Art of Rally is a top-down rally racing game from Absolute Drift creator Funselektor Labs. In it you drive a selection of faux-historical cars through a series of rally events across the globe.
The game is set in an alternate reality where the sport never had to worry about regulation and was free to evolve to the point of supercar-class rally vehicles. This is all explained to you by a giant Buddha statue. The opening moments are pretty odd as the game asks you your blood type in the initial options, but most everything from that point forward is played straight.
In career mode you’ll take cars from the ‘60s and compete in rally races to unlock later models specifically built for the sport through the ‘90s. Each event is randomly generated, giving you different possible locations and tracks in a series of two to eight races. The racing itself is simulation-style driving — hitting a corner too fast or using the handbrake at the wrong time will send you careening off the track.
Art of Rally doesn’t make it self as accessible as its art style might initially suggest; its silly opening moments and free-roam mode full of floating doodads hide a hardcore rally racing sim beneath. If you don’t have a love for the feel of driving it may not be for you, but racing enthusiasts should definitely check this out.
The game is available now for 24.99 on PC with a 10% discount during launch week on Steam.
Watch our full Review in 3 Minutes for Art of Rally.
Review copy provided by the publisher. Reviewed on PC.