Assetto Corsa
" Realistic racing simulation with precise physics and extensive modding but outdated graphics "
Assetto Corsa Review
Assetto Corsa is widely regarded as an exceptional racing simulator that excels in delivering realistic driving physics and immersive gameplay. Players praise the game's precise handling, force feedback, and authentic car behavior, making it a top choice for sim racing enthusiasts. The modding community is a major highlight, offering extensive custom content like cars, tracks, and graphical enhancements that greatly extend replayability and personalization.
While the core game is highly praised for its driving mechanics, some players note that it can be challenging to master, especially without a steering wheel setup. The AI is often criticized for being unintelligent and occasionally aggressive. Graphics are considered good but somewhat dated, with many recommending mods for visual improvements. The game lacks a story mode and has minimal grind, focusing instead on pure racing experience. Minor bugs exist but do not significantly detract from gameplay. Overall, Assetto Corsa is a must-have for racing fans seeking a realistic and mod-friendly sim experience.
Highlights
Players consistently praise Assetto Corsa for its outstanding driving physics and realism, which provide a deeply immersive racing experience. The force feedback and car handling are noted as some of the best in any racing sim. The extensive modding community is highly valued, allowing players to customize and expand the game with new cars, tracks, and graphical upgrades. Audio design, including engine sounds and tire squeals, is also appreciated. The game supports various input devices including wheels, enhancing the authenticity. Despite its age, the core gameplay remains engaging and rewarding for both casual and hardcore sim racers.
Criticisms
Common criticisms focus on the game's dated graphics and the need for a modern visual overhaul to meet 2025 standards. Many players find the AI to be lacking in intelligence and occasionally frustrating, especially in multiplayer scenarios. Controller support is often described as poor without additional mods or scripts, making it less accessible for players without a wheel. The base game can feel barebones without mods, and some complain about the DLC model where many cars are paid content. The menus and UI are considered outdated and unintuitive by some users. Minor bugs and occasional crashes have been reported but are not widespread.
Pros
- • Highly realistic and precise driving physics provide an authentic racing experience.
- • Extensive and active modding community greatly enhances game content and replayability.
- • Excellent force feedback support, especially with steering wheel setups.
- • Wide variety of cars and tracks available, including many user-created mods.
- • Immersive audio design with detailed engine and tire sounds.
- • Supports multiple input devices including wheels, controllers, and VR.
- • Long-lasting gameplay with high skill ceiling and rewarding mastery.
Cons
- • Graphics feel outdated and could benefit from a modern visual revamp.
- • AI opponents are often unintelligent and can be frustrating in races.
- • Poor out-of-the-box controller support without additional mods or scripts.
- • Menus and UI are clunky and not user-friendly.
- • Many cars are locked behind paid DLC, limiting content for casual players.
- • Base game feels barebones without extensive modding.
- • Minor bugs and occasional crashes reported by some users.
Rating Criteria
About This Game
NEXT GENERATION RACING SIMULATOR
Assetto Corsa features an advanced DirectX 11 graphics engine that recreates an immersive environment, dynamic lighthing and realistic materials and surfaces. The advanced physics engine is being designed to provide a very realistic driving experience, including features and aspects of real cars, never seen on any other racing simulator such as tyre flat spots, heat cycles including graining and blistering, very advanced aerodynamic simulation with active movable aerodynamics parts controlled in real time by telemetry input channels, hybrid systems with kers and energy recovery simulation. Extremely detailed with single player and multiplayer options, exclusive licensed cars reproduced with the best accuracy possible, thanks to the official cooperation of Car Manufacturers.
ASSETTO CORSA has been developed at the KUNOS Simulazioni R&D office, located just inside the international racing circuit of Vallelunga, allowing the team to develop the game with the cooperation of real world racing drivers and racing teams.
LEGENDARY TRACKS
The circuits have been developed using Laser scan technology, in order to guarantee the highest level of accuracy possible in reproducing real world motor racing environments.
Monza, Silverstone, Imola, Mugello, Spa, Brands Hatch and many more tracks, including the historical reproduction of Monza, that brings again to life the legendary Sopraelevata, the high-speed oval where races were staged until 1961.
EXCLUSIVE CARS
The Assetto Corsa physics engine is all new, using practical knowledge acquired from working closely with the elite of motorsport in order to engineer the best possible accuracy of physics and tactility of feeling.
A physics engine like this begs to be used with officially licensed contents: Abarth, Audi, BMW, Classic Team Lotus, Ferrari, KTM, Lamborghini, Lotus cars, McLaren, Mercedes, Scuderia Glickenhaus, Pagani, Porsche, Tatuus and many more!
HARDWARE COMPATIBILITY
Enjoy ASSETTO CORSA using any kind of game device: keyboard, joypad, joystick, steering wheels including any kind of professional device and the most common motion systems.
ASSETTO CORSA is also compatible and ready for Oculus and OpenVR/VIVE, triple monitor view, Track IR and 3D VISION.
GAMEPLAY & FEATURES
Assetto Corsa includes a career mode, a list of special and unique events and challenges, as well as a fully customizable, single player and multiplayer modes featuring quick races, custom championships, race weekends including free practice session, qualifying session and race. Drag races, drift challenges and much more! Four driving assist profiles (gamer, racer, pro, plus a fully-customizable profile) allow any kind of player to enjoy the simulation at their desired level.
Advanced setup options and telemetry for data analysis; dynamic simulation of the tyre rubber deposited on track, depending on the car laps; an adjustable time of the day mode, featuring sun position calculated in realtime, depending by geographical coordinates of the track and by the sun curve according to time and date, in order to get the same light conditions of the real tracks!
MODDING & CUSTOMIZATION
Assetto Corsa will allow for considerable customisation and modification, in order to satisfy the expectations of professional simracers, gamers who prefer to approach the driving experience more progressively, and hobbyists who just like to reproduce and share their cars and tracks, taking advantage of the same editing tools developed and used by the developers of the game.
Available content:
CARS
PRODUCTION
- Abarth 595 EsseEsse (3 variants)
- Abarth 500 EsseEsse (2 variants)
- Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale
- Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio
- Alfa Romeo Giulietta QV
- Alfa Romeo Giulietta QV Launch Edition
- Alfa Romeo MiTo QV
- Audi Sport Quattro (2 variants)
- Audi S1
- Bmw 1M (2 variants)
- Lamborghini Miura S.V.
- Lotus Elise SC (3 variants)
- Maserati Alfieri
- Maserati Quattroporte GTS
- Maserati Levante S
- Mazda MX-5 NA
- Porsche Panamera G2
- Porsche Cayenne Turbo S
- Porsche Macan Turbo
- Shelby Cobra
- RUF CTR Yellowbird
- Toyota GT-86
- Ford Mustang 2015
- Chevrolet Corvette C7 Stingray
GT
- Bmw M3 E30 Evo (3 variants)
- Bmw M3 E30 Group A
- Bmw M3 E30 DTM
- Bmw M3 E92 (3 variants)
- Bmw Z4 E89 (3 variants)
- Lotus Evora GTC
- Lotus Evora GX
GTR
- McLaren MP4-12c GT3
- Bmw Z4 GT3
- Bmw M3 GT2
- Ferrari 458 GT2
- P4/5 Competizione
- Mercedes SLS GT3
CLASSIC GP
- Classic Team Lotus Type 49
- Classic Team Lotus 98T
- Ferrari 312T
RALLY
- Audi Sport Quattro S1 E2
ENDURANCE
- Mazda 787B
SUPERCAR
- Audi R8 Plus
- Ferrari LaFerrari
- Ferrari 458 Italia (2 variants)
- Ferrari F40 (2 variants)
- Ferrari 599xx
- Lamborghini Huracán Performante
- Lamborghini Sesto Elemento
- McLaren Mp4 12c
- Mercedes SLS AMG
- Nissan GTR NISMO
- Pagani Zonda R
- Pagani Huayra
- Pagani Huayra BC
- Lotus Evora S (2 variants)
- Lotus Exige S Roadster
- Lotus Exige Scura
- Lotus 2 Eleven GT4
TRACKDAY
- KTM X-Bow R
- Lotus 2 Eleven
- Lotus Evora GTE
- Lotus Evora GTE Carbon
- Lotus Exige 240R (2 variants)
- Lotus Exige V6 Cup
OPEN WHEEL
- Tatuus FA-01
- Lotus Exos T125 (2 variants)
TRACKS
- Laguna Seca
- Magione - "Autodromo dell'Umbria"
- Imola - "Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari"
- Mugello - "Autodromo Internazionale del Mugello"
- Silverstone - GP
- Silverstone - International
- Silverstone - National
- Silverstone 1967
- Monza - "Autodromo di Monza"
- Monza - "Classic 60's Edition" (3 variants)
- Nurburgring - GP
- Nurburgring - Sprint
- Spa Francorchamps
- Vallelunga - "Autodromo Piero Taruffi"
- Vallelunga - Circuito Club
- Zandvoort
- Trento - Bondone Hillclimb
- Drift Track
- Drag strip
- Black Cat County (fantasy track)
- Highlands (fantasy track)
SHOWROOMS
- Standard showroom
- The Beach
- Hangar
- Industrial
- Sunset
GAME MODES
- Free Practice
- Racing against AI
- Career
- Custom championship
- Online Multiplayer
- HotLap
- Time Attack
- Special Events
- Drift
- Drag race
FEATURES
- In game telemetry and apps
- Advanced car setup management
- Flags
- Penalties
APPS LIST
- Basic info
- Chat app
- Tyre app
- Real time app
- Help
- Lap time
- Pit stop presets
- Friends Leaderboard
- Camera On Board Customization
- Time of the day display
- Input monitor
- Time performance indicator
- Gear/rpm indicator
- Track map
- Rankings
- G-meter indicator
Assetto Corsa v1.16 introduces the new "Laguna Seca" laser-scanned track, 7 new cars among which the eagerly awaited Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio! Check the changelog for further info!
