Under $2 on Steam: This rally racer is fun even without a wheel

Roaring engines, flying mud and a constant sense of danger – rally racing has a special appeal for many motorsport fans. That is where the current Steam deal comes in: WRC 7 FIA World Rally Championship, one of the better-known rally games of recent years, is currently 90% off and costs just $1.99 instead of $19.99 until 1:00 p.m. EDT today. According to SteamDB, this matches the game’s all-time low. However, that price is reached fairly regularly, most recently in early May. Those who miss the deal may therefore get another chance soon, especially since the Steam Summer Sale begins just as this offer ends.

In terms of gameplay, KT Racing’s rally title sits somewhere between arcade racer and simulation. Many Steam users describe the handling as more accessible than DiRT Rally, but still noticeably more demanding than a classic arcade racer. Clean cornering requires careful attention to the co-driver’s pace notes, quick reactions to changing surfaces, controlled landings after jumps and a constant balance between speed and caution. Vehicle setups, damage and repairs add another layer, making it difficult to win every stage by simply going flat out.

Career Mode starts players in Junior WRC before moving on to WRC 2 and, eventually, the top class of the World Rally Championship. The game also includes single rallies, championships, weekly challenges and several multiplayer modes. Alongside online races and a hot-seat mode, WRC 7 also offers local split-screen multiplayer – a feature many players miss in modern racing games.

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Metacritic lists WRC 7 with a Metascore of 70 and a User Score of 7.0. On Steam, however, the rally game fares much better: 82% of more than 15,000 user reviews are positive. Players often praise the strong rally stages, the official WRC license and the successful simcade feel. Many also note that WRC 7 works especially well with a controller, so an expensive racing wheel is not required. Mouse and keyboard controls, however, are not recommended either. Criticism mainly focuses on the limited vehicle roster, the somewhat robotic co-driver voice and the weak online mode, as some servers and online features have since been shut down or are barely usable.

On the Steam Deck, WRC 7 is rated “Playable.” ProtonDB, meanwhile, gives the game a “Gold” rating, which usually points to largely trouble-free playability. Several users also report that it runs without major issues. Thanks in particular to its well-implemented controller support, WRC 7 could therefore be especially interesting for handheld gamers.

Disclaimer: Notebookcheck is not responsible for price changes carried out by retailers. The discounted price or deal mentioned in this item was available at the time of writing and may be subject to time restrictions and/or limited unit availability.

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As a child in the 90s, my Gameboy was my steady companion. After school, the PlayStation was fired up. When I finally got my first PC, I was completely hooked. My passion for gaming has never waned since. For me, writing for Notebookcheck means reporting on topics that are really close to my heart – in addition to gaming, I also like to write about e-mobility, photovoltaics and innovative gadgets. When I’m not sitting at my computer, I’m probably on water rescue duty on the Baltic coast or trying to counteract the downsides of my geek life – namely sitting for long periods – at the local swimming pool.