Every so often, an open-world game will come along that boasts better driving mechanics than most racing titles. For many of today’s gamers, an open-world, sandbox title boasting fantastic vehicle mechanics is a must, and that includes handling, crash physics, and the assortment of vehicles on offer. There are some games that have launched in the last ten years or so that have come equipped with fantastic driving mechanics, and they’re a diverse group.
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From the intensely realistic simulation platforms to the high-speed, high-octane city slickers, gamers have been treated to some fantastic open-world driving games in the last decade. It’s important to stress that a game doesn’t need to be classed as a racing game to feature a focus on driving and on-road vehicles. For instance,Grand Theft Auto, a franchise that has revolved arounddrivingfor years - it’s not a racing game, but does it boast some of the best driving mechanics?
7BeamNG.drive
Released in 2015 and made exclusively for PC,BeamNG.driveis a remarkable and massively popular driving game. It offers players a platform upon whichthey can play with physicson an intense level, taking advantage of a huge assortment of vehicles, maps, props, and ‘manipulation devices.’
As a game,BeamNG.driveboasts some of the most realistic driving and collision physics that the world has ever seen. It’s probably the closest a player can get to being in a car crash without actually being in one, as bad as that sounds. There’s a huge following behindBeamNG.drive, and creators on platforms like TikTok and YouTube use the infinite possibilities within the game world to create and play out dramatically realistic driving scenarios.
Mad Maxis a franchise that stretches back decades, but in 2015, it was expanded with a bestselling video game release. As an open-world,post-apocalyptic action-adventure title, it may not be immediately obvious thatMad Maxboasts some of the most exhilarating driving mechanics gamers have ever seen.
There’s a huge focus on vehicular combat inMad Max, with the car - Max’s Magnum Opus - serving as a platform that can be upgraded and evolved as the game pushes ever onwards. WhileMad Maxrevolves around a bleak, dead world, the driving mechanics are simply awesome, and as the Magnum Opus becomes more powerful and more capable, it becomes an utter joy to drive around in.
5Euro Truck Simulator 2
Euro Truck Simulator 2was released in 2012, and since then, it has received countless updates. There’s a diverse following behind this franchisethat keeps the game alive, and as a platform, it offers unparalleled HGV action. For those interested in the simulation aspect of open-world driving games, it doesn’t really get better thanEuro Truck Simulator 2.
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While players often find themselves working against the clock in Euro Truck Sim, it cannot be said that this is a racing game. It’s a love letter to heavy goods vehicles; a deeply realistic and faithful recreation of some of the largest and most powerful vehicles on the roads of Europe. If players want to slow things down and focus more on precision and maneuvering skills,Euro Truck Simulator 2certainly is a driving game at the top of the pile.
4Snowrunner
In 2020,Snowrunnermade its first appearance, much to the pleasure of off-road simulation fans. For years, players with a keen focus on realistic driving mechanics had been enjoying the likes ofMudRunnerandSpintires. This group of driving games focuses heavily on the more mechanical side of driving, tasking playerswith moving loads and vehicleson and around treacherous, dangerous terrain.
WhenSnowrunnerwas introduced, it brought with it one of the most refined and advanced driving physics engines gamers had ever seen. Within one year of launch, the game had shipped more than two million copies, with players eager to carry heavy loads across icy, snowy, mountainous landscapes.
3Grand Theft Auto 5
For more than two decades,Grand Theft Autohas consistently remained one of the best open-world sandbox franchises. It’s a series with seven major entries, and each one has had a key focus on driving, cars, and vehicular-based combat. From the top-down streets of 1997’sGrand Theft Autoto the sprawling open-world environment of 2013’sGrand Theft Auto 5, gamers have spent years upon years cruising around GTA’s cities.
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However, for all the time and attention spent on driving, cars, and yes, racing features,Grand Theft Autois not aracing franchise. With each new release, the driving mechanics in theGrand Theft Autogames have improved immeasurably. In 2008’sGTA 4, the driving mechanics were at their most realistic, but inGTA 5, they were at their mostenjoyable. Almost ten years later, fans have seen hundreds of vehicles introduced to the world ofGTA 5, andmillions of players still enjoythe driving mechanics in the city of Los Santos.
2Sleeping Dogs
Originally,Sleeping Dogswas supposed to be an extension of the long-forgottenTrue Crimefranchise. It was totally rebranded as an original title and subsequently released in 2012, becoming an instant hit among open-world gaming fans. At the heart ofSleeping Dogswas an intense story, backed up by exhilarating hand-to-hand combat features and a sprawling, faithful recreation of modern-day Hong Kong.
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However,Sleeping Dogsalso came equipped with an arcade-like driving system that took the game to new heights. On the streets of Hong Kong, players could cruise along in a wide range of vehicles, enjoying everything from trucks and motorcycles to supercars and taxicabs. As an action-focused title,Sleeping Dogsgave players the ability to perform stunts, and the opportunity to take part in high-speed, thrilling car chases in an urban, close-knit environment.
1Days Gone
In 2019, the one-and-done title known asDays Gonewas released on PlayStation 4.Days Gonewas a commercial success, despite being delayed a few times. Unfortunately, the idea of a sequel was canned by Sony, putting a swift end to a remarkable open-world, post-apocalyptic franchise with fast-paced motorcycle combat at its core.
Days Gonefeatured a protagonist by the name of Deacon St. John, a biker both before and after the end of the world. From the opening moments of the game, players traverse the sprawling world atop Deacon’s motorcycle, which serves as a focal point for the game as the hours roll by. It was an exhilarating experience, plowing through a forest atop a roaring motorcycle while being chased by hundreds of bloodthirsty zombie-like creatures.
