Dirt Rally 2.0

This is a complicated yet fun racing game that slowly builds players' confidence in their driving ability. Dirt Rally 2.0 is bound to frustrate many players early on as they find themselves careening over cliffs, getting spun around by rocks jutting into the road, and losing traction due to small changes in road elevation. Cars will become damaged to the point of being undrivable -- just try making your way through the Australian Outback at high speeds once your headlamps have cracked and gone dark -- and time penalties incurred for, say, needing to right a flipped ride, can quickly squash any hope of winning. But with time, you'll learn to race in a manner much more reflective of the real world, exercising more caution as conditions become more extreme. The first time you finish a stage without needing to reset your car on the road comes with a sense of accomplishment lacking in most racing games. And the first time you win a stage -- or a whole event -- you'll be bursting with pride.

To be sure, this type of racing experience won't be to all tastes. The controls and physics are very authentic, meaning players can't get away with sloppy steering and braking. Mistakes are punished, and arcade racing fans are bound to experience frustration. It's also not the prettiest of racers. The car models are beautiful and weather effects lovely, but the tracks lack the high-definition details and hyper-realistic effects common in big-budget racers. But there are plenty of games out there designed to cater to these tastes. Dirt Rally 2.0 isn't for everyone, but players looking for a punishingly realistic racing game that rewards perseverance with a genuine sense of achievement need look no further.