Driving games have long incorporated crashes into the storylines, but modern technologies have taken it to another level. Contemporary car racing simulators employ complex algorithms to calculate impact force, suspension damage, weight shifting, and vehicle deformation.
Crash physics are now considered among the coolest innovations in racing video games. It makes games thrilling and unpredictable, allowing people to immerse themselves in virtual realities. With that said, here are five games featuring the most realistic driving collisions.
There aren’t many video games that can compete with BeamNG in terms of collision physics. The game became famous due to the innovative soft-body physics engine that simulates the behavior of individual vehicle components in real time.
BeamNG allows gamers to experience how metal twists and suspensions collapse. Cars bend, lose their wheels, and change shape upon colliding with something. Unlike regular racing games that use pre-created damage animations, every impact in BeamNG produces different results depending on the speed of the car and the force of the impact.
The software can calculate everything that happens during crashes. That includes the following:
- Every vehicle component
- Impact velocity
- Weight shifting
- Deformation type
The sandbox format of the game enables players to test any vehicle and crash scenario. Online communities often discuss how amazing crashes look in BeamNG. Many players praise it for producing some of the most realistic impacts in the history of racing simulators.
2. Wreckfest
Wreckfest combines crash physics with demolition derby racing. The game was developed by Bugbear Entertainment and is all about car crashes and destruction.
In contrast to BeamNG’s approach to crash simulation, Wreckfest creates more realistic but still entertaining racing experiences for players. When vehicles collide, they undergo dynamic deformations and damage that influence the car’s handling during the course of the race.
Some of the damage types include the following:
- Frame bending
- Wheel loss
- Suspension damage
- Engine malfunction
- Stabilization
One of the most interesting things about Wreckfest’s crashes is how damaged vehicles behave after an accident. In the majority of racing games, collisions simply don’t matter in terms of how the vehicle operates. But crashed cars in Wreckfest behave differently depending on the damage.
Demolition derby modes of the game provide players with unique experiences that involve multiple car crashes at a time. Even though Wreckfest doesn’t provide the same level of realism as BeamNG, it still offers one of the most enjoyable collision physics.
It’s safe to say that Assetto Corsa is one of the most realistic racing games released to date. This simulator takes into account every aspect of racecar performance and driving.
Unlike BeamNG, which focuses on collision physics and dynamic deformations, Assetto Corsa concentrates on realistic driving. That’s why all collisions in it are believable. Among the most important aspects that the game factors into the equation are the following:
- Tire grip
- Suspension work
- Weight shifting
- Track handling
If a crash occurs, the impact will seem natural because vehicles respond to acceleration, momentum, and the loss of friction correctly.
Assetto Corsa gained great popularity among professional sim racers and drifters thanks to its realism. Overall, Assetto Corsa is considered one of the most impressive racing simulators on the market.
4. iRacing
iRacing deserves to be called one of the best professional sim-racing games of all time. It focuses mainly on realism and precision.
Unlike arcade racing games that reward aggressive behavior, iRacing is much stricter. Car crashes in this game lead to heavy damage and influence race results. Realism in this game is provided through the following:
- Realistic tire physics
- Detailed aerodynamic modeling
- Suspension calculations
- Track scanning
- Vehicle behavior modeling
iRacing is extremely competitive, and that’s why crashes are very intense and significant.
This game is often discussed as one of the most realistic racing simulators by online communities. The only thing missing, according to some commentators, is dramatic visual impacts. But the reality-based vehicle crashes compensate for the lack of visual effects.
5. Burnout Paradise Remastered
Burnout Paradise can’t boast of as much realism as the previous four titles; however, it has earned praise for its spectacular crashes and destructive gameplay.
The Burnout series introduced players to crash physics. The main idea behind the series is to reward players for causing car accidents, chain-reaction crashes, and takedowns.
Some of the things this game considers while calculating crashes include the following:
- Slow-motion crash animations
- Detailed vehicle destruction
- High-speed collisions
- Impacts that cause explosions
- Wreck animations
Despite not offering as much realism as other racing games, crashes in Burnout Paradise provide a unique gaming experience. The game has become a cult classic among racing game enthusiasts.
As the technology evolves, it’s becoming increasingly easy for video games to simulate realistic crashes. Nowadays, racing games incorporate the most amazing physics engines and algorithms to simulate crash dynamics. Gameplay is likely to get even better down the road.
