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. 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
  6. 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
  7. 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...!
  8. 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
  9. 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.
  10. 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
  11. 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.
  12. 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
  13. 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.
  14. 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.
  15. Allu23
    Feb 11, 2020
    8
    I like it but tracks are boring.
    Cars and Graphics are very good and cars!
    Little short game
  16. 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.
  17. 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.
  18. 1ntersect
    May 21, 2022
    8
    Dirt 3 is the peak of this franchise. Really fun and versatile gameplay. Simple, but fun story. Nice game!
  19. 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
  20. 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

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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]
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