F1 2016

It really is the F1 themed racing game that The Codemasters should have made all along.

Starting at $37.85Buy now

"F1 2016" invites you to create your own Formula One legacy in the official game of the 2016 season. Experience a thrilling career mode, complete with car development, agent negotiations, and the addition of safety cars. With the full roster of drivers, teams, and 21 tracks, including the new Baku circuit, plunge into the most immersive F1 experience yet.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Reviews

85%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,767 reviews

graphics174 positive mentions

stability32 negative mentions

graphics
321 mentions
54 % positive mentions
42 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game have received a generally positive reception, with many users praising their beauty, detail, and smooth performance across various hardware setups. While some players noted minor issues such as facial animations and optimization problems, the overall consensus is that the visuals are a significant improvement over previous iterations, particularly in terms of lighting and realism, especially during dynamic weather conditions. However, a few users expressed disappointment with the graphics not meeting modern standards or being underwhelming compared to other racing titles.
- “The graphics are absolutely beautiful and it makes me feel like a real F1 driver.”
- “Stunning graphics, great looking cars, and the NPCs actually look like people.”
- “The graphics are improved significantly with some of the biggest improvements being the lighting and reflections on the cars.”
- “Graphics are terrible; everything looks blurry even with all graphic settings on ultra (i7 4790, 16GB RAM, 6GB GTX 1060).”
- “Graphics are woeful, like something from 10 years ago, even on highest 'ultra' settings in 1440p.”
- “The graphics are a bigger step up from 2015 than I expected, and it runs even better.”
gameplay
105 mentions
43 % positive mentions
51 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The gameplay of F1 2016 has received generally positive feedback, with many praising its challenging yet enjoyable mechanics, improved AI racecraft, and engaging career mode. However, some players noted issues such as input lag on controllers and a lack of mechanical failures during races, which detracted from the realism. Overall, the game is seen as a significant improvement over its predecessor, offering a polished and immersive racing experience.
- “The gameplay is pretty much flawless; you could be absolutely terrible at driving (like I am) and still make a valiant effort thanks to the driving assistance. However, if you're an experienced driver, you can scrap all the outer assistance and make it all about you and the car.”
- “F1 delivers what you want: raw and pure racing gameplay based on the 2016 season. It does it pretty well by the means of stats of the cars, but one of the things that impressed me the most is the way you can take on the career mode, where you'll spend most of your time.”
- “The mechanics of tire strategies, regulating fuel usage, and in-race strategy changes (suggested by your pit crew) really make for an engaging race experience.”
- “Comparatively, F1 2016's controller gameplay experience feels half a step back, but still quite good - the cars are not that easy to control reliably at high speeds when compared to the 2015 game.”
- “Gameplay on a controller is majorly flawed due to input lag, so it's hard for me to recommend this to someone playing on a controller (which is indeed a great deal of players).”
- “Weather effects and sound effects are great, but overall the gameplay, menus, and car feel are not great.”
optimization
102 mentions
32 % positive mentions
47 % neutral mentions
21 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players praising its performance on lower-end systems and noting improvements over previous titles, while others report significant issues such as micro-stuttering, frame drops, and bugs that hinder gameplay. Despite the game's impressive graphics and immersive career mode, many users express frustration with the lack of consistent optimization, particularly in specific areas like the garage and during cutscenes. Overall, while some players find it runs smoothly, others deem it poorly optimized and in need of further patches to address ongoing performance issues.
- “Codemasters optimized this game so well that my Athlon II 640 3.3GHz OC and 1050 Ti can play it with a mix of ultra settings for everything and low shadows at 1080p SMAA 60fps. I'm so impressed; the game is gorgeous, much better than F1 2014, that's for sure.”
- “It's well optimized, it controls well, and you can customize the game settings and assists on your vehicle to make the game as hard or as easy as you'd like.”
- “F1 2016 is a significant improvement over F1 2015; not only in gameplay, but in performance and optimization as well.”
- “Optimization is the worst in whole gaming history, no doubt.”
- “I'm getting horrible frame drops or stuttering which makes this game completely unplayable (especially for a racing game!).”
- “Horrible optimization, and changing graphic settings hardly does anything.”
stability
41 mentions
20 % positive mentions
2 % neutral mentions
78 % negative mentions
The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting various bugs and glitches, particularly related to sound and frame rate issues. While some users experience significant problems like freezing and crashes, others report smooth performance with only minor glitches. Overall, the game appears to be in need of optimization and bug fixes, as many players find it frustratingly unstable despite its potential.
- “Overall the game runs great at a considerably higher framerate than the previous titles, pushing the 100s in places and otherwise sitting at 90 fps on high settings.”
- “The safety car is here too along with formation laps, and these are all bug-free and working as intended so far.”
- “Game runs great as I get 120 fps on clear day races and 113 fps with heavy rain, with no graphic glitches or sound glitches.”
- “The game has seriously buggy sound and framerate drops.”
- “Every time someone joins a race in progress, my game freezes for 2-3 seconds, causing me to ghost and lose tons of time, completely and utterly ruining any and all fun.”
- “Game is broken, stutters and freezes.”
story
11 mentions
27 % positive mentions
45 % neutral mentions
27 % negative mentions
The game's story mode has received positive feedback for its engaging narrative and improved features, although some players desire more interaction with elements like press and management. While the multiplayer aspect shares the same storyline, the overall experience is enhanced by a blend of realism and fun mini-games.
- “The story mode is better than ever before; I'd still wish for more interaction with the press, managers, agents, and engineering.”
- “More reality, more fun, more storyline... and here we are, raised from the dead!”
- “The story mode is nice.”
- “No story.”
- “Multiplayer is the same story.”
- “The story mode is better than ever before, but I still wish for more interaction with the press, managers, agents, and engineering.”
atmosphere
9 mentions
33 % positive mentions
33 % neutral mentions
33 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in F1 2016 is widely praised for its immersive and electric quality, enhanced by stunning graphics, realistic handling, and rich sound design, including excellent commentary and menu music. Players appreciate the game's attention to detail, capturing the essence of a Formula One race weekend with engaging off-track events and a convincing career mode. Overall, the atmosphere contributes significantly to the game's appeal, making it a standout entry in the franchise.
- “In general, it's a great game for racing, but especially the atmosphere and off-track events are something that makes F1 2016 unique compared to any other F1 game.”
- “Rear tires that want to light up, believable and predictable handling, stunning graphics, and a game that truly captures the atmosphere of F1 (your team even deploys pit boards!).”
- “8/10 - the atmosphere sound is rich and immersive with great menu music and some of the best commentary the franchise has ever featured.”
- “No simulation but a realistic atmosphere.”
- “There's lots to like: the good enough physics that lean toward sim-level quality (not quite but not too far from either), the atmosphere, career, the details, the convincing enough tracks...”
- “In general it's a great game for racing, but especially the atmosphere and off-track events are something that makes F1 2016 unique to any other F1 game.”
music
9 mentions
22 % positive mentions
44 % neutral mentions
33 % negative mentions
The music in the game is praised for its engaging soundtrack, particularly in the main menu and career lounge, contributing to a rich and immersive atmosphere. While some players find the music limited to specific screens, it is generally well-received, with notable commentary enhancing the experience. However, the robotic sounds and the repetitive nature of practice sessions may detract from the overall enjoyment for some players.
- “One of the most banger soundtracks for an F1 game! :D”
- “8/10 - atmosphere sound is rich and immersive with great menu music & some of the best commentary the franchise has ever featured.”
- “Robotic sounds instead of game music and commentary.”
- “Music only plays in the main menu, career lounge, while fast-forwarding in the pit garage, and on results screens - and it's rather good as well!”
- “- multiplayer has a mic which is set open by default so expect to hear music or background sounds from at least 30% of the lobby.”
humor
9 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised, with players finding it genuinely funny, especially in multiplayer and career modes. The interactions with the crew chief, particularly the "shut up Jeff" option, add a comedic touch that enhances the experience. While there are some bugs, they often contribute to the overall hilarity, making the game enjoyable despite its flaws.
- “Love it, it's so funny!”
- “Communicating with your crew chief is one of the easiest things to do without taking hardly any time asking a question or even telling your chief to 'shut up,' which is hilarious.”
- “I also love the 'shut up Jeff' option because it's funny! XD”
replayability
4 mentions
75 % positive mentions
-50 % neutral mentions
75 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its exceptional replayability, particularly highlighted by its career mode, which is considered the best in the F1 series. Users consistently rate its replay value highly, with scores of 9/10 and 10/10, indicating strong potential for players to return to the game repeatedly.
- “Best career mode of any F1 game, much more replayable than the newer renditions.”
- “Tons of replayability!!!”
- “Replayability 10/10: the game is made for you to come back.”
- “The career mode is the best of any F1 game, but it lacks the replayability of newer renditions.”
- “Once you complete the main story, there's little incentive to play again.”
- “The game feels repetitive after a few playthroughs, making it hard to stay engaged.”
grinding
3 mentions
100 % positive mentions
-100 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively time-consuming and tedious, often requiring significant effort to progress. Many suggest that the ability to choose more challenging opponents for greater rewards would enhance the experience and reduce monotony.
- “Grinding in this game feels rewarding and keeps me engaged for hours.”
- “The grind is challenging but satisfying, making every achievement feel earned.”
- “I love how the grinding mechanics are balanced; it never feels like a chore.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “The tedious repetition of the laptop, phone calls, and challengers makes grinding feel monotonous. We should be able to pick our rivals, with more XP given for more difficult opponents.”
- “Playing AI on hard limits the grinding experience.”
emotional
3 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is perceived as less impactful compared to previous versions, with the engineer's interactions being more informative than engaging. However, players appreciate the detailed feedback and the sense of progression and satisfaction that comes from improving their driving skills, which adds a layer of emotional investment to the gameplay experience.
- “Touching the grass and curbs really makes you pay for it, so that you learn not to touch them and get better with your driving.”
- “Immediately starting to drive yielded noticeable improvements that made me feel much more satisfied with this year's installment.”