Grid Legends

Grid Legends is an arcade racing game from Codemasters that continues the long tradition of the Grid series and combines spectacular racing with the live-action Driven to Glory story mode. Using live-action sequences with actors, it tells the story of a team fighting its way to the top of the motorsport world, an approach reminiscent of a televised sports documentary. On Xbox Series X and S, the game offers a wide range of vehicles from open-wheel racers through stock cars to demolition derby, and players can freely move between the various disciplines within a single season.

At the core of the gameplay is aggressive, contact-heavy racing, where collisions between cars are commonplace and opponents actively react to the player's behavior thanks to a system called Livrivalries, which remembers previous confrontations and carries them over into future races. On the new console generation, the game benefits from a high frame rate and fast loading, which, together with destructible environments and dynamic weather, give the races visual punch. The musical score and commentator voices round out the impression of a grand sporting spectacle that strives to be accessible even to less experienced players, among other things thanks to an extensive range of driving assists.

Reviews praised above all the variety of content, quality sound design, and entertaining, if occasionally predictable, storytelling built on live-action characters. Criticism was directed mainly at the somewhat stereotypical dialogue and a slightly superficial damage system. Grid Legends nonetheless confirmed that arcade racing focused on spectacle and accessibility still has its solid place on current consoles alongside simulation titles, and it offers an entertaining alternative for players who mainly want a fast, carefree ride without having to master complex simulation physics and lengthy learning of how to handle individual cars.

Why play it: For its varied content, quality sound, and spectacular arcade racing, it's an entertaining alternative for players who want a fast ride without having to master complex simulation physics.