Dakar Desert Rally

 PlayStation 5
User Score
6.8

Mixed or average reviews- based on 18 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 18
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 18
  3. Negative: 3 out of 18
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  1. Jt0429
    Oct 5, 2022
    7
    Good-
    Outstanding graphics; Great variety; Flexible difficulty.
    Bad- Frame-rate issues; Irrational physics. Thoughts- At its core, Dakar Desert Rally does have more going for it than not. With equally gorgeous and gigantic racing environments to enjoy, intuitive management systems, and it’s obviously unique position among other modern big-budget racing games, it’s certainly    Good-
    Outstanding graphics; Great variety; Flexible difficulty.

    Bad-
    Frame-rate issues; Irrational physics.

    Thoughts-
    At its core, Dakar Desert Rally does have more going for it than not. With equally gorgeous and gigantic racing environments to enjoy, intuitive management systems, and it’s obviously unique position among other modern big-budget racing games, it’s certainly nothing to sleep on. Most racing fans should give it a look at the very least. Getting hung up on a small handful of little things might slow it down a bit, but for most, I suspect Dakar Desert Rally will provide at least some, if not many hours of fun.    … Expand
  2. OnlyOneHere
    Oct 24, 2022
    5
    I have very mixed feelings about this game. On one hand, you have a game with fun and intense gameplay and driving mechanics. On the other, this game has trash physics and bad performance. When I crashed into the a rock with a quad bike, it was magically spinning into circles like 20 times. The AI can be frustrating sometimes. The graphics are good for a $40 game. It even has some niceI have very mixed feelings about this game. On one hand, you have a game with fun and intense gameplay and driving mechanics. On the other, this game has trash physics and bad performance. When I crashed into the a rock with a quad bike, it was magically spinning into circles like 20 times. The AI can be frustrating sometimes. The graphics are good for a $40 game. It even has some nice windshield wipers animations for a $40 game. The racing environments are well designed.

    The multiplayer is just okay. You can only play up to 4 players. This game also seems to follow the trend of releasing incomplete games and finish the rest through patches. They have features that are set to release in 2023, like the team customization feature. I would recommend this game until it is $20 or less.    … Expand
  3. Cheborz
    Oct 8, 2022
    0
    Very stupid bots, inconvenient menu, a lot of bugs, the result did not live up to expectations.
  4. Bolkie
    Oct 16, 2022
    10
    I love this game! Took me quite a while to make the decision to buy, but so glad I did.
    Yes, there are some performance issues and bugs, but nothing game-breaking.
    You can feel that a lot of love was put into this game. The graphics are absolutely brilliant. The physics are very good as well, an excellent sim-cade solution. Bikes and quads quite iffy, but you get used to them. Usually,    I love this game! Took me quite a while to make the decision to buy, but so glad I did.
    Yes, there are some performance issues and bugs, but nothing game-breaking.
    You can feel that a lot of love was put into this game.
    The graphics are absolutely brilliant. The physics are very good as well, an excellent sim-cade solution. Bikes and quads quite iffy, but you get used to them.
    Usually, a career bores me, not in this game. There is a huge variety of stages and combined with the 5 different vehicles. I love trying and trying again to get that first spot.
    You start in sports mode and this is pretty challenging. The difficulty level is perfect. It remains challenging but does not frustrate.
    The AI are a bit too aggressive sometimes, I gather this will be patched.
    For EUR 40 this is a bargain.    … Expand
  5. Ardho
    May 6, 2023
    6
    Dakar Desert Rally combines a lot of modern features that great racing games need, but occasionally gets in its own way with technical issues.
  6. darkfunky
    Oct 10, 2022
    2
    amazing so much potential but again a game released too soon....

    does not prevent any steering wheel does not work...
    the AI ​​in sport mode is just a derby race....
    save problem...

    anyway, enough of games released like this...
  7. ppcdpro
    Oct 19, 2022
    9
    While there are some bugs, the gameplay is super fun and the graphics are beautiful
  8. ThBlackSword
    Oct 19, 2022
    10
    I love how wonky the physics of the game is, the destruction level of the cars help it, I love seeing the cars collide and sometimes it generates some hilarious moments with the aggressive AI
  9. Iknownohing
    Nov 3, 2022
    8
    Lots of the issues the game currently has can be patched fixed. Which is why my review is aimed towards the near future when this stuff has been solved. Because at the core, it’s a great game that appeals to different audiences and both serious rally fans and casual gamers can enjoy
  10. mirzwithoutYou
    Jun 26, 2023
    8
    I've been on the hunt for a good off-road exploration game since ATV Offroad Fury on the PS2. Snowrunner came close but was too slow and technical for what I was looking for. Dakar, especially with lots of patch fixes now and the addition of Free Roam mode, is finally scratching the itch I've had! Gorgeous visuals, massive environments, and most importantly, satisfying physics that tow theI've been on the hunt for a good off-road exploration game since ATV Offroad Fury on the PS2. Snowrunner came close but was too slow and technical for what I was looking for. Dakar, especially with lots of patch fixes now and the addition of Free Roam mode, is finally scratching the itch I've had! Gorgeous visuals, massive environments, and most importantly, satisfying physics that tow the line between authentic realism and arcadey fun. Docked a few points just because some of the menu navigation can be a little confusing, and in the career mode it's not always clear which races and vehicle classes you should be prioritizing.… Expand

Awards & Rankings

93
#93 Most Discussed PlayStation 5 Game of 2022

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
69

Mixed or average reviews - based on 11 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 11
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 11
  3. Negative: 0 out of 11
  1. GameOver.gr
    Oct 29, 2022
    60
    Dakar Desert Rally strives for something more but that is not enough. The lack of routes with interesting design and variety make it a boring racer, while this indecision about whether it wants to be serious or not, is an issue that in the future Saber Interactive should see through a different perspective.
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  2. Softpedia
    Oct 24, 2022
    75
    At the end of the day, Dakar Desert Rally is a mix of good things and bad things, but on quite a lot of occasions, I feel like the game is still a work in progress. Sure, it’s hard to hit all the right spots from the very beginning, but aside from an enjoyable Dakar racing experience, the game needs refinements in many key areas. There still are a few performance glitches here and there, and the AI is ridiculously stupid every now and then, as it has absolutely no problem pushing you out of the track if it can’t get past you. The game system also requires more polishing. If there’s something you can truly enjoy, it’s the pure off-road experience on dunes, in water, and so on. The scenery is beautiful, so if you’re not playing the game to win races, you could have an absolute blast with this game. Otherwise, you may end up disappointed.
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  3. COGconnected
    Oct 20, 2022
    60
    There’s a lot to like about this game. The sense of scale and visuals is amazing. However, the core aspects of the game, such as handling and getting access to the main rally, are frustrating. Saber Interactive has done a good job on the macro level of the game. With upcoming pledged updates, I’m hoping they enhance the micro aspects which are badly needed.
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