DIRT 5

Dirt 5 is a breath of fresh air into the franchise. Bringing in new and relevant influencers from car culture into the game, and having a blast behind the wheel, it’s a game for any gear head.

Starting at €10.99Buy now

Get on Steam

Get on Xbox Games Store

Get on PS Store

Dirt 5 is a racing game that takes you off-road with a variety of cars and tracks. Experience dynamic weather conditions and a Career mode with a star-studded voice cast. Compete in split-screen, online multiplayer, and playgrounds, where you can create and share your own tracks.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Reviews

57%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,342 reviews

graphics141 positive mentions

optimization35 negative mentions

Fun arcade racing experience with vibrant graphics and dynamic weather effects.
Great variety of cars and tracks, with a nostalgic feel reminiscent of earlier Dirt titles.
Playgrounds mode allows for creative track building and community engagement.

Lacks traditional rally events, focusing instead on arcade-style racing and sprint events.
Poor AI behavior and rubber-banding can lead to frustrating gameplay experiences.
Performance issues and lack of wheel support at launch have disappointed many players.

graphics
317 mentions
44 % positive mentions
46 % neutral mentions
9 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the vibrant visuals, stunning lighting, and detailed environments, particularly at higher resolutions like 1440p. However, some players criticize the graphics for being inconsistent, with issues such as poor optimization, bland textures, and a cartoonish aesthetic that detracts from the overall experience. While the game showcases impressive graphical capabilities, it often falls short of expectations for a modern racing title, leading to a polarized reception among players.
- “The graphics are stunning, but not top-notch.”
- “The graphics are the real standout, with some of the best visuals out of any current racing game.”
- “Beautiful graphics, engaging racetracks, well designed progression.”
- “The graphics are bad, bland, and boring, and the worst HDR I have ever seen. Above all, it's very demanding on your GPU, and I don't see why given it doesn't look that good.”
- “The graphics look blurry and very low resolution because of this forced always-on method of anti-aliasing.”
- “The graphics are surprisingly sad for a next-gen title.”
music
136 mentions
39 % positive mentions
51 % neutral mentions
10 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising the licensed soundtrack featuring notable artists, while others find it repetitive and uninspired. Many players express a desire for more variety and the ability to skip tracks, as some songs quickly become annoying. Overall, while there are standout tracks, the soundtrack's inconsistency leads to a generally lackluster experience for many players.
- “The soundtrack is great as well, although I wish there was a way to turn off the ones you don't like.”
- “The music is typical dirt music, that I turn off as I prefer the engine rumble in my ear :)”
- “The game is filled with a vigorous soundtrack and modern compositions that perfectly fit the gameplay.”
- “The game also boasts a licensed soundtrack, but apart from songs by the Amazons, Foals, and Royal Blood, nothing else was recognizable to me and it wasn’t long before I muted this part of the audio.”
- “- soundtrack ... ohhh god don't get me started, the worst, most non-creative, uninspired, boring soundtrack ever, not only an ear torture but pure depressing, the music sucks in this game!!!”
- “The in-game music is generic and repetitive rock, which gets old fast and I found myself turning off the music after only an hour.”
gameplay
132 mentions
27 % positive mentions
61 % neutral mentions
11 % negative mentions
The gameplay in Dirt 5 has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it overly simplistic and repetitive, lacking the depth and realism of its predecessors. While some appreciate the fun, arcade-style mechanics and vibrant graphics, others criticize the uninspired track design and shallow driving experience, leading to a sense of boredom after a short playtime. Overall, the game seems to cater more to casual players seeking quick enjoyment rather than hardcore racing enthusiasts looking for a challenging and immersive experience.
- “Brilliant graphics and driving mechanics, very much enjoyable. The overall racing experience is simply outstanding, you can customize liveries and all other epic aspects of the vehicles you own and even play with randoms online competitively or just chill in the playground maps and get creative!”
- “Great graphics, easy to handle driving, gameplay is so much fun and lots of tracks to drive on.”
- “The gameplay is quick & fun.”
- “The gameplay in Dirt 5 is disappointingly lackluster.”
- “This game has terrible physics, repetitive tracks, weather changing insanity, and shallow gameplay.”
- “Gameplay is boring and repetitive because we race on the same tracks over and over again.”
optimization
114 mentions
14 % positive mentions
55 % neutral mentions
31 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players experiencing significant performance issues, including stuttering and low frame rates, even on high-end hardware. While some users report improvements after patches, others still find the optimization lacking, particularly in comparison to the game's visuals. Overall, the consensus suggests that while the graphics are impressive, the game's performance needs considerable refinement to enhance the overall experience.
- “Codemasters did a fantastic job with optimization.”
- “The optimization is done really well; I don't have any frame rate issues.”
- “With that in mind, the game looks great and runs smoothly on my not-so-up-to-date PC (4-year-old laptop with eGPU + RX580).”
- “Badly optimized, modes are awfully repetitive, this game is arcade which is supposed to be fun but is the contrary.”
- “The graphics are garbage even at maxed out settings @1080p and so is the optimization.”
- “This game is very poorly optimized, the minimum and recommended requirements are very deceiving.”
story
56 mentions
16 % positive mentions
68 % neutral mentions
16 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it underwhelming and lacking depth. While some appreciate the personality and atmosphere brought by the Donut Media podcasts, others criticize the narrative as repetitive and unengaging, often feeling like a mere backdrop to the racing. Overall, the story is seen as a weak point, with many players preferring a more traditional racing experience without the forced narrative elements.
- “In a slew of car racing games that feel borderline sterile, this game has personality, atmosphere, and I unironically enjoyed the story.”
- “This game filled the gap in the past little bit and perfectly walks the line of racing game and storyline, and if you enjoy the Donut Media group or podcast, then you'll more than love the storyline.”
- “In Dirt 5, that festival vibe pervades - you're given a customizable lanyard and access to a lattice of various events split over five chapters, all underscored by a light story headed up by Nolan North and Troy Baker.”
- “I think it says something about how average a game it is when only 31% of players make it past the first chapter of the story, which turns into a boring slog due to the lack of locations, event types, and tracks.”
- “The problem is, once you cross the finish line, all feelings of a cohesive story or festival environment are lost to a bland map of events that you'll quickly find repeating themselves, with the only semblance of story being voiceovers between races.”
- “The career mode has no real story to it, just a bunch of different race types.”
stability
24 mentions
21 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
79 % negative mentions
The stability of Dirt 5 has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting frequent crashes, graphical glitches, and inconsistent performance, particularly during races. However, some users have noted improvements following recent updates, leading to a smoother experience for certain configurations. Overall, while the game offers vibrant visuals and engaging gameplay, its stability issues remain a significant concern for many players.
- “Game runs great for me despite my system not being stupidly powerful.”
- “Still needs an upgrade on my end, but the game still runs great on high settings for me.”
- “After the most recent patch on November 5th, all crashes I was experiencing have now gone and the game runs great, no crashing, quick load times, and no bugs that I've noticed. Well done to Codemasters for fixing a large majority of issues very quickly.”
- “Can't even play the game; it freezes on the start screen.”
- “Additionally, I had frequent crashes in a few short hours of playing the game, despite troubleshooting and trying recommended fixes.”
- “It is a poorly developed game with many freezes, crashes, glitches, and new features for a racing game to be desired.”
humor
21 mentions
81 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
19 % negative mentions
The humor in the game receives mixed reviews; while some players find the comedic elements and banter entertaining, particularly the interactions between narrators and characters, others criticize it as cringy, childish, and excessive. Many users appreciate the funny moments during races and the in-game radio, but a significant portion feels that the humor detracts from the overall experience, labeling it as unfunny and unnecessary. Overall, the reception of the game's humor varies widely, with some enjoying it and others finding it off-putting.
- “Great fun, try it if you want to stop laughing!”
- “Nice funny race game.”
- “There is also an in-game radio where you can hear some funny talks between the legendary Troy Baker and Nolan North; you can listen to their squabbles for hours.”
- “I’m not sure if they wrote the lines or not, but wow, it was extremely childish and not funny at all.”
- “Donut Media is extremely cringy and unfunny.”
- “In fact, the entire career mode is built around their 'podcast', which is neither funny nor interesting.”
atmosphere
12 mentions
42 % positive mentions
33 % neutral mentions
25 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in the game is a mixed bag, with some players praising its vibrant personality, engaging story, and dynamic weather that enhances the racing experience, reminiscent of earlier titles like Dirt 2. However, others criticize it for lacking depth and variety, describing it as flashy yet ultimately shallow. Overall, while the game successfully creates an energetic and chaotic festival vibe, opinions vary on its overall effectiveness in delivering a rich atmospheric experience.
- “Finally, a new car racing game that cares about atmosphere!”
- “In a slew of car racing games that feel borderline sterile, this game has personality, atmosphere, and I unironically enjoyed the story.”
- “The dynamic weather is hugely atmospheric; the entire thing appears to be taking place during some sort of apocalyptic weather event. You might begin a three-lap race basking in the thermonuclear glow of a Norwegian sunset, only to be plunged, minutes later, into a spectacular thunder-snow blizzard.”
- “It has neither proper racing environments, atmosphere, mood nor depth or variety in gameplay and vehicles.”
- “It's very flashy and pretty to look at, but underneath the colorful atmosphere and glitzy veneer is one of the most frustratingly shallow games I've ever played.”
- “Pick one thing: any type of racing, the graphics, the physics, the atmosphere, the soundtrack, anything... and a different dirt game will do it better.”
monetization
8 mentions
13 % positive mentions
13 % neutral mentions
75 % negative mentions
The monetization model of the game has drawn significant criticism, with players lamenting the reliance on microtransactions for unlocking cars and content, which detracts from the traditional racing experience. Many feel misled by the advertising, expecting a more simulation-based game akin to previous titles, only to find an arcade-style racer that still features intrusive ads despite purchasing all DLC. Overall, the monetization approach is seen as exploitative, requiring players to spend significantly more than the initial game price for a complete experience.
- “If you really want the full game and satisfaction, you must engage with our new in-app purchases (aka microtransactions) and incur small fees over time, at the cost of twice the original price of the game.”
- “I remember when racing games allowed you to unlock any car without microtransactions.”
- “This game is no longer about rally racing, fine-tuning your vehicle for the course, and practice; it's about fancy effects, horrible in-game music, obnoxious announcers, and the peddling of in-game purchased cars.”
- “I bought all the DLC but I'm still seeing ads.”
grinding
6 mentions
17 % positive mentions
17 % neutral mentions
67 % negative mentions
Grinding is seen as a necessary but tedious aspect of the game, integral to both the narrative and progression systems. Many players find the grinding activities unengaging, often focusing on irrelevant goals that detract from the overall enjoyment.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Unfortunately, it's an integral part of the narration and progression system and also a tad bit grindy.”
- “Many of them are tedious and just not that fun.”
- “The player seems to be grinding for irrelevant goals like throwdowns and liveries.”
replayability
4 mentions
75 % positive mentions
-25 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
The game offers decent replayability, particularly for fans of arcade offroad racing, but it tends to diminish once players master the mechanics. Additional modes, like playgrounds, provide extra content for those seeking varied experiences, reminiscent of games like Trackmania or Trials.
- “The replay value is definitely there if you enjoy arcade off-road racing games.”
- “Playgrounds mode provides additional replay value for those interested in a mode that feels closer to Trackmania or Trials.”
- “If you want to do some extra rallying beyond what you've already experienced, there are options available that allow for a more relaxed gameplay without worrying too much about co-driver calls and hardcore physics simulation.”
- “If you want to do some extra rallying on top of what you already have because you've burned through the replayability of it all and/or you don't want to worry too much about co-driver calls and hardcore physics simulation.”
- “The playgrounds mode provides additional replay value for those interested in a mode that feels closer to Trackmania or Trials.”
emotional
4 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional responses to the game are mixed, with some users expressing strong negative feelings towards its development, while others appreciate a wholesome ending that evokes a sense of nostalgia and obsolescence regarding their gaming setup. Overall, the emotional impact varies significantly among players.
- “Wholesome ending.”
- “It really made me feel as if my rig's already obsolete.”