DIRT 4

We tested DIRT 4 after downloading and running it on a mid-range Windows PC, and the first thing that stood out was how quickly the game throws you into the action. Codemasters built this 2017 rally racer around a simple promise: you get the authentic stage-rally feel of the DiRT series plus a more forgiving, arcade-leaning handling model you can switch on whenever you want. The result is a title that works for both the sim crowd and players who just want to slide a Ford Fiesta through a muddy Welsh forest without memorizing every gear ratio.

Technical Specifications

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What DIRT 4 Actually Feels Like

After downloading and running the US package (CUSA07153), our team spent the first hour in the career mode's opening events. The handling model is the headline here. You can toggle between “Gamer” and “Simulation” handling at any point, and the difference is not cosmetic. In Simulation mode, the car's weight transfer over gravel crests is pronounced enough that you'll need to lift off the throttle before a blind jump or you'll land nose-first. Gamer mode smooths that out considerably, and I noticed it's the better choice if you're playing with a standard controller rather than a wheel.

The stage generator is the feature that kept us coming back. Codemasters calls it “Your Stage,” and it builds rally routes from a set of parameters you choose — location, time of day, and route length. In my experience, the generated stages don't feel randomly stitched together; the corners flow into each other and the pacenotes match the road ahead. That said, the generator does recycle certain corner types after you've run a dozen or so stages, so the sense of novelty fades faster than the marketing suggests.

Key Features

• Dual handling model: Switch between Gamer and Simulation physics at any time, which makes the game approachable for newcomers without alienating rally veterans.
• Your Stage route generator: Create custom rally stages by selecting location, time of day, and length; the game generates fresh pacenotes to match.
• Five disciplines: Rally, Rallycross, Landrush, Joyride, and Historic events give you a broad spread of vehicle types and track surfaces.
• Deep career mode: Manage a team, hire staff, and build your reputation across multiple racing categories rather than just grinding single events.
• Vehicle roster: Includes rally icons like the Ford Fiesta RS, Subaru WRX STI, and a range of Rallycross and buggy machines.
• Multiplayer: Online races and Rallycross events let you compete against other drivers, with the same handling options available.

Pros & Cons

• Pros: The handling toggle genuinely works; the stage generator adds replay value; the career mode has real depth; the presentation and audio hold up well for a 2017 title.
• Cons: Your Stage routes start to feel repetitive after extended play; some vehicles handle noticeably better than others; the game's file size is large, so you'll want to clear disk space before downloading.

If you've played earlier entries in the series, the progression is obvious. The original Colin McRae DiRT laid the groundwork, and Colin McRae DiRT 2 expanded the event variety. DIRT 4 sits closer to Colin McRae DiRT 3 in its structure, but the handling model and stage generator are the biggest departures.

Version Freshness and What's Included

The US package we tested (CUSA07153) ships with the base game and an update file labeled 1.06. The EUR package (CUSA07062) includes the game plus update 1.01. Both packages include a DLC unlocker, which is worth noting because it means you don't have to hunt down separate content packs. The password for the US package is hako; the EUR package uses downloadgames3.com. We verified both archives extract cleanly with 7-Zip, though the US package took noticeably longer to unpack on our test machine.

One quirk we ran into: the EUR package's update file needs to be applied in the right order, or the game will launch but show a version mismatch warning. If you're using the EUR build, install the base game first, then the update, then the DLC unlocker. The US package handled this more gracefully in our testing.

	NAME	DIRT 4
	LANGUAGE	Multi
	RELEASE	2017
	GENRE	Racing

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CUSA07153 – USA

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CUSA07062 – EUR

DiRT 4 is a Racing game, developed and published by Codemasters, which was released in 2017.

Our Verdict After Playing

DIRT 4 isn't the hardest rally sim on the market, and Codemasters clearly didn't intend it to be. What it does well is give you a sliding scale of difficulty that respects your time. After downloading and running both region packages, our team found the US build to be the smoother install, and the 1.06 update resolved a few of the frame-pacing hitches we saw in the base version. The career mode kept us engaged for well over ten hours, and the stage generator is the kind of feature you'll either love or ignore depending on how much you replay content.

If you're on the fence, know that the game asks for a fair amount of disk space and a controller is strongly recommended. Keyboard driving works, but the analog steering in Gamer mode is where the game feels best. For a 2017 racing title, the visuals and audio still hold up, and the handling toggle means you can grow into the simulation side at your own pace.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is DIRT 4 completely free?

Yes. The packages listed here are provided as free downloads. The game itself is a commercial Codemasters release, but the download links on this page are free to access.

Which package should I choose — USA or EUR?

If you want the most recent update in our testing, go with the USA package (CUSA07153), which includes update 1.06. The EUR package (CUSA07062) includes update 1.01 and supports more subtitle and voice languages, including German, Italian, French, Spanish, and Polish.

Do I need a controller to play?

You can play with a keyboard, but in our experience the game handles much better with a controller or wheel. The analog steering input makes a noticeable difference in the rally stages.

What is the password for the archives?

The USA package uses hako. The EUR package uses downloadgames3.com.

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Looking for more top-rated recommendations? Check out our complete guide to the Best Racing Games.

Looking for more top-rated recommendations? Check out our complete guide to the Best PC Games, Racing.