Game review: DIRT 3. £44.99, PC/PS3/Xbox 360

Following on from the impeccable Colin McRae DIRT 2 was always going to be a tough challenge for Codemasters.

Amazingly, the studio has excelled itself on this third entry to the series. Like previous games, you get a wealth of racing for your hard earned cash, bringing in multiple race disciplines, courses, high-end cars and more.

The career mode is massive, letting you take part in sprint events, Rallycross, head-to-head duels and new addition Gymkhana. Under the tutelage of pro rally champion Ken Block, the aim of Gymkhana is to pull off tricks on Tarmac stages, performing long drifts, donuts and more. The skill required to hit the big combo scores is significant, but in time you will be pulling off these moves with ease.

It's a neat addition to the standard race modes, although these have also been improved upon considerably since the last instalment. The visual overhaul is simply incredible and it serves to underline the studio's pristine locales and all-new weather effects. From dreary rain clogged quarry courses in Michigan to the blistering heat of Kenya's desert courses, the weather effects not only look stunning, but also impact on your racing line and grip.

By far the most socially integrated entry to the series yet, multiplayer is as engrossing as ever, while YouTube functionality lets you upload clips of your races to your channel with ease. Combined with the single player career, solid multiplayer modes make DIRT 3 the best game in the series by some stretch.

• This article was first published in The Scotsman on June 18, 2011