The story of Dirt 2 takes place in a world where eight types of Offroad-events are available to the player. These events include Rallye, Trailblazer, Raid, Landrush, Rallyecross, Gatecrasher, Domination, and Last Man Standing. The game's main campaign is called DiRT Tour, and each event requires a different car or race-pack to be purchased with money earned from winning previous races.
The gameplay of Dirt 2 focuses on racing and completing events while customizing cars and unlocking parts. Each car can be customized visually and under the hood with experience points awarded for finishing races, completing missions, and earning cash. The amount of cash earned is influenced by the difficulty level, and higher difficulties result in more rewards.
The game features real-world racers who provide tips and additional challenges, including duels and time trials. They also participate in team-events with the player, offering rewards for keeping them happy during races by minimizing crashes.