Dirt 3 is the best Dirt on PS3 with a spectacular gymkhana mode and a multitude of disciplines. Impressive content, dynamic weather, driving sensations among the best in the genre. A classic.
Your verdict
Category
Racing2 players7+
Split screen
Description
Codemasters rally simulation adding acrobatic Gymkhana as a headline discipline alongside rally. Published by Codemasters, released in Europe in May 2011. Classic rally, Gymkhana with set figures, online multiplayer modes, progressive driver career and energetic rock soundtrack. European version.
Dirt 3 review
MAX
Art direction
★★★★★
"Iconic"
MAX
Music
★★★★★
"Legendary"
1/5
Story
★★★★★
"Anecdotal"
Almost photographic reproduction of the cars, realistic circuits and natural light: Codemasters' racing reaches a cutting-edge realism. The care for mechanical detail and the brilliance of the environments impress at every corner. This visual rigour, elegant and polished, illustrates the studio's exigency in simulation.
Supercharged, the licensed selection blends electro, rock and hip-hop to electrify the all-terrain rally races. Each drift and each jump pulse to the rhythm of nervy, rousing tracks. This infectious energy, cut for mud and speed, is an integral part of the game's thrill.
Gameplay
"Masterful"
Sliding across dirt, feathering the throttle out of a corner and working the handbrake turn every stage into an exhilarating balancing act. The gymkhana events add a welcome acrobatic touch. Poised between accessible simulation and snappy arcade, this rally keeps a responsive drive and a sense of speed that still delight.
Fun
"From the very first seconds"
The sequel enriches the rallying with deranged gymkhana events, where drifts and tricks turn into a real show. The driving feel stays exhilarating, the variety of disciplines stunning. From muddy sprints to stadium acrobatics, every race renews the pleasure. Snappy, generous and superbly made, an off-road racer that celebrates speed and style with flair.
Addictiveness
"Obsessive"
Throwing your car into a controlled slide across snow or mud, correcting with the handbrake and crossing the line by a hundredth sets up a driving tension that instantly calls for the next stage. Progressing through the career and unlocking vehicles renew the urge. A few gymkhana events divide opinion, but the sensation of speed and the precision of the model hold you for the long haul.
Difficulty
"Balanced"
Lifespan
"Massive"
Beyond the rallies, acrobatic Gymkhana demands you rehearse stunts to earn medals and records, every event begging another run. The career ladder, the spread of disciplines and online multiplayer feed back-to-back sessions. That variety, carried by handling as demanding as it is exhilarating, explains its grip on driving enthusiasts.
Dirt 3, Codemasters' off-road racer that refines the studio's formula and adds spectacular gymkhana events, judged more accomplished than its predecessors. Still common, its desirability rests on this recognized quality rather than scarcity, the Complete edition being preferred for its content. A solid but accessible piece for a racing set of the generation, with no notable value.
Better with friends
Spectacular rally and off-road where controlled drift over dirt, gravel and snow gives the duels all their flavor. The competition plays out to the tenth of a second, in consistency and bold racing lines more than luck. The original online is no longer assured, but local split-screen and the hunt for best times among friends sustain a healthy, stubborn rivalry.
Is Dirt 3 still worth playing in 2026?
Dirt 3 is arguably the best Dirt on PS3, more generous and more accomplished than its predecessor. The off-road driving delivers some of the genre's most convincing sensations, and the dynamic weather and night conditions add real tension. The Gymkhana mode, a spectacular playground of stunts and tricks, offers a jubilant and original interlude. The content is impressive in its variety, between rally, rallycross and exotic disciplines. For anyone who loves accessible off-road racing without forgoing depth, the title remains a fully recommendable classic.
