Dirt 5

Dirt 5 was among the PlayStation 5 launch titles, and compared to the previous, more simulation-focused entries in the series, it deliberately shifted toward lighter, more arcade-style fun. Instead of a strict driving model, it offers wild off-road races across snow, desert, ice and city streets, complemented by flashy drifting, jumps and environmental destruction elements such as falling barrels or collapsing fences. The career mode, subtitled Playgrounds, is told through short narrated segments voiced by real figures from the motorsport world, guiding the player through various disciplines from rallycross to ice racing to freestyle exhibitions and stunt challenges on specially designed arenas.

On PlayStation 5, the game fully leveraged the power of the new console — running at high resolution with support for a higher frame rate, significantly shorter loading times compared to the previous-generation version, and support for DualSense haptic feedback and adaptive triggers, which let players distinguish the different surface under the wheels as well as the car's behavior during a skid or wheel slip on ice. Visually, it's a colorful, stylized title with dynamic weather that changes mid-race, and striking lighting during the transition between day and night, accompanied by an energetic soundtrack made up mostly of electronic, rock and hip-hop music.

At release, Dirt 5 was seen as a fun, accessible alternative to more seriously pitched racing simulations and one of the first showcases of the new console generation's capabilities, though it didn't fully overshadow the critical acclaim of previous entries in the series. From today's perspective, it's a brisk, undemanding choice for players who want fast arcade fun without having to study complex car setups, and as one of the first truly next-gen titles it remains a pleasant reminder of the early days of the PlayStation 5.

Why play it: Anyone wanting brisk, undemanding arcade fun without fiddling with car setup will find a pleasant reminder of the early days of the PlayStation 5.