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.

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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.

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Play Modes

Reviews

66%

Audience ScoreBased on 2,716 reviews

graphics286 positive mentions

optimization70 negative mentions

The game features stunning graphics and dynamic weather effects that enhance the racing experience.
The handling is fun and arcade-like, making it accessible for casual players.
The inclusion of a track editor allows for creative gameplay and community engagement.

The game lacks a traditional rally mode, which disappoints long-time fans of the series.
AI behavior is inconsistent, often leading to frustrating racing experiences.
There are performance issues and crashes reported by many players, affecting overall enjoyment.

graphics
636 mentions
45 % positive mentions
46 % neutral mentions
9 % negative mentions
The graphics in Dirt 5 receive mixed reviews, with many praising the vibrant visuals, dynamic weather effects, and overall aesthetic appeal, particularly when settings are maximized. However, some players criticize the game's optimization, noting inconsistent quality, bland textures, and a lack of detail compared to previous titles in the series. Overall, while the game showcases impressive graphical elements, it struggles with performance issues and a perceived downgrade in fidelity relative to its predecessors.
- “The graphics on this game are a gorgeous treat.”
- “I'm a visual guy and the graphics are stunning.”
- “The graphics are the real standout, with some of the best visuals out of any current racing game.”
- “- 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.”
- “Terrible tracks and handling, horrible performance, career is as boring as it can get, graphics look straight out of 2009.”
- “The graphics are garbage even at maxed out settings @1080p and so is the optimization.”
gameplay
268 mentions
28 % positive mentions
60 % neutral mentions
12 % negative mentions
The gameplay in Dirt 5 has received mixed reviews, with many players noting its arcade-like simplicity and repetitiveness, particularly in track design and mechanics. While some appreciate the vibrant graphics and fun driving experience, others criticize the lack of depth, variety, and realistic driving physics, leading to a feeling of shallow gameplay. Overall, the game caters more to casual players seeking quick fun rather than those looking for a serious racing simulation.
- “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.”
- “Dirt 5 has gone back to what made the games stand out in dirt 2 and 3 with the driving mechanics and feel, which were the best in the series, this has gone back and good fun!”
- “The gameplay in Dirt 5 is disappointingly lackluster.”
- “Its lackluster graphics, uninspired track design, and simplified gameplay mechanics result in a racing experience that fails to captivate or excite.”
- “Gameplay is boring and repetitive because we race on the same tracks over and over again.”
music
268 mentions
40 % positive mentions
51 % neutral mentions
10 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it repetitive, uninspired, and even annoying, leading them to turn it off in favor of their own playlists. Conversely, others appreciate the soundtrack's energy and variety, noting that it enhances the racing experience, particularly with licensed tracks from well-known artists. Overall, while some enjoy the music, many feel it lacks the creativity and excitement expected from a racing game soundtrack.
- “The soundtrack is great as well, although I wish there was a way to turn off the ones you don't like (like in those old Burnout games and such) it really would have made it even better.”
- “It's beautiful, it's fun to play, it has great music and a great structure for one of the best racing games in years.”
- “The game is filled with a vigorous soundtrack and modern compositions that perfectly fit the gameplay.”
- “The soundtrack is the worst, most non-creative, uninspired, boring soundtrack ever. Not only is it ear torture, but it's also 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.”
- “Here it is bad music that you don't want to hear ever, and it loops.”
optimization
230 mentions
14 % positive mentions
55 % neutral mentions
30 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant performance issues, including stuttering and poor frame rates, particularly on high settings. While some users noted improvements after patches and found the game to run smoothly on lower settings, others criticized the overall optimization as lacking, especially compared to previous titles in the series. Overall, the game's graphics are praised, but the optimization remains a major concern for many players.
- “Codemasters did a fantastic job with optimization.”
- “The optimization is done really well; I don't have any frame rate issues.”
- “Great game; it needs a bit more optimization.”
- “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
116 mentions
17 % positive mentions
66 % neutral mentions
16 % negative mentions
The story in Dirt 5 is largely criticized for being shallow and unengaging, primarily consisting of voiceovers and podcasts that fail to enhance the racing experience. While some players appreciate the personality and atmosphere brought by the Donut Media elements, many feel that the narrative lacks cohesion and depth, making it feel more like a backdrop to the racing rather than a compelling storyline. Overall, the game struggles to balance its racing mechanics with a meaningful story, leading to a repetitive and uninspired experience for many players.
- “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; that's it, unless you consider the laughable one-on-one racers 'story content', it just isn't there.”
- “Since you can unlock the best cars pretty easily, there is no reason to continue the story mode since the relative growth is tied to an eventual 'throwdown', but you have no real stake in the story since the path laid for you is just race after race with no cohesion.”
stability
49 mentions
20 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
80 % negative mentions
The stability of Dirt 5 has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting frequent crashes, graphical glitches, and performance issues, particularly during races. However, recent updates have resolved many of these problems for some users, leading to improved performance and fewer bugs. Overall, while some players enjoy a stable experience, others continue to face significant issues that detract from gameplay.
- “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.”
- “I'm pleased to say after the most recent patch on 5th November 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 that freezes on the start screen.”
- “Additionally, 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
42 mentions
81 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
19 % negative mentions
The humor in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players finding it genuinely funny and enjoyable, particularly praising the banter from narrators and in-game characters. However, many others describe the humor as cringy, childish, and excessive, leading to frustration and the need to mute the audio. Overall, while some appreciate the comedic elements, a significant portion of the audience feels it detracts from the gaming experience.
- “Great fun, try it if you want to stop laughing!”
- “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.”
- “It definitely gives Dirt 2 vibes with narrators from Donut Media (I freaking love them, by the way) and icon drivers making sarcastic jokes in funny tutorial videos.”
- “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
24 mentions
42 % positive mentions
46 % neutral mentions
13 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is a standout feature, with many reviewers praising its vibrant personality, dynamic weather, and engaging soundtrack that enhances the racing experience. While some criticize the game for lacking depth and variety, others appreciate the chaotic and immersive environments reminiscent of earlier titles like Dirt 2. Overall, the game successfully creates a lively festival-like atmosphere that resonates with players, despite some underlying gameplay shortcomings.
- “In a slew of car racing games that feel borderline sterile, this game has personality, atmosphere, and I unironically enjoyed the story.”
- “Going into it, I was holding onto hope for an experience more in line with the story mode from Dirt 2... well, in game, on the tracks, where the game absolutely shines the most, the atmosphere is there.”
- “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
15 mentions
13 % positive mentions
7 % neutral mentions
80 % negative mentions
The monetization model of the game has drawn significant criticism, with players feeling that it prioritizes in-game purchases and advertisements over traditional gameplay elements like vehicle tuning and racing skill. Many users express frustration over the reliance on microtransactions, which can lead to costs exceeding the original game price, and feel misled by marketing that suggested a more simulation-oriented experience. Overall, the shift towards an arcade-style game with heavy monetization has left some players dissatisfied.
- “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 DLC but I'm still getting ads.”
- “Have you seen the advertising? It's everywhere!”
grinding
11 mentions
0 % positive mentions
36 % neutral mentions
64 % negative mentions
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and time-consuming, often requiring a significant investment of time for minimal rewards. While some appreciate the grind as part of the progression system, many feel it detracts from the overall enjoyment, as it often revolves around irrelevant goals.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Many of them are tedious and just not that fun.”
- “Unfortunately, it's an integral part of the narration and progression system and also a tad bit grindy.”
replayability
9 mentions
44 % positive mentions
22 % neutral mentions
33 % 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 the playgrounds, enhance replay value by providing varied experiences reminiscent of games like Trackmania or Trials. Overall, while the game is enjoyable and visually appealing, its replayability may wane for those seeking more depth after initial mastery.
- “Playgrounds mode provides additional replay value for those interested in a mode that feels closer to Trackmania or Trials.”
- “Off-road racing is incredibly fun, with a large number of terrains providing varied courses, bright and colorful visuals, and oodles of replayability with various modes.”
- “If you want to do some extra rallying on top of what you already have, there are plenty of options to explore even after you've experienced the main content.”
- “If you want to do some extra rallying on top of what you already have because you've burnt through the replayability of it all and/or you don't want to worry too much about co-driver calls and hardcore physics simulation.”
- “+ Playgrounds mode provides additional replay value for those interested in a mode that feels closer to Trackmania or Trials.”
- “[Off-road racing is incredibly fun, with a large number of terrains providing varied courses, bright and colorful visuals, but it lacks replayability despite various modes.]”
emotional
8 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, suggesting a deep frustration with the industry. Conversely, others highlight a wholesome ending that evokes a sense of nostalgia and reflection on personal technology. Overall, the emotional impact varies significantly among players, ranging from anger to warmth.
- “Wholesome ending.”
- “It really made me feel as if my rig's already obsolete.”