F1 23 has to prove itself after last year’s bungled annual release. EA Sports has stepped up its game in 2023, offering a feature-rich Formula 1 package that’s sure to appeal to fans of the world’s most popular motorsport and sim racing in general. Casual fans will enjoy the return of the Braking Point story. It is a surprisingly compelling, decently written narrative that also serves as a great introduction to the game. F1 23 is one of the best racing games you can play if you’re a fan of Netflix’s Drive to Survive or just a fan of the best racing games in general.
You’ll also find Career mode and F1 World mode in F1 23 once you’re comfortable with the brand of racing. It incorporates new circuits, drivers, and team lineups for the 2023 season, but is relatively unchanged from previous years. Playing solo or with a friend makes this game and experience awesome, but it’s also a co-operative game. F1 23 is much more exciting than last year’s release, but still hasn’t quite shaken off some of the cobwebs. The commentary is still incredibly basic, creating an anticlimactic post-race breakdown. Your car’s damage model still displays some visual oddities, such as loose wheels and parts that flail erratically after being dislodged.
There’s no doubt that EA Sports is proud of Braking Point 2, its sequel to F1 21’s story mode. In F1 23’s main menu, Braking Point is at the top due to its polished, well-organized narrative, highlighted by intense teammate rivalry. However, Braking Point goes a lot deeper. The fictional Konnersport racing team in Braking Point is on the verge of both a manager and driver shake-up. The story revolves around three characters: wunderkind Aiden Jackson, egotistical yet talented Devon Butler, and F2 champion Callie Mayer.
In between these races or part-races, you’ll watch highly detailed cutscenes with motion capture that’s only very occasionally uncanny. Besides that, you’ll also find yourself in the team principal’s shoes for a short time. You must respond to situations that can impact the performance or reputation of your team, as well as browse the news and social feeds for Konnersport news and gossip. For those new to F1 23, Braking Point 2 serves as a great way to get to know the hectic, drama-filled world of Formula 1. Its bite-sized missions help you get a feel for the game’s realistic handling model, its circuits, various weather conditions, and concept of pitting.
F1 23 also features F1 World, a well-organized and comprehensive feature. It’s where you’ll find single and multiplayer Grand Prix and Time Trials events that aren’t Braking Point and Career mode. In addition, playing online earns experience for a shared progression system across all game modes, which allows you to earn cosmetics, car parts, and more. F1 23’s Career mode remains relatively unchanged from its form in previous years. However, a number of new features have tightened up the overall experience. As well as the updated 2023 roster of drivers, teams, and circuits, you’ll have the all-new Qatar and Las Vegas tracks along with stalwarts like Baku, Monza, and Spa-Francorchamps. You can always play as your favorite driver in Career modes. I love playing the underdog, so I chose to race with Alex Albon as a Williams driver. In Practice, you will set objectives, place in qualifying, and race for the podium. As a driver, you will make a lot of decisions, such as signing off on R&D projects and press events.
The F1 23 package has improved from previous entries, but there are still some hiccups. The difficulty slider ranges from 1-100, and it’s not immediately clear what each number will be like beyond generalizations like ‘easy’ or ‘medium’. Additionally, the commentary is pretty poor. Both pre- and post-race commentary lacks realistic flair and instead opts for more basic chatter. The damage model also leaves much to be desired. When detached from your vehicle, tires and wings tend to glitch and flail unnaturally, spoiling the immersion. Despite these minor issues, I highly recommend F1 23 to racing fans. There’s plenty of content in F1 23 and plenty of progression, so you’ll be able to savor it for a whole year.