F1 24 is an impressive racing game, and in some ways, it feels like it’s advancing what we’ve seen in the past. On the flip side, there are times it feels like it’s regressing, especially when you compare it to F1 23. That said, I really enjoyed playing the latest installment, and I think it’ll resonate well with fans of the franchise.
There are definitely some big problems with F1 24 that keep it from being truly great and make it hard to recommend, especially for PC gamers. I’ve been a huge fan of Codemasters for ages, playing everything from the early GRID games to their latest EA Sports releases like F1 and WRC.
Knowing how dedicated the developers are, I’m always eager to see what they’ll release next. F1 24 feels like a real upgrade to Codemasters’ classic racing games. The updated co-op career mode, the progression features, and that incredible dynamic handling system are particularly impressive.
However, there are parts of the game that feel a bit lacking and empty, which becomes pretty clear when you compare it to earlier F1 titles. In my opinion, F1 24 feels more like a minor update to Codemasters’ existing style rather than a major evolution from the previous games.
F1 24: A perfect racing game for beginners, bogged down by poor performance on PC
Visuals, audio, and presentation
When it comes to presentation, Codemasters really knows how to impress, whether it’s in the GRID series or the newer EA Sports racing games. Their latest title, WRC, uses Unreal Engine 4, but the bulk of their games run on their custom EGO engine, which also brings F1 24 to life visually.
In my review of F1 23, I called it one of the most gorgeous racing simulation games I’ve ever tried, especially coming from someone who loves Forza Horizon and Gran Turismo 7. With F1 24, Codemasters have really raised the bar for graphics in racing games.
One of the standout features of the new F1 title is definitely the lighting. It makes every track, car surface, and even the road look so lifelike. The attention to detail in each circuit also adds a ton to the immersive experience.
I’m a fan of the sleek HUD this time around; it keeps things simple for tracking lap times and your spot on the grid without sacrificing clarity. And let’s not forget the awesome camera motion blur—it really amps up the feeling of speed when you’re tearing it up in those F1 cars at crazy fast speeds.
Lastly, I want to talk about the audio design, which, just like in previous Codemasters games, really stood out to me. The car sounds were the highlight for sure. After the pretty mediocre sounds in Forza Motorsport, F1 24 is a huge upgrade in the audio experience.
Gameplay and driving mechanics
When it comes to racing games, the driving mechanics and progression system are everything. Forza Horizon and Forza Motorsport are great at delivering a fun driving experience, but they can lack a meaningful progression system. On the other hand, the recent Need for Speed and Gran Turismo games have a decent progression but don’t quite hit the mark with driving.
F1 24 really hits the mark, just like the earlier Codemasters games. The standout feature this time is the “dynamic handling” system, which significantly upgrades how the game feels to drive. I always found the handling in the last F1 game a bit off, so this is a welcome change.
Basically, the handling in F1 23 worked fine with a wheel and pedals, but it felt off when using a controller (and even worse on a keyboard). The deadzones and clutch controls just didn’t click for controller players. This is something that a lot of new and casual players will notice since they usually play with controllers.
The dynamic handling system takes care of this by automatically adjusting your car’s settings before you hit the track. You can still fine-tune everything yourself if you want, but if you’d rather not bother, you can just jump straight into the racing.
In F1 24, the physics simulation has been revamped, offering more realistic suspension movements and a greater sense of vehicle wear. You’ll definitely notice how heat and tire degradation impact your racing experience. And don’t forget about the weather—cold and rain can really challenge your grip on the road.
The new career mode and other game modes
The career mode has been heavily promoted as a standout feature in the latest F1 game. Unlike the last game’s unique story-focused campaign, F1 24’s career mode is more straightforward, resembling the typical setups we find in most EA Sports games these days. While that’s not necessarily a bad thing, I can’t help but feel a little let down.
Just to be clear, the career mode in the newest F1 title is still quite strong. The unique aspect this year is that you can either control a real driver or design your own custom avatar to earn your F1 license. I was a bit doubtful about the changes initially, but I grew to appreciate them over time.
Not only can you race as modern F1 greats like Lewis Hamilton and Verstappen, but you can also take control of legendary drivers like Hunt, Senna, Schumacher, Montoya, and more. And don’t forget about the new driver accolades system that rewards you for your performance on the circuit and the milestones you achieve.
The coolest part is that if you decide to play as a legendary F1 driver, the achievements you rack up will reflect their actual accomplishments and racing history. It really gives F1 24 an RPG vibe, but with racing taking center stage instead of fighting.
And finally, I need to mention the co-op career mode, which has really changed a lot from earlier F1 games. The best part is the shared career progression, so you and your friend can both make progress in your campaigns at the same time, even when playing together.
Few shortcomings
Honestly, I had a great time with F1 24, exploring the career mode, tackling the career challenge, and doing a bit of co-op. The visuals, presentation, driving mechanics, and physics are all top-notch, but I do have some criticisms, particularly regarding the career mode itself.
Honestly, I was a big fan of the Breaking Point story mode in the last few games. F1 23 was so good that I ended up revisiting F1 21 and F1 22 to get the complete Breaking Point story. I love a good narrative in video games, and those campaigns, though brief, really packed a punch.
I totally understand the idea behind the new campaign, and I have to say, it’s a lot of fun, especially with the racing legends you can play as and the accolades system. That said, it doesn’t really resonate with me like the career mode in F1 23 does.
Besides the updates to career mode, the game is facing several technical glitches on PC. Just to share, I played F1 24 on a PC with these specs:
- CPU: Ryzen 5 5600X
- GPU: Nvidia RTX 4070
- Memory: 16GB DDR4
- Storage: 1 TB Gen-4 NVMe
- Input: Xbox Series controller
With this setup, I was hitting about 70 to 80fps at 1440p on High settings, and I wasn’t using ray-tracing or any upscaling tricks.
Even though I was using a PC that totally exceeded the recommended specs, I still ran into a lot of stuttering and a few crashes. I believe these problems will get sorted out by the time the game hits early access, but it was definitely something I had to deal with while reviewing it, so I thought it was worth mentioning.
In Conclusion
F1 24 is a fantastic racing simulation that takes almost everything from the earlier titles and makes it better. The career mode might feel like a bit of a downgrade compared to the last few games, but the new updates have some interesting perks that should definitely grab the attention of long-time F1 fans.
If you’re a long-time fan of the F1 series or the sport, F1 24 is definitely worth picking up. But even if you’re just getting into racing games, this latest installment is super accessible with its easy controls, improved handling thanks to the new dynamic system, and an overall awesome racing experience.
