Players compete in timed stage events on tarmac and off-road terrain in varying weather conditions.

The game features stages in Argentina, Australia, New Zealand, Poland, Spain and the United States.

[5] The "My Team" mode introduced in Dirt 4 is expanded upon, requiring players to hire specialist engineers to maintain the car.

Codemasters later introduced a more comprehensive tutorial for setting up the car to make the process more accessible for newcomers, amateurs and players who have been deterred from exploring setup options in the past.

[citation needed] The release of downloadable content follows a fortnightly schedule, and includes the return of rally locations from the first game, as well as cars such as the Škoda Fabia and BMW M1.

[2] Rally drivers Ryan Champion and Jon Armstrong served as consultants throughout the game's development with occasional help from Oliver Solberg, while veteran co-driver Phil Mills lent his voice as the game's English-speaking co-driver.