Tour de France 2012 is a cycling game that covers the most prominent professional cycling tour, the Tour de France. The player takes control over a single athlete and must manage their energy levels to achieve success in the race.
The gameplay focuses on gentle steering into the general direction and controlling speed changes, with energy management being crucial. The player can communicate with teammates to coordinate tactical maneuvers, but some sections of the stage can be automated using the AI. This allows players to focus on specific parts of the course or take a break from racing.
The additions in Tour de France 2012 include improved AI, enhanced team interactions, UI changes, graphical enhancements, and a multiplayer mode. In multiplayer mode, two players compete during the final stages of a race, with the starting situation depending on the chosen athletes.