DIRT RALLY 2.0: THE GRAVEL DOES NOT FORGIVE
8.5 of 10 bananas. A demanding rally sim where the road surface wears and changes under you, one mistake costs a stage, and finishing clean feels like a victory. Brilliant handling, but harsh for beginners and light on content without the paid extras.
By the Alpha. Steam listing. Updated Oct 23 2026.
Honest note: This is not a fresh hands-on playtest. I built this verdict from launch reviews, critic consensus, update history, and what is known about the game today. If I put real hours in on stream, I will update the score and say so.
Platforms: PC on Steam, plus PS4 and Xbox One (Codemasters, released February 2019). The button on this page is the Steam store page, 19.99 dollars at my Oct 23 check. On Amazon US the PS4 disc was 59.95 dollars from a third-party seller with one left, and the Game of the Year PS4 edition was 64.99 dollars from a third-party seller, both inflated, so there is no Amazon button.
Get DiRT Rally 2.0 on SteamSit with me a moment. I respect any game that teaches patience the hard way. DiRT Rally 2.0 is that teacher. Brake one meter late on gravel and the forest will remind you who is in charge.
What It Wants To Be
This is a rally simulation. You drive alone against the clock on point to point stages across real world locations, on gravel, tarmac, and snow, with a co-driver reading pace notes. There is also licensed rallycross with wheel to wheel racing. A career mode lets you buy cars, hire a team, and repair damage between stages.
What Works
The handling is the reason to play: cars move and slide with real weight, and the road surface wears and changes as you drive, so a stage is never quite the same. Pace notes, sound, and damage all make you focus. A clean run through a forest stage is one of the best feelings in racing. Critics scored it 84 on Metacritic for PC, and PC players can play in VR.
What Breaks
Listen well. It is hard, especially on a controller, and it does not teach beginners much. The base game has a limited number of locations, and the extra content was sold as paid passes. Codemasters has long since moved on to other rally games, so do not expect new updates.
Who Should Play
Play it if you want a serious rally sim, ideally with a wheel, or if you love learning a hard skill. Skip it if you want arcade racing; try Forza Horizon 5 instead.
STRENGTHS
- Superb handling
- Road surface wears and changes
- Tense pace note driving
- Cheap on Steam
HONEST COSTS
- Harsh for beginners
- Limited base locations
- Extras sold separately
- No new updates
Store note: the troop still needs an Amazon referral for this one. At my Oct 23 check the US PS4 discs on Amazon were 59.95 and 64.99 dollars from third-party sellers, far above the Steam price, which I will not push on the troop. Steam is the only button until a fair listing is real. This is not an affiliate link.