DIRT 5

DIRT 5 offers a new path for the DIRT series and treads it brilliantly. The core numbered titles have always been slightly more arcade, but this takes it to a whole other level and is fantastic because of this move. This is an incredibly approachable and varied racing game that takes you on a tour of several racing styles in far-flung places across the globe. With every new console generation comes a new generation of racing games, DIRT 5 is that game. It looks fantastic, it's incredibly fun and it's polished to a great level and is arguably the best game to come out of Codemasters.

Dirt 5 is a real showcase of what the next-generation can do. It's also the best chapter of the series, with a brand new campaign and a lot of content.

If you’re already a fan of the Dirt franchise, there’s little to take issue with here – jump right in. If you’re a racing fan who’s new to the series, though, I can definitely say Dirt 5 is worth a look.

Dirt 5 represents a complete about-face for the main Dirt series, shedding virtually all semblance of simulation in favour of an unabashed, arcade-inspired racing experience that draws from just about every influence you can name except its direct predecessor. It’s not especially deep, and there isn’t as much variety in the career mode as it claims, but it’s fast, frantic, and extremely handsome, and the wild and wacky stunt track editor truly has its hooks in me.

Dirt 5 returns the series to its arcade roots by delivering a streamlined racing experience packed with thrilling competition and beautiful environments.

Dirt 5 immediately feels like a classic off-road romp of explosive proportions. Customisation options fizzled too soon for my taste, but this is still a solid title for any arcade-sim race fan.

DiRT 5 has decided to go straight for the arcade gameplay and makes no secret of it. It's fun at every level, and even if it's not to everyone's taste, it works quite well. If the title proves to be rather unoriginal, weirdly unbalanced on several levels and a little too easy, the variety of environments and types of races, combined with a beautifully dynamic weather and a quality soundtrack, make us forgive its flaws.

Dirt 5 maintains the tradition of being a solid racing title. The campaign is quite deep thanks to the various events and tracks you can choose from, while the inclusion of local multiplayer for just about every mode gives it a huge advantage over almost every other non-kart racing game on the PC platform. The title requires some pretty beefy hardware and other software to make the game shine, and there are still a few things that need patching, but as a whole, arcade racing fans who aren't looking for a bevy of top-of-the-line sports cars will get a kick out of Dirt 5.

From ice races to climbing on steep slopes and rallycross through gravel and mud to gymkhana stunt events, there is something for every taste. And if I don't feel like going to a certain event, I just skip it. You are by no means forced to go along with everything, and that's a good thing.

With beautiful visuals, excellent controls, and a ton of content, Dirt 5 has a lot to offer players, especially with how lenient and easy-going the game's structure is.

A series of playsets to Forza Horizon's big open toybox. A fun and flashy arcade racer that's easy to pick up and play, but much, much harder to put down again.

Dirt 5 is that one friend you love to go out drinking with. It’s brash, bold, and it’s a lot of fun. It’s got a bunch of awesome tracks and a dynamic weather system that works really well, and then the playgrounds mode injects much-needed longevity into a game that might become stale after 20-30 hours or so. However, if you’re looking for a racing experience where detail, precision, and tinkering is important then Dirt 5 isn’t for you. But if it's fun you're after, you’ll have a blast.

If the Forza Horizon games are the festival of speed, then surely DiRT 5 is the festival of fun.