game.”
- “The choices I made didn't seem to impact the characters' growth, leaving me feeling like my decisions were meaningless.”