"15 Must-Play Games with Stunning Physics for Gamers"

For many gamers, physics in games is like a mysterious entity that everyone talks about—either praising or critiquing—yet it's often hard to pinpoint at first glance. So, why is it essential? It's straightforward: physics enhances the believability of the game world, making it feel more real, even if just partially.

In game development, physics primarily revolves around an object's mass and speed. For living creatures, detailed skeletons and soft tissue behavior are modeled, which is particularly appealing to fans of character realism. In this list, we'll explore the best PC games known for their physics, covering not only simulators but also popular titles.

Table of Contents

• Red Dead Redemption 2
• War Thunder
• Hellish Quart
• SnowRunner
• GTA IV
• Euro Truck Simulator 2
• Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020
• Kingdom Come: Deliverance II
• Universe Sandbox
• Space Engineers
• WRC 10
• Assetto Corsa
• Arma 3
• Death Stranding
• BeamNG.drive

Red Dead Redemption 2

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Developer: Rockstar Studios
Release Date: October 26, 2018
Download: Rockstargames

A staple in many gaming collections, Red Dead Redemption 2 stands out for its physics. Arthur Morgan's journey through a burgeoning America is captivating not just for its atmosphere, story, and graphics, but also for its realism. Thanks to "ragdoll" technology, the bodies of people and animals react realistically. If Arthur missteps, he won't just slide off a texture; he'll tumble realistically. Shooting a bandit in the leg results in them limping or falling, and the same applies to animals like horses.

War Thunder

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Developer: Gaijin Entertainment
Release Date: August 15, 2013
Download: Steam

Realistic physics aren't limited to single-player games. War Thunder, an online military vehicle action game, showcases impressive physics. Unlike its competitors, it captures the sensation of controlling heavy machinery. Tanks feel massive, and wheeled vehicles handle differently from tracked ones due to the physics of both the vehicles and the terrain. This impacts gameplay, especially in challenging environments like snow, where weaker vehicles struggle. Aviation physics include air resistance, affecting maneuverability at different altitudes, while ships can list and take on water if damaged.

Hellish Quart

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Developer: Kubold
Release Date: February 16, 2021
Download: Steam

The standout feature of Hellish Quart is its realistic body physics. This simplified fencing simulator focuses on online duels, where two characters engage in combat, showcasing your skills. Unlike the over-the-top action of games like Mortal Kombat, Hellish Quart's human models adhere to in-game physics, with mass, inertia, and a realistic skeleton. Every sword swing and step has inertia, and hits or wounds affect movement.

SnowRunner

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Developer: Saber Interactive
Release Date: April 28, 2020
Download: Steam

Developers often enhance car simulators with advanced physics, and SnowRunner is no exception. While not a highly sophisticated driving simulator, its physics are excellent, extending beyond just the vehicles. Focused on controlling heavy trucks in off-road conditions, the game features realistic weight and center of mass, with terrain materials having unique properties. Heavy trucks can sink into mud, which has its own physics, including tire ruts and varying softness. Snow and water also affect gameplay, with strong currents capable of flipping or carrying vehicles away.

GTA IV

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Developer: Rockstar North
Release Date: April 29, 2008
Download: Rockstargames

When discussing game physics, GTA IV often comes to mind. This Rockstar project set a new standard for realism, thanks to the Euphoria technology, also used in BBC documentaries. In GTA IV, people move and react to forces realistically. A simple shove can cause a pedestrian to fall or regain balance and retaliate. Shootouts become dynamic action scenes. Vehicles crumple realistically, with bent fenders potentially blocking wheels, and occupants being thrown from cars during collisions. The only downside was the demanding hardware requirements, which still affect optimization.

Euro Truck Simulator 2

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Developer: SCS Software
Release Date: October 18, 2012
Download: Steam

Euro Truck Simulator 2 is another notable truck driving game with realistic physics. While not dealing with mud, it offers a thrilling driving experience, especially with tweaked settings or mods. Trucks and cargo have mass and speed, leading to significant inertia at high speeds, making quick stops challenging. The models also have centers of mass, causing rollovers, and wet roads in the rain add to the realism.

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020

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Developer: Asobo Studio
Release Date: August 18, 2020
Download: Steam

Moving from ground to air, flight simulators like Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 boast advanced physics. While you can disable these features for simpler flying, the full physics experience is more rewarding. Basics like air resistance, mass, and speed are standard, but the simulation of air flow adds complexity. A light Cessna flies differently from a heavy Airbus, and landing can be challenging due to potential stalls and nose dives. High difficulty settings even account for temperature effects.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance II

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Developer: Warhorse Studios
Release Date: February 4, 2025
Download: Steam

Kingdom Come: Deliverance II continues the epic open-world RPG set in a harsh medieval era. Players must navigate ruthless clashes, knightly valor, and intrigue, requiring strength, agility, strategic thinking, diplomacy, and loyalty. As a brave hero, you'll fight for your place, participate in large-scale battles, explore historically accurate Europe, and make pivotal decisions. The sequel introduces an improved combat system, an expanded world, a detailed storyline, and numerous side quests, all while maintaining a realistic storytelling approach and adding new mechanics for deeper engagement.

Universe Sandbox

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Developer: Giant Army
Release Date: August 24, 2015
Download: Steam

Physics is fundamental to the universe, and Universe Sandbox models these laws, allowing for wild experiments. Planets are held in orbit by the Sun's mass, and black holes are dangerous due to their immense gravity. In the simulator, you can increase Jupiter's mass to trigger thermonuclear reactions, turning it into a dwarf star, or add a black hole to our solar system. You can even bombard Earth with asteroids, all governed by real physical laws.

Space Engineers

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Developer: Keen Software House
Release Date: February 28, 2019
Download: Steam

Before leaving outer space, consider Space Engineers, another sandbox with advanced physics. This simulator allows construction in space and on planets with survival elements. You can build anything from bases and mining factories to spaceships and ground vehicles, limited only by physics and engineering principles. In zero gravity, objects drift without air resistance, requiring maneuvering thrusters. Planets have their own gravity, necessitating different engines for atmospheric entry and powerful thrusters to escape their surface.

WRC 10

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Developer: KT Racing
Release Date: September 2, 2021
Download: Steam

Returning to driving simulators, WRC 10 features real rally championships with recreated tracks and teams. Beyond its stunning graphics, the game boasts excellent physics. Mass and speed are accurately modeled, but other factors like car internals and tire grip also affect driving. Each road surface has unique properties, requiring adjustments for different types of dirt and other terrains.

Assetto Corsa

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Developer: Kunos Simulazioni
Release Date: December 19, 2014
Download: Steam

Assetto Corsa is a racing simulator focused on realism. Success requires mastering car settings, as everything from friction to air resistance and downforce impacts performance. Races occur on paved tracks, but you'll battle not only opponents but also your vehicle. Minor collisions at high speeds can cause speed loss or spins, and even tire wear is simulated, marking it as a serious racing game.

Arma 3

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Developer: Bohemia Interactive
Release Date: September 12, 2013
Download: Steam

Arma 3, a military simulator, features realistic physics without "ragdoll" technology. Detailed skeletons ensure characters move with mass and inertia, making transitions from running to walking realistic. Weapon weight affects aiming, and characters have numerous stances. Vehicles have unique physics models, with ground vehicles varying in off-road capability and speed, and air vehicles handled well. Ballistics are a key feature, with bullets having penetrating power and mass, affected by gravity.

Death Stranding

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Developer: Kojima Productions
Release Date: November 8, 2019
Download: Steam

Death Stranding, by the visionary Hideo Kojima, may be polarizing, but its physics are impressive. The game involves extensive walking, making cargo delivery in a post-apocalyptic world engaging. The main character has physical attributes and an advanced skeleton, with cargo affecting balance. The diverse landscape and material properties make it a true walking simulator.

BeamNG.drive

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Developer: BeamNG
Release Date: May 29, 2015
Download: Steam

BeamNG.drive is renowned for its realistic physics in car simulations. It's perfect for testing vehicle durability, akin to real crash tests. Each vehicle has hundreds of parameters, with realistic material settings causing the body to crumple based on part strength and collision speed. While not a hardcore simulator, it's accessible and fun, serving as a playground for enthusiasts who host online races and add new vehicles.

In this collection, we've highlighted 15 games across various genres known for their exceptional physics. There are certainly other games with impressive mechanics, character behavior, and vehicle dynamics. We'd love to hear about your favorite games in the comments!