Dakar 18

Dakar 18 is a PC cross-country rally simulation built around long-distance navigation rather than conventional circuit racing. The current Steam listing still uses the original Dakar 18 name, with no verified storefront rebrand replacing it. Developed by Bigmoon Entertainment and published by Bigmoon Entertainment and Ravenscourt, it recreates the 2018 Dakar Rally through open terrain, official vehicles, road-book instructions, weather, damage, rescue, and repair decisions.

The important distinction is simple: this is not a normal rally game with a marked route and constant corner warnings. Dakar 18 asks you to read navigation information, interpret headings, manage terrain, and reach the finish without losing time to crashes, wrong turns, or mechanical damage.

Rally raid driving built around navigation

The main loop combines speed with orientation. You choose a vehicle category, study the route information, follow the navigator or road book, and adjust your line across sand, mud, water, river beds, and rough cross-country terrain. The goal is not merely to drive quickly; it is to arrive at the next waypoint while preserving the vehicle and avoiding unnecessary detours.

The defining feature is the official-style Road Book navigation system. Instead of relying entirely on a racing line, players use directional headings, waypoint information, terrain references, and navigator instructions. Less assisted settings place more responsibility on the player, while easier options provide additional guidance for learning the navigation language.

That structure creates a slower, more deliberate rhythm than a stage-based rally simulator. You may need to lift off before a crest, choose a safer route around a dune, or correct your heading after crossing open ground. A fast vehicle is useful, but accurate navigation often saves more time than reckless acceleration.

The game uses a largely external and first-person driving presentation, with cockpit-focused views available for players who want stronger immersion. On motorcycles and quads, the player has a different relationship with the road book because there is no conventional car-style co-driver occupying the vehicle.

Five vehicle classes and different driving problems

Cars, motorcycles, quads, trucks, and UTVs form the five main vehicle categories. Each changes the balance between pace, stability, visibility, and recovery. Cars offer a familiar starting point, while trucks demand more patience through tight terrain and uneven surfaces. Bikes and quads put greater emphasis on direct navigation and rider control.

The licensed vehicle roster includes manufacturers such as Peugeot, Mini, Toyota, Renault, Mitsubishi, KTM, Honda, Yamaha, Husqvarna, Kamaz, MAZ, Tatra, MAN, and Polaris. The game also features recognizable Dakar competitors and riders associated with the 2018 event, giving the roster a period-specific licensed identity rather than a fictionalized off-road lineup.

Vehicle handling is closely tied to terrain. Sand, mud, water, and river beds can alter traction and momentum, while large impacts can leave the vehicle damaged or stranded. The surface simulation is not background decoration; it determines whether you can maintain speed, climb an obstacle, or need to recover from a poor approach.

Rescue and repair add another layer to each stage. You can stop to help a stuck competitor and receive additional repair resources, creating a practical choice between protecting your own result and spending time assisting another vehicle. Damage management therefore becomes part of route planning, not just a post-crash penalty.

Adventure, exploration, and competitive modes

The central single-player experience follows the simulated Dakar Rally through 14 stages from Lima to Cordoba. Its campaign structure is closer to an endurance event than a short career ladder. Progress depends on completing stages, keeping the vehicle operational, and learning how the terrain and road book interact.

Adventure mode is aimed at players who want the full rally-raid framework. The long stages, navigation demands, and accumulated damage make consistency more important than a single spectacular section. A mistake can affect the rest of the run because there is no standard circuit-style reset loop.

Exploration-oriented activities provide a lower-pressure way to learn the environments and controls. The game also includes a Treasure Hunt mode that turns the open areas into a search activity, giving players a reason to revisit locations outside the main rally progression.

Multiplayer supports online competition and offline play, with Steam listing online PvP, shared or split-screen functionality, Remote Play Together, and Remote Play on TV. Online stages can include up to eight competitors in total, while local multiplayer is designed for players sharing the same PC setup.

Multiplayer is best understood as another way to experience the navigation and terrain systems rather than a conventional wheel-to-wheel racing suite. The open routes, vehicle recovery, and different classes can create separation between competitors long before the finish.

Content model and additional packs

The base game is a premium PC release rather than a free-to-play product. The main package contains the 2018 rally structure, the five vehicle classes, official vehicles and drivers, open-world terrain across Peru, Bolivia, and Argentina, and the associated single-player and multiplayer modes.

The Steam listing currently shows three additional content entries. One is the paid Ari Vatanen and Peugeot 205 Turbo 16 classic car pack. The other two, Desafio Ruta 40 Rally and Desafio Inca Rally, are listed as free downloadable content.

The classic car pack is separate from the base roster and focuses on Ari Vatanen and his Peugeot 205 T16. It is a historical addition rather than a new campaign system, so players should not confuse it with a complete edition or a modern season-pass package.

PC features, controls, and localization

On PC, full controller support, Steam Cloud, achievements, trading cards, Family Sharing, and Remote Play features are listed on the Steam product page. The game also supports configurable steering wheels, pedals, shifters, and handbrakes through an in-game device manager and setup wizard.

Wheel users should treat Dakar 18 as a configuration-focused simulation. The device tools allow players to work with supported peripherals and create custom control presets, while gamepad users can use the standard controller interface without needing a dedicated racing rig.

The verified Steam language list includes English and French interface, audio, and subtitle support, plus Italian, German, Spanish from Spain, and Portuguese from Portugal for interface and subtitles. Full audio is not available in every listed language.

The PC edition is distributed through Steam and includes Steam platform integration. No separate anti-cheat system or independent launcher requirement is identified in the verified storefront information, so those features should not be assumed.

Who should play Dakar 18?

Dakar 18 suits patient off-road players who enjoy route-finding, endurance driving, vehicle recovery, and learning a specialized navigation system. It is a good fit for people who find ordinary rally games too focused on memorizing corners and want a broader cross-country challenge.

Players who prefer short races, clear checkpoints, frequent restarts, or highly predictable handling may find the experience demanding. The game’s appeal comes from uncertainty and self-correction, not from delivering immediate arcade feedback.

The navigation focus also separates it from traditional rally stage games. Players looking for tighter point-to-point racing and pace-note precision may prefer hardcore rally simulations such as DiRT Rally, while Dakar 18 is more concerned with open-route orientation and long-distance survival.

Similar off-road games on PC

DiRT Rally is the closest comparison for players who want serious vehicle control, co-driver information, and demanding off-road driving, although its stage structure is much more contained and its navigation is based on conventional rally pace notes.

For a broader and more varied off-road catalogue, multi-discipline rally racers like Colin McRae: DiRT offer rally stages alongside other event types. That game is more career-oriented and accessible, while Dakar 18 prioritizes licensed rally-raid structure and open-terrain navigation.

Dakar 18 remains the more specialized choice when the appeal is the combination of official Dakar categories, road-book reading, rescue decisions, and long cross-country routes. Its closest competitors may share the off-road label, but few use navigation as such a central skill.

Dakar 18 FAQ

Is Dakar 18 still called Dakar 18 on PC?

Yes. The current verified Steam listing retains the name Dakar 18. No confirmed rebrand or replacement storefront title was found for the PC edition.

What type of racing game is Dakar 18?

It is a cross-country rally raid simulation with open terrain, official Dakar vehicles, road-book navigation, weather, terrain effects, vehicle damage, rescue, and repair systems. It is not a conventional lap-based racing game.

How many vehicle categories are in Dakar 18?

The game includes five categories: cars, motorcycles, quads, trucks, and UTVs, also identified as SxS vehicles.

Does Dakar 18 have multiplayer?

Yes. The PC version includes online multiplayer and offline multiplayer features. Steam also lists shared or split-screen play and Remote Play Together.

Does Dakar 18 support steering wheels?

Yes. The PC version provides an in-game device manager and wizard for steering wheels, pedals, shifters, and handbrakes. It also lists full controller support for standard gamepads.

What languages does the PC version support?

Steam lists English, French, Italian, German, Spanish from Spain, and Portuguese from Portugal. English, French, and Spanish include full audio, while the other listed languages provide interface and subtitle support.

Is the Ari Vatanen Peugeot 205 Turbo 16 included in the base game?

No. The Ari Vatanen and Peugeot 205 Turbo 16 content is listed as a separate paid add-on. The base game instead focuses on its main licensed 2018 Dakar vehicle roster.