DiRT 3

 PlayStation 3
User Score
7.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 151 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 95 out of 151
  2. Mixed: 40 out of 151
  3. Negative: 16 out of 151
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  1. apebelly
    Aug 18, 2011
    10
    Top notch driving game here , presented well , looks stunning , drives like a dream , gymkhana is a great addition and wicked fun ,,

    and for all the "twitchy controls " and " bad handling" remarks , i say go get a new controller cause yours must be busted ............
  2. Madmaz
    Jul 1, 2011
    10
    wow..Im blown away with this game...Ive not played Dirt 1 or 2 so i cant compare it to those , and to be honest a game should stand on its own merit really, so Dirt 3...one of the best driving games I think Ive played, a great sense of speed with this game, the Internal views , and all the cars have them, just add an immense sense of realism to the game, Plenty of different types of raceswow..Im blown away with this game...Ive not played Dirt 1 or 2 so i cant compare it to those , and to be honest a game should stand on its own merit really, so Dirt 3...one of the best driving games I think Ive played, a great sense of speed with this game, the Internal views , and all the cars have them, just add an immense sense of realism to the game, Plenty of different types of races not just point to point rally's and in different types of weather, racing in an Internal view on a snow laden track / road with the snow hammering down really is impressive. The so called "twitchy" handling I think is just right, because cars are "twitchy" at high speeds, it gives you the feeling that you can make a mistake at any moment, and that's true to life. Codemasters have proved yet again what they are good at..Dirt 3 is masterpiece of adrenaline fueled racing, plenty here to keep you busy for ages. What a game.… Expand
  3. beelzie14
    Jun 26, 2011
    8
    Very enjoyable game with a lot less of the gung-ho, US-centric X-games inspired rallying that was Dirt2. Still has a long way to go top be truly authentic to rallying but more of the classic cars has at least delved in to the history of rallying since the '50's.

    New locations and weather have added a great feel to the game with places like Finland, Norway and Kenya keeping the "spirit" of    Very enjoyable game with a lot less of the gung-ho, US-centric X-games inspired rallying that was Dirt2. Still has a long way to go top be truly authentic to rallying but more of the classic cars has at least delved in to the history of rallying since the '50's.

    New locations and weather have added a great feel to the game with places like Finland, Norway and Kenya keeping the "spirit" of rallying fully evident - as well as added snow and night rallies. The super special stages are exciting to play in splitscreen multiplayer - another aspect of the game which outdoes the previous iteration.

    However - there are a few unforgivable problems still such as:
    1 - tracks are only varied slightly by different bits of bunting placed at some corners, but overall the same stage is used for each location. This very disappointing and lazy in my eyes.
    2 - Drifting on dirt?! Really??
    3 - Stages are far too short - how about some 5 minute stages where concentration is required for longer than 140 seconds?
    4 - Driving physics are still nowhere near the Richard Burns Rally quality that I always set as the benchmark. The physics are better than Dirt 2 however, and I realise they need to be pick-up-and-play for the masses.

    So overall a vast improvement but still stopped short of my and others high expectations. Introducing periodic DLC tracks and locations could be a big winner.

    Buy it however as this IS the best rally game available on this generation console.    … Expand
  4. brady4
    Jun 14, 2011
    8
    ok i will start of saying that this game is waay underrated, I am not saying everyone should go out and buy this game but i am saying if you love intense challenging racing games then this is the game for you! But it has its flaws, they certainly don't ruin the game but they do make it more frustrating and harder to play. When i started my first race i immediately realized that they hadok i will start of saying that this game is waay underrated, I am not saying everyone should go out and buy this game but i am saying if you love intense challenging racing games then this is the game for you! But it has its flaws, they certainly don't ruin the game but they do make it more frustrating and harder to play. When i started my first race i immediately realized that they had tweaked the handling a little but i wasn't sure how, then as i began to get further into the race i began to notice the changes, In dirt 2 turning corners wasn't to much of a problem for me but in dirt 3 it feels a lot looser and lighter and this is bad because dirt 3 has lots of narrow roads and tricky corners. So the first corner comes up and im confident i will get round it, so i take my finger of the accelerator and begin to turn with the analog stick. I then spin 360 degrees and i am facing the wrong direction, this happened to me lots of times and it was really frustrating. So you get my point they have tweaked the handling and have made it more difficult.
    Onto the graphics which i am disappointed with. After playing it at a friends house on 360 i immediately wanted to buy it, it looked amazing. Not the case with the ps3 version it was more grainy lighting affects are not as good, textures and overall detail are just poor compared to the 360 so its obviously a bad port.
    The different modes and activity's are great and can be addictive if you get used to the trickier handling. The sound is really well done especially when its comes down to the sound of the cars.
    So the game is good there are some changes they have made that were not necessary but there are also changes that are very welcome, like the gymkanna activity's, i would recommend this to any car or racing fan.    … Expand
  5. skankyjoe
    Jun 11, 2011
    7
    Dirt 3 is without a doubt an excellent racing game, if you are at all familiar with the previous instalments then this is a no-brainer: you'll want it. People are going to be divided on this issue but i personally appreciate the move away from the very americanised style of D2. The sober triangular menu system is functional if a little staid, it would have been nice if a side effect ofDirt 3 is without a doubt an excellent racing game, if you are at all familiar with the previous instalments then this is a no-brainer: you'll want it. People are going to be divided on this issue but i personally appreciate the move away from the very americanised style of D2. The sober triangular menu system is functional if a little staid, it would have been nice if a side effect of this was fewer load times but alas not. I like the British lady and Australian guy chatting between races but the American guy has to go. The soundtrack is, apart from the odd teeny-punk track, surprisingly bleak ("I am a man with a heavy heart"???), very British in a dubby and string sample-y way, and it really grew on me and i can now honestly say, i like it. Graphically it's superb, pretty much exactly what you'd expect from a Dirt2 sequel, it's a bit more colorful as well thanks to a wider variety of locations. Kenya and Norway are just, wow. I for one also really appreciate the wider variety of cars, especially the inclusion of more classic rally cars like the Lancia Fulvia. Alpina A110 and Mini Cooper, this is something i personally just am into. I really wish Porsche didn't give their licence to that nemesis of the racing genre, EA, because this game would have benefited fro the inclusion of one or two of those. Gameplay-wise it feels like the handling is a tiny bit more noob-friendly, there are a lot of assists that you can select and on the whole it feels to me as if the force feedback is a bit less violent than in 2, I may be mistaken about it though and need to uncheck some assists or something but i miss that sense of danger a little bit. As always, the flashback system is there, and this something i've never liked because it influences how you play, you're not careful and strategic, you just make a mistake and go, 'Oh well, i'll just rewind'. Consequently you just kind of power your way through the career mode with one or two races that you need to retry along the way. I can understand why it's necessary but i feel it cheapens one's experience of the game.
    Gymkhana events are surprisingly fun (coming from someone who routinely sucks at things like Drift trials) and the Battersea Power Station sandbox is brilliant.
    Tiny nitpick, i would have appreciated if the car setup would default to the last one you used, currently, if you want to use the same one you used last you have to reselect it. Also, the shortest gear ratio setting feels a bit extreme and unnecessary, any car using it will be redlining in 5th within 2.5 seconds.
    All in all, nothing short of an excellent racing game, i would give an 8.5, while i don't think it's the revelation some reviewers are making it out to be it's a solid, enjoyable and polished experience.
    Now, the bugbear, which you may argue does not reflect on the quality of the game: the VIP pass, or more specifically, how the developers chose to rub your face in it at every given opportunity. I have no problem with, in fact i'm completely in favour of, an online pass system as a way for developers to profit from second hand sales of their game. But to rub your customer's nose in it every time the game starts up is inexcusable. If, like me, you bought the PS3 version at launch, you wouldn't have been able to redeem your code owing to circumstances beyond your control. Codemasters choose to ignore the fact that some consoles are simply not online, those gamers will still be prompted to redeem or purchase a code. This, to me, is the equivalent of a DRM system that punishes the people who actually paid for the game. It's letting external political factors encroach on the experience of your product and i really think Codemasters need to be castigated for it.
    A similar hassle is the fact that the insufferable Daniel tells you after each win: "You GOTTA upload that to Youtube, amigo, your fans will go nuts!". I won't deny that the youtube functionality is neat, for the handful of expert players out there, but i really don't think anyone wants to see my races and thus i never intend to use this feature, don't shove it in my face after every race!
    Again, i understand that these questions are peripheral to the issue of whether Dirt3 is a good racing game or not, because it really really is, but i do feel they intrude on the game experience and therefore are pertinent reasons to knock he score down a notch or two.    … Expand
  6. Bjorn77
    May 25, 2011
    10
    The "Twitchy" that some people complain about are there to give the game it's edge. If you are a quitter and press "Restart" every time you crash your car then do not buy this game, you will not have a good time. If you do like to invest in a game and at the end be rewarded with ultimate car control then this for you. Master the controls and you can pinpoint your car trajectory and beThe "Twitchy" that some people complain about are there to give the game it's edge. If you are a quitter and press "Restart" every time you crash your car then do not buy this game, you will not have a good time. If you do like to invest in a game and at the end be rewarded with ultimate car control then this for you. Master the controls and you can pinpoint your car trajectory and be amazed while watching the replay ... but beware ... you are always 1 second away from totaling your car.

    This game is so good, that I absolute hate my job right now. I want to go home and play DiRT3. I wished they had released it on Friday :-(

    Codemasters have done it again... they truly master the racing genre. Thank you for DiRT3 it is worth every penny.    … Expand
  7. SpeedyGonzalez
    May 26, 2011
    10
    Awesome game, has best of both worlds Rally & Gymkhana stages which makes for a refreshing change to the bog standard games in the market for this genre. The whole gaming experience from the brilliant graphics to the music to the detail of the course venues makes for a thrilling drive and even better when using a racing wheel... This game gets my vote every time!â
  8. Milhouse
    May 24, 2011
    10
    I have always been a big fan of driving games Love the cars, the handling, the damage, the music... Its totally immense... and the mini party games are a great new addition.... Go out and get it...!
  9. Inuit_Dude
    Aug 5, 2011
    0
    beutiful graphics, nice cars and great music can't make up for the fact that you can't keep your car under control and therefore can do absoulutly nothing with this game
  10. SLY12
    May 29, 2011
    8
    I like this game. It builds on the 2nd game with snow and rain effects, the new gymkhana event and the music is great like most Codemastes' games. I find the handling to be very similar to the 2nd game but that is a good thing. The vehicles could have a little more weight to them but they're ok the way they are. The biggest drawback to me was the presentation. I loved the RV in Dirt 2I like this game. It builds on the 2nd game with snow and rain effects, the new gymkhana event and the music is great like most Codemastes' games. I find the handling to be very similar to the 2nd game but that is a good thing. The vehicles could have a little more weight to them but they're ok the way they are. The biggest drawback to me was the presentation. I loved the RV in Dirt 2 and the idea of flying all around the world to compete in events. I don't care much for the menus in this game, but on the other hand, it seems to be easier to see what event you should be entering next. The tutorials are a nice touch and explain everything you need to know. I bought Motorstorm Apocalypse before this and I gave it some thought and traded in Motorstorm for this. Not really similar games but this one is WAY more fun to me and that's what counts.… Expand
  11. rockmusic1423
    Jan 4, 2012
    6
    Call me crazy, but I couldn't get into this game. I found myself bored to tears with this game. The driving was fairly realistic and fun and the graphics were spectacular. This is probably one of the best looking games of 2011. The weather effects were fantastic and the backgrounds looked incredible. This game just has an attention to detail that I haven't really seen in a racing game.Call me crazy, but I couldn't get into this game. I found myself bored to tears with this game. The driving was fairly realistic and fun and the graphics were spectacular. This is probably one of the best looking games of 2011. The weather effects were fantastic and the backgrounds looked incredible. This game just has an attention to detail that I haven't really seen in a racing game. But other than that, I was bored. The game just didn't feel that well made and I really expected it to be better. That said, I was never really a rally racing fan, or a driving sim fan. The game was fun for about an afternoon, but I eventually traded it in. Not the best purchase I've made. Does this mean that Dirt 3 is a bad game? Of course not. It's average. And if you are a rally racing/ driving simulator fan then I probably would recommend this game to you. But it just wasn't my cup of tea.… Expand
  12. OooSheeet
    May 24, 2011
    6
    Appalling "twitchy" arcade handling prevent this game from being the mediocre experience it could have been! They have taken the handling model from the first Dirt game, which means that cars lurch from side to side in a thoroughly unrealistic way, like a turrettes sufferer masturbating behind the wheel. The career mode is irritating beyond belief, if I ever see another pyramid agin I'llAppalling "twitchy" arcade handling prevent this game from being the mediocre experience it could have been! They have taken the handling model from the first Dirt game, which means that cars lurch from side to side in a thoroughly unrealistic way, like a turrettes sufferer masturbating behind the wheel. The career mode is irritating beyond belief, if I ever see another pyramid agin I'll kill someone! The collection of brain dead voices range from a thick English girl who is your agent, an Aussie who has English as second language, to an Aerican who has clearly been told not to say "dude" anymore, so uses muchacio instead. Then we come to the "jewel in Dirt3's crown" as I've heard it referred to, Gykhanna. Imagine if the special olympics started a motorsport event featuring Ken "I've never finished a real event without writing off my car" Blockhead! I think you are starting to get the picture. Don't buy this piece of crap, like me you might have been tempted by FInland with group B vehicles, but that is literally all you get that's worth while. Michigan and Kenya are so poorly done, and such poor choices anyway, that playing them in the career mode is an absolute chore! The interiour "cockpit" view is equally shoddy and few of the rally stages take longer than 1 minute 30 seconds to complete. If you want a realistic game with excellent handling, buy an old copy of Dirt 2 and adjust the downforce to maximum. Dirt 2 has better graphics and handling, if you already own it then you can only be dissappointed by this PoS!… Expand
  13. Tubie
    Sep 22, 2011
    9
    The game is great and the difficulty varies greatly, depending on how much aid you use. Having so many options this game should appeal to casuals and hardcore players alike. The graphics are stunning, music is great and best of all is the gameplay.
  14. Scarygary
    Dec 27, 2011
    2
    Mediocre graphics, horrible UI and annoying loading time doesn't make up for decent gameplay. Why some have praised this game is beyond all logic. You would get a better racing experience from driving in GTA 4.
  15. ElfishPresley
    Sep 2, 2011
    6
    My enjoyment of this entertaining Rally game was interrupted regularly as the car I want to use is only available from the PS store as DLC. That happens a lot here and you are regularly being told to buy a pack or a car from the store. It is like an ad for dlc with a few very short driving sections.
    The online pass is back too, which means if you buy this second hand, you will have 5 cars    My enjoyment of this entertaining Rally game was interrupted regularly as the car I want to use is only available from the PS store as DLC. That happens a lot here and you are regularly being told to buy a pack or a car from the store. It is like an ad for dlc with a few very short driving sections.
    The online pass is back too, which means if you buy this second hand, you will have 5 cars less and no online play unless you buy a new code. If you buy new, and activate the code, you have just made the value of the product decrease by quite a bit, and any trade in price will be less generous. So, apart from the ripping off of your money, and the constant ads for dlc that would make this a complete but very expensive game, is it any good? Not bad, the races are short and the loading long, but the driving is nice.    … Expand
  16. Thunder5555
    Jan 14, 2015
    6
    Decent rally game. Would be a good rally game if all the gymkhana stuff would've been thrown away.
    Instead of that, the game should've had a better career mode.
    Codemasters usually have stupid ideas to add in games. Maybe they don't feel like that rally game fans like doing just rally? Who knows... but after all the complaints, it's still a solid game.
  17. monstermanj
    Feb 7, 2012
    10
    This is on of the most awesome driver games I've played they brought back the driving to the old school. For all the critics that can't control the cars or think it is a boring game think back to n4s most wanted and drive like you did in that game or DON'T play in the DIRT 3 world
  18. AbhayD
    May 24, 2012
    10
    As an arcade racer, DiRT 3 is virtually impossible to beat. Waiting for Dirt Showdown to be out! In the meantime, here's where one can get some freebies - http://www.facebook.com/AMD/app_370166086361523 and on http://www.facebook.com/RelianceHVG.
  19. PepsiBen
    Jun 8, 2012
    10
    A fantastic racing game that's held back by a few niggling issues.
    (I cannot judge the online play due to the fact that I bought a used copy of the game.)
    Pros: Accessible, beautiful presentation, good sense of speed, variety of events, easy-to-grasp handling, stylish menus, solid sound design Cons: Poor Youtube integration, stages can become repetitive, DC/Gymkhana events have a high    A fantastic racing game that's held back by a few niggling issues.
    (I cannot judge the online play due to the fact that I bought a used copy of the game.)

    Pros:
    Accessible, beautiful presentation, good sense of speed, variety of events, easy-to-grasp handling, stylish menus, solid sound design

    Cons:
    Poor Youtube integration, stages can become repetitive, DC/Gymkhana events have a high learning curve, uninspired voice acting.

    8/10    … Expand
  20. Syriamn
    Oct 13, 2012
    9
    Is there anyone who can beat Codemasters when it comes to make Racing/Car games? Seriously doubt it. Dirt 3 is all good from beggining to end. My only dislike (but it's a matter of what i like and don't) is the Gymkhana series. I can see it´s good for those who like it, only not for me. The tracks are awesome although i preferred the ones in Dirt 2.
  21. bulletchan
    Apr 11, 2016
    8
    Very enjoyable game with a lot less of the gung-ho, US-centric X-games inspired rallying that was Dirt2. Still has a long way to go top be truly authentic to rallying but more of the classic cars has at least delved in to the history of rallying since the '50's.
  22. Allu23
    Feb 11, 2020
    8
    I like it but tracks are boring.
    Cars and Graphics are very good and cars!
    Little short game
  23. Lopakf
    Jul 18, 2020
    8
    This is the best rally game that i've played. i enjoy these tracks and different vehicles and vehicle classes. I like these controls, they are really good. i can easy control my car, and its easy.
  24. CarNerd86
    Apr 15, 2022
    9
    Codemasters brought out a banger. This was probably the peak of the DiRT franchise. I think it's one of the best DiRT games of all time. Only the frame rate is a little low.
  25. 1ntersect
    May 21, 2022
    8
    Dirt 3 is the peak of this franchise. Really fun and versatile gameplay. Simple, but fun story. Nice game!
  26. Sun_of_a_Beach
    Apr 24, 2023
    4
    Ok. I got (at last) all the Platinum at Gymkhana. Now this game deserves a better score (than 0). But that ''annoying / pain-in-the-ass / hundreds of time / every event / repetitive / restarting'' in order to study specific track / car / timing / perfectly, just pissed me off enough.

    I bet Gymkhana was a huge joke from Codemasters for players, just to make sure your fingers or    Ok. I got (at last) all the Platinum at Gymkhana. Now this game deserves a better score (than 0). But that ''annoying / pain-in-the-ass / hundreds of time / every event / repetitive / restarting'' in order to study specific track / car / timing / perfectly, just pissed me off enough.

    I bet Gymkhana was a huge joke from Codemasters for players, just to make sure your fingers or controllers will be 100% destroyed after your angry rant explosion.    … Expand
  27. Scout_em_out
    May 1, 2023
    10
    Wow. that is that needs to be said. Just playing the game is a sensation, with awesome menus, music, and game modes, it's something everyone should play. It hits even harder after Ken blocks death, hearing his voice. Live on forever #43
  28. darekit
    Jun 10, 2023
    8
    A strong successor that adds plenty of fantastic content, but often leaves me missing some of the more unique tracks and content from DiRT 2 compared to the often too polished and simplified presentation of a game ironically still named after "dirt". Nonetheless, the game still controls wonderfully, the new content is appreciated and the addition of local multiplayer often gives me aA strong successor that adds plenty of fantastic content, but often leaves me missing some of the more unique tracks and content from DiRT 2 compared to the often too polished and simplified presentation of a game ironically still named after "dirt". Nonetheless, the game still controls wonderfully, the new content is appreciated and the addition of local multiplayer often gives me a reason to boot it up over DiRT 2. The thing that REALLY makes me rate this under DiRT 2 though, is the constant shoving of microtransactions into your face. Christ, I thought the EA Codemasters buyout happened in 2020, not 2011. The first thing I'm met with upon booting up the game is a message telling me to buy or redeem a VIP pass that is literally now unobtainable. THEN it advertises unobtainable DLC whenever you need to pick a car or campaign event. Genuinely, for everything good this game does it makes me feel like it's shooting itself in the foot for DLC money. For your own benefit, please pirate this game's DLC so it can shut up about the money you've still got in your wallet sometimes. Better yet, just go play DiRT 2.… Expand

Awards & Rankings

18
#18 Best PS3 Game of 2011
62
#62 Most Discussed PS3 Game of 2011
38
#38 Most Shared PS3 Game of 2011

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
87

Generally favorable reviews - based on 52 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 50 out of 52
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 52
  3. Negative: 0 out of 52
  1. Pelit (Finland)
    Oct 19, 2011
    88
    A very convincing package with stunning graphics and nice feel for arcade'ish racing. There's maybe a bit too much emphasis on gymkhana game mode though. [Aug 2011]
  2. GamingExcellence
    Aug 7, 2011
    91
    Overall, Dirt 3 is nothing short of stellar. The sheer amount of variety – in race events, tracks, and vehicles – makes Dirt 3 a racer that you'll keep coming back to again and again, long after you've completed the Dirt Tour. Whether you're a fan of sim racers, arcade racers, or heck even Mario Kart, you should definitely check out Dirt 3.
    Read full review
  3. games(TM)
    Jul 3, 2011
    80
    Dirt 3 is different. [Issue#110, p.125]
See all critic reviews »