10 Racing Games With The Best Damage Models

A good damage model can really set a game apart and make it even more enjoyable. We recently asked which racing games you think have the best damage models and there were lots of responses!
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BeamNG.drive is a simulation game that takes damage models to new levels with its highly-praised soft-body physics, a complicated but highly effective system that makes crashes look pretty awesome.

Few games can compete with BeamNG when it comes to the way cars crash, shed debris and get smashed up. It’s thrilling to watch and puts a lot of other, more established and better-funded games to shame…

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Project Cars isn’t for everyone, which was made pretty clear from our recent piece on the worst games you’ve ever played. But, there’s no denying the fact that the damage model is quite detailed.

Bodywork dents nicely and even wheels fall off - it’s a shame we get so excited about that. But Project Cars is quite realistic, especially compared to rivals, and mechanical damage has been nicely done too.

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OK, so BeamNG.drive isn’t necessarily a racing game, more a driving game, but when it comes to actual racing, few games have as good a damage model as Dirt Rally. The way the bodywork bends and disintegrates, the wheels bend out of alignment and fall off and the more realistic way the cars pick up damage is all mightily impressive.

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Grid 2’s handling model may have been met with a mixed response, but the damage system was done pretty well. It was a big step forward compared to the previous game, with different cars getting smashed up in different ways. Very satisfying.

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For a game that’s all about smashing up cars and crashing in spectacular fashion, it’s a good job Burnout Paradise’s damage model was one of its strengths. They were always amazing to watch too.

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OK, so when compared to the racing games for the current generation of consoles, this can’t quite compete. But for its time, Street Legal Racing: Redline’s damage model and crashes were impressive and made smashing up your car enjoyable way back in 2003.

Also, turn down the volume because the music in that video is horrible.

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Probably an underrated racing game when it comes to damage, but Assetto Corsa is actually quite good. The component damage system is fairly realistic and crashes look dramatic and exciting. That’s what we want as gamers, right?

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We’ve already included Grid 2 on this list, so it kind of says a lot about that game when the original Grid had a pretty good damage model – especially for back in 2008.

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For its time, the GP4 damage model was impressive and made it a cracking game to play. Sure, the crashes weren’t massively realistic, but they were always epic to watch and looked insane. Again, ignore the awful music in that video…

Here’s another game that also uses soft-physics damage modelling, but unlike BeamNG, this is a proper racing game. It’s an eclectic mix of demolition derbies and track racing, so there’s something for every car gamer. The damage model looks brilliant and is quite realistic, for what it is.

Do you agree? Let us know your thoughts in the comments. See the original community post right here.

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Comments

Anonymous

Im just gonna put this here…..

01/15/2017 - 23:04 |
128 | 0
RotaryPower

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

For the time it come out, it was amazing.

01/15/2017 - 23:07 |
12 | 0
lafars

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

We are the lazy generation no more standing out in line…so good at wasting our time

01/16/2017 - 17:18 |
8 | 0
Anonymous

“Also, turn down the volume because the music in that video is horrible.”
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA you’re wrong

01/15/2017 - 23:08 |
26 | 0
Anonymous

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Bit of five finger death punch never hurt anyone 😂

01/15/2017 - 23:19 |
8 | 0
Pierce Tolar

FH3 has very good damage detail
, look at this Volvo 850r after a head on collision with the train.

01/15/2017 - 23:09 |
1226 | 4

I really hope this is gonna make it to top comments of the week!

01/15/2017 - 23:27 |
42 | 8

To the top with you !

01/15/2017 - 23:33 |
6 | 0

Da Tank!!

01/16/2017 - 01:12 |
8 | 0

maybe enable damage in the settings first

01/16/2017 - 01:12 |
6 | 24

Is the train ok

01/16/2017 - 03:24 |
150 | 0
Anonymous

Flatout2

01/15/2017 - 23:22 |
58 | 0
Anonymous

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Was looking for this
This game was awesome btw

01/15/2017 - 23:40 |
8 | 0
ThatWeirdGinger

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

THAAAANK YOU. That game doesn’t exist to anyone but the special few like us are concerned, hugely underrated.

01/16/2017 - 02:12 |
12 | 0
Anonymous

Assetto Corsa may not have the best damage model apparently, but the damage you take affects the driving experience A LOT, you may not see the damage, but you’ll notice it, believe me.

01/15/2017 - 23:28 |
12 | 2
Anonymous

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Agree

01/16/2017 - 01:46 |
0 | 0
Darude Her Right In The Sandstorm™

I’d like to add NFS: Prostreet

01/15/2017 - 23:29 |
12 | 0
pissoffftwat

Asetto corsa? smh

01/15/2017 - 23:31 |
2 | 0
edd meg a faszom

The visual damage in Assetto Corsa is the same all the time! Just like in GTA San Andreas but with more detail. GTA 4 though has much better damage physics than a lot of these games

01/15/2017 - 23:35 |
18 | 0

That’s true, if you are looking at aesthetics damages. Assetto Corsa has a not bad mechanical damage system, as plus. Suspensions that get bent, tires that get bad in many different ways, and couple more things.

01/16/2017 - 01:45 |
0 | 0
Edu Doffi

I play assetto corsa, and i love it, used to test the damage mode in the game, its quite good, if you are racing car gets unstable, you have to push hard to keep it on the track, even power losses.

01/15/2017 - 23:49 |
0 | 0
Nolbit

DTM Race Driver had pretty good deformation back when it came out

01/15/2017 - 23:54 |
0 | 0