F1 23

F1 23 is the official Formula 1 game for the 2023 season, developed by Codemasters in collaboration with EA Sports. On Xbox Series X and S, it offers the complete starting grid of all teams and drivers, faithfully rendered circuits, and a driving physics model that tries to combine realism with accessibility for a wider audience. A new feature is the Braking Point story mode, which continues the successful narrative format from previous installments and adds a dramatic human dimension of the paddock and racing behind-the-scenes to the technical simulation. The game also brings back two-seater F2 cars to the lineup for the first time in years, letting players try out the lower single-seater category as a stepping stone to real F1.

Gameplay rests on elaborate team management, the My Team career mode, and online races, where players can compete across platforms thanks to network support. On the new console generation, the game benefits from faster loading, higher resolution, and more stable frame rates, which lets the rendering of reflections, weather, and dynamic track lighting shine. The sound design faithfully reproduces the roar of engines and pit radio communication, which, together with tense music, heightens the sense of racing adrenaline during a Grand Prix weekend. Support for shifters and racing wheels also gives the game a more demanding dimension for players seeking the most authentic cockpit experience possible.

Contemporary reviews praised above all the balance between simulation depth and accessibility for newcomers, though there were also reservations about opponent AI and slightly repetitive career elements. In the context of the genre, it is a well-crafted annual update that cemented the series' position as the reference point for official F1 racing on current consoles. The series is also accompanied long-term by the official F1 Esports Series scene, which turns the game into a platform for competitive play at a professional level. Even with the passage of time, it remains a reliable choice for fans of top-tier motorsport.

Why play it: For its balance of simulation depth and accessibility for newcomers, and support for the official F1 Esports Series scene, it remains a reliable choice for fans of top-tier motorsport, despite minor reservations about opponent AI.