Game review: F1 24 (Xbox Series X)

The first Formula 1 game that I ever played was the first Formula 1 video game that came out for the PSOne back in 1996. The game was a part of the Demo 1 disc that came with the PlayStation console, and at the time, I thought the graphics were 'realistic'. 

A few years later I even got to play a game called F-1 World Grand Prix for the Nintendo 64. The N64 had better graphics than the PlayStation, but I was at a friend's house so didn't have much time playing it. I do remember it looked and played really well, though. 

Surprisingly, it's 2024, and I have never played a Formula 1 game ever since the late '90s. Well, that's all about to change because I had a chance to review F1 24 on the Xbox Series X. This new game is published by EA Sports and is developed by the legendary Codemasters. 

Aside from the Xbox Series X, F1 24 is also available for PC, Xbox One, PS4 and PS5. The Xbox Series X version of F1 24 looks incredible because all of the cars look shiny and detailed, plus the racing tracks are beautiful to look at. Even real-world racers like Lewis Hamilton have been animated really well, and the game also has sound bites from some of the athletes. 

F1 24 features 25 real-world race tracks that are a part of the actual Formula 1 season from 2024. Some of the countries that you can get to visit include the likes of Monaco, Japan, Australia, and a whole lot more. Several tracks have also been updated to fully reflect their real-life counterparts. 

As a novice in simulation-style racing games, I was initially scared that I would be useless at playing F1 24 since it's been well over two decades since I played the F-1 World Grand Prix game. Not to mention I kept crashing when I was playing the likes of MotoGP 23 and Ride 5 last year. 

To my surprise, though, the default settings for F1 24 are really beginner-friendly. The game uses a racing line so you can follow the optimum route when it comes to racing on the track. The racing line also indicates when you have to slow down and brake when you are entering a corner. 

That being said, some people might think that the physics in F1 24 are too arcadey. I feel the racing physics to be far easier compared to the likes of Gran Turismo 7 and Forza Motorsport 2023. I reckon sim fans may dislike the easier gameplay, but a beginner like me appreciates all of the aids to make racing more manageable. 

Another thing I do admire about the gameplay in F1 24 is the realistic damage modelling. If you crash into a wall at full speed, parts of the F1 car will break into many pieces. If you damage the front part of the car, you may even see your wheels fall off, and you cannot continue the race! The damage is far more realistic and satisfying compared to Gran Turismo 7 in my opinion. 

In terms of game modes, a lot of people will probably spend a lot of time playing F1 24's big Career mode. Unlike the NBA 2K and WWE 2K video games, there is no lame storyline that you have to follow with cringy cutscenes. You pretty much just need to participate and win the 24 Grand Prix races that await you in the F1 season. 

F1 24 also allows you to play as a real athlete as opposed to creating your own rookie like other sports games. Since he's the only racer I have heard of in the entire game, I opted to play as Lewis Hamilton during my career mode in F1 24. 

F1 24's career mode gives you many opportunities to practice each track three times before you race in a qualifying round. In the qualifying round, you need to strive to get the best lap time so you can get the best starting position in the actual Grand Prix race. 

The career mode was mostly fun and easy because I was able to get pole position for most of the races. The only race I loathed was the track based in the country of Monaco. The Monaco track is really hard because the road is very narrow, and I have crashed into the barricade and other cars too many times. I ended up forfeiting the race altogether because I kept crashing and losing my wheels!

Outside of the career mode, you can play the F1 World mode. It is here you can participate in more single-player races, play online ranked multiplayer events, or even partake in time trial races. The time trial is really helpful if you want to practice a certain track before you want to race against other people online. 

One cool thing that F1 24 also adds is splitscreen multiplayer racing. If you have friends or family members at your house, you can compete against them without needing a second console or another copy of the game. It's sad to see splitscreen gaming becoming a rare feature, so I'm glad it's been included here. 

Even though I enjoyed many parts of F1 24, I feel some veterans of the series might not like it. I was reading some comments online and some users didn't like F1 24 mainly because it feels too similar to last year's F1 23 video game. I understand what these gamers because this is what I feel like when I play NBA 2K every year. 

As I mentioned previously, some people may also find the game to be too easy. The physics isn't as realistic as those seen in Gran Turismo 7 or other sim racers out there. Only beginners like me will appreciate the easier approach to F1 24. 

Aside from a few flaws, I was pleasantly surprised by what F1 24 has to offer. The graphics and presentation are excellent and I found myself really engaged in the career mode. I only recommend this game to those who are new to the F1 franchise and want to play a lengthy racing game.

Verdict: 8.0/10