For many gamers, physics in games is like some strange little creature that everyone discusses—praising or criticizing—but can’t quite spot at first glance. So why is it needed at all? It’s simple: it makes you believe in the reality of the game world, at least partially.

In game development, physics is mostly represented by an object’s mass and speed. If it’s a living creature, then its skeleton and the behavior of soft tissues are detailed, which is especially appealing to fans of female characters. In this list, we’ll talk about the best PC games with physics and touch on not only simulators but also popular titles.

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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

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

A frequent guest in our game collections, Red Dead Redemption 2 stands out with its many advantages, one of which is its physics. Arthur Morgan’s adventures across an emerging America captivate not only thanks to the stunning atmosphere, story, and graphics but also their realism. The “ragdoll” technology ensures that the bodies of people and animals behave close to real life. If you make an awkward misstep, Arthur won’t just slip off a texture—he’ll tumble down head over heels. If you shoot a bandit in the leg, he won’t just lose some health; he’ll start limping or fall over. The same applies to animals, such as horses.

War Thunder

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

It’s not only single-player projects that can boast realistic physics. War Thunder, an online military vehicle action game, surprises with its mechanics. Unlike its main competitor, War Thunder conveys the feeling of controlling multi-ton machines. If there’s a tank on your screen, you feel its massive weight. Wheeled vehicles differ significantly from tracked ones due to the physics not only for the vehicles themselves but also for the materials under them.

This affects the game’s pace. In snowy terrain with a weak vehicle, you’ll struggle, feeling the weight of the metal. The same goes for aviation, with air resistance affecting sharp maneuvers, and ships, where a breach can cause listing and flooding.

Hellish Quart

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

The key feature of Hellish Quart is the realistic behavior of the virtual body. This simplified fencing simulator focuses on online duels, where two characters fight, and you showcase your skills. The human models here follow the laws of in-game physics, with mass, inertia, and a normal skeleton. Every sword swing or step has inertia, and every hit or wound affects the character’s movement.

SnowRunner

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

Developers love adding advanced physics to car simulators. SnowRunner, while not highly sophisticated, excels in its physics, which apply not just to the vehicles. In this game, you control heavy trucks in off-road conditions, with vehicles having realistic weight and center of mass, and the terrain featuring different materials with unique properties.

A heavy truck will sink into the mud, which isn’t just a texture—its soil has its own physics, with tire ruts remaining and the ground varying in softness and viscosity. The same goes for snow and water, where a strong river current can flip you over or carry you away. Trucks and trailers have centers of mass, making their height and width crucial. A truck with a huge crane will tip over on bumps, while low, wide vehicles stay stable.

GTA IV

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

Whenever game physics is mentioned, GTA IV immediately comes to mind. This Rockstar project set a new standard for realism in games, thanks to the unique Euphoria technology. In GTA IV, the physics were astonishing. People moved realistically and were subject to forces acting upon them. A simple shove might cause a passerby to fall or regain balance and punch you. Shootouts turned into spectacular action scenes.

This realism extended to vehicles, with cars crumpling realistically, bent fenders blocking wheels, and collisions throwing occupants from the car. The only downside was optimization, as Euphoria was demanding on hardware.

Euro Truck Simulator 2

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

Returning to truck driving, Euro Truck Simulator 2 is a must-mention. While you won’t slog through mud here, driving can still be heart-pounding, especially with tweaked settings or mods. Trucks and cargo have mass and speed, meaning inertia is at play. At high speeds, stopping quickly is challenging, and rollovers can occur due to the center of mass. Add wet roads in the rain, and you have a realistic truck simulator.

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020

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

Enough driving on the ground—time to take to the skies. Flight simulators boast advanced physics, and Microsoft Flight Simulator is the king. While you can disable these complex features, true enthusiasts will crank the physics up to the max. Air resistance, mass, and speed are basics, but simulation of air flow is crucial. A light Cessna flies like a feather, while lifting a heavy Airbus is challenging. Landing is a quest, with insufficient speed causing a “stall,” leading to a nose dive. On high difficulty, temperature also plays a role.

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, transporting players to a harsh medieval era. Times of ruthless clashes, knightly valor, and intrigue demand strength, agility, strategic thinking, diplomacy, and loyalty. As a brave hero, your fate is intertwined with great events. You'll fight for your place, participate in large-scale battles, explore historically accurate Europe, and make pivotal decisions.

The second installment brings many innovations: an improved combat system, an expanded world, a detailed storyline campaign, and numerous side quests. The developers preserved the realistic storytelling approach, adding new mechanics to deepen and engage players.

Universe Sandbox

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

Physics is at the core of the universe. Planets don't fly away from the Sun because of its mass. Black holes are dangerous and emit no light due to their immense gravity. Universe Sandbox models these laws, allowing wild experiments. For instance, increasing Jupiter's mass could start thermonuclear reactions, turning it into a dwarf star. You can add a black hole to our solar system or bombard Earth with asteroids, all based on real physical laws.

Space Engineers

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

Before leaving outer space, let's mention Space Engineers, another sandbox with advanced physics. This simulator allows construction in space and on planets with survival elements. Build anything from bases and mining factories to spaceships and ground vehicles, limited only by physics and engineering principles.

Space greets you with zero gravity, so objects drift without air resistance. Without maneuvering and braking thrusters, your ship can only fly forward. All equipment needs power sources. Planets have gravitational pull, requiring different engines for atmospheric entry and powerful thrusters to leave the 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. Besides beautiful graphics, it boasts excellent physics. Mass and speed are spot-on, but other factors affect driving. You can tweak the car’s internals and tire grip, crucial as each road surface has unique properties. Even different types of dirt require individual car adjustments.

Assetto Corsa

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

Assetto Corsa is a racing simulator geared toward serious realism. To succeed, you must master car settings. Everything influences your vehicle, from friction to air resistance and downforce. Races occur on paved tracks, where you battle not only opponents but also your car. A minor collision at high speed can cause you to lose speed or spin out. Even tire wear is implemented, a serious indicator for a video game.

Arma 3

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

We can’t ignore the military simulator Arma 3. While lacking “ragdoll” technology, its physics behave properly. Detailed skeletons make characters move realistically, with mass and inertia. You can’t instantly switch from a run to a walk, and weapon weight makes aiming challenging. Characters have various stances relative to the ground.

Vehicles also have their physics model. Ground vehicles differ in off-road capability and speed, with mass and suspension sway. Air vehicles are well-handled, and ballistics is a key feature. Bullets have penetrating power and mass, subject to gravity, not flying straight forever.

Death Stranding

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

Not everyone understood the genius of Death Stranding, but we’re here for the physics. You’ll do a lot of walking, hitting your 10,000-step daily goal. Delivering cargo in a post-apocalyptic world is genuinely enjoyable, with graphics and physics that amaze.

The main character has physical attributes and an advanced skeleton. Cargo has weight and size, so you must balance to avoid falling. Even a short walk with containers can be challenging, depending on the terrain. The landscape is diverse, with materials having distinct properties, making it a true walking simulator.

BeamNG.drive

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

When it comes to physics, BeamNG.drive can be called the king among car simulators. It's mind-blowing in its realism. If you’ve ever wanted to test a car’s durability, this is your place. Each vehicle has hundreds of parameters, including realistic material settings. The car body will crumple just like in real life, depending on part strength and collision speed.

At the same time, BeamNG.drive isn’t a hardcore simulator. Anyone can jump in and drive around. It’s not just a game—it’s an entire playground, with enthusiasts hosting online races on specialized tracks and adding new vehicles.

In this collection, we’ve listed 15 games of various genres with the best physics. Certainly, there are other worthy projects with realistic mechanics, character behavior, and vehicle dynamics. We’d love to hear about your favorite games in the comments!