EA Sports F1 24 review – Improved but inessential – GameSpew (2024)

You know how it is: another year, another Formula One tie-in from Codemasters and EA Sports. And unfortunately it’s one of those years where, aside from one or two reasonably noteworthy additions, there’s not much to draw players in beyond the fact that it’s got the latest cars, drivers and teams. That’s not to say that EA Sports F1 24 isn’t good. It’s just that last year’s release is hard to follow.

Dive into EA Sports F1 24, and you’ll find that it’s as impeccably presented as ever. And this extends to all aspects of the game, with yet more work put in to make it feel like you’re watching an actual broadcast when in various modes. Codemasters has gone so far as to even use real driver audio samples to enhance authenticity. Along with the usual slight visual upgrade when it comes to everything from drivers to environments, an F1 game has never been so realistic.

There are the usual tweaks under the hood, too. There’s a new tyre model, for example, as well as new suspension kinematics and improved aerodynamic simulation. On track, we daresay only the most tuned-in players will notice all that much, but we do feel that the handling is more responsive than ever. In the pit, there are new engine and car setup options for you to tinker with too. That’s iteration for you.

Perhaps the most exciting new addition to EA Sports F1 24 is found in career mode: the ability to finally engage in a driver career as an Icon. That’s right, your dreams of taking control of Nigel Mansell and leading him to victory can now become a reality. Alternatively, you can create your own team and driver and hire him as a team member instead. It’s a pretty cool addition, and a good selection of Icons are included, but is it game-changing? No.

Also new in the career mode category is the challenge career. This lets players compete against others in a driver career, earning points as they go so that they can try to make it to the top of online leaderboards. Again, it’s a nice but not entirely impactful addition, though along with other small changes found throughout the existing career modes it does make F1 24 feel somewhat fresh.

What’s disappointing but not entirely surprising is the absence of the Braking Point story mode this time around. We imagine (and hope) it will return next year instead. The enjoyable F1 World makes return, though. Once again it’s a fun mode to jump into, having not only an enjoyable sense of progression but also providing some more arcadey thrills when you want it to.

It’s just a shame that the only notable new addition to F1 World is a feature called FanZone, which lets you select your favourite constructor and driver each Podium Pass season. With your choices locked in, you then compete against rival teams rather passively, while also trying to complete collaborative goals. Ultimately, it feels like a swing and a miss: it just exists, and chances are you’ll just check in on the Fanzone hub from time to time to see if you have any rewards waiting for you.

Overall then, EA Sports F1 24 is a great racing game, and the most authentic recreation of one of the most thrilling sports in the world. But outside of having the latest cars, drivers and teams, there’s not a lot here that will wow those who picked up last year’s EA Sports F1 23. There are various improvements to gameplay and modes, but they’re small and iterative. And while Braking Point may not be everyone’s cup of tea, it does add a nice bit of drama to the overall package, so its absence is felt. Unless you’re an ardent F1 fan, then, you might want to sit this year’s release out.

This review of EA Sports F1 24 is based on the PS5 version, with a code provided by the game’s publisher. It’s available on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S and PC.