Open-World Games With The Best Driving Mechanics

Highlights

• Realistic driving mechanics can enhance the open-world gaming experience, from car weight to terrain challenges.
• Some games focus on the nitty-gritty side of driving, challenging players with terrain or logistics.
• NPC driver capabilities can play a role in enhancing immersion, broadening the array of open-world games with great driving.

The beauty of open-world games is the freedom that players have to go wherever they like, and titles set in more modern or even futuristic worlds have the added luxury of allowing their players to traverse the world in cars or other vehicles.

While driving from point A to point B can be incredibly fun in any game, some open-world games have such great driving mechanics that players will simply drive around for the joy of it. Speed, control, and the roads themselves all contribute to the quality of a game’s driving experience, and both realistic and unrealistic driving mechanics can work brilliantly depending on the title.

Updated March 24, 2024 by Joe Grantham: Even just in open-world games, there is a wide variety of driving experiences. Not everything is about racing along open highways at lightning speeds. Some games focus on the nitty-gritty side of driving, challenging players to really think about terrain or logistics.

Furthermore, some players want to be fully immersed during their time on the road, which means the capabilities of NPC drivers can also be taken into consideration. As such, this list has been updated to include an even broader array of open-world games that for one reason or another have great driving mechanics.

1 Pacific Drive

A Sci-Fi Survival Game Where Maintaining The Car Is Just As Important As Driving It

Pacific Drive is a truly unique game, and as the title suggests, it is all about driving. Set in a post-apocalyptic world with sci-fi elements caused by a scientific disaster, players must survive and drive through this new world, finding what meager resources they can. Rather than switching between flashy sports cars, players will be sticking to their beaten station wagon in Pacific Drive.

This vehicle is their only lifeline and only companion, and keeping it running is of the utmost importance. From keeping the gas tank full to keeping radiation out, there is an endless list of things players must keep in check, and quick fixes will often need to be done out in the unknown.

2 Grand Theft Auto 4

More Realistic Car Physics Than GTA 5, Which Some Prefer

While few would argue that Grand Theft Auto 4 is a superior game to its successor, many players prefer the driving mechanics of the 2008 game to GTA 5. This debate mostly comes down to a preference for realism over fun, as GTA 4‘s car physics are more realistic, with cars having more weight to them.

The driving also takes longer to get used to, but once players have gotten to grips with the basics, this is where it comes into its element. An additional factor to consider is the other drivers on the road, with GTA 4‘s NPC drivers taking their responsibilities more seriously, creating an overall more immersive experience.

3 SnowRunner

A Perfect Depiction Of The Relationship Between Tires & Tricky Terrain

SnowRunner is a lesser-known game, but that doesn’t change the fact that it features some of the most realistic driving mechanics of any game, particularly on rough terrain. SnowRunner is an open-world game that challenges both solo and co-op players alike to traverse the most extreme and dangerous landscapes.

The game prides itself on having the most advanced terrain simulation ever with players having to take on deep snow, frozen lakes, and of course lots of mud. For each contract, players must assess the situation and choose the best vehicle for the job, with SnowRunner featuring over 80 unique trucks. Each vehicle feels incredibly realistic to take control of and players will be surprised at how complex yet intuitive the driving mechanics are.

4 Mafia 3

Intimidate Informants With Reckless Yet Controlled Driving

• Platforms: macOS, PC, PS4, Xbox One
• Released: October 7, 2016
• Developer: Hangar 13

While Mafia 3 as a whole is a source of contention between players, with some voicing disappointment and others declaring it a masterpiece, one thing is for sure, it has fantastic driving mechanics. However, many players may have missed this aspect of the game by not turning on simulation driving, which gives the player more control.

One of the most fun things to do in the game is to drive like a maniac to get informants to talk. By driving at startling speeds or having near misses with oncoming traffic, players will scare their reluctant passengers into talking. The game is also notoriously beautiful with photorealistic graphics.

5 Watch Dogs 2

Hack Cars & Road Infrastructure To Make Driving More Fun

While the basic driving mechanics of Watch Dogs 2 are solid and smooth as can be expected from a modern game, they aren’t anything to get too excited about. However, the ability to hack other cars and features of the road while driving is absolutely game-changing and players can have endless fun manipulating their surroundings.

While driving around in the best cars Watch Dogs 2 has to offer, players can hack into traffic lights to create openings or cause crashes behind them. Players can cause bigger explosions by hacking the pipes underneath the roads and watching other cars veer off at the press of a button is always hilarious to watch.

6 Euro Truck Simulator 2

Immersive Handling Of Trucks

Not all open-world games with great driving mechanics have to be high-speed racing or adrenaline-inducing car chases with the authorities. Euro Truck Simulator 2 is a perfect example of this, allowing players to take on the role of a European truck driver making important deliveries all over the continent.

While the game also has management features, with players able to expand their business and make plenty of money in Euro Truck Simulator 2, the driving mechanics are impeccable, recreating the experience of handling such large vehicles. Moreover, while players are likely to stick to the fastest routes most of the time, they can also drive around the expansive open world for pleasure when not under contract.

7 Grand Theft Auto 5

Incredibly Fun & Forgiving Driving

Grand Theft Auto 5 is one of the greatest video games of all time for several reasons, not the least due to its fantastic driving experience. On top of the game’s iconic soundtracks that players can blast out from their favorite radio station while cruising, the actual driving mechanics are natural and easy to get used to, making any journey smooth.

While GTA 5‘s driving mechanics are far from the most realistic, especially when playing as Franklin with his ability to slow down time, they are extremely fun and allow players to concentrate on escaping from the cops in epic car chases. As players are likely to crash a lot in the game, the ability to flip cars, while unrealistic to say the least, is much appreciated and allows players to stay in the action and keep driving.

8 Forza Horizon 5

Driving Mechanics So Realistic That Professionals Use The Game For Practice

If players are looking for an open-world game with driving mechanics and physics so realistic it is used by professionals, they should look no further than Forza Horizon 5. While players can race around any of the game’s incredible tracks, the greatest joy for most is simply cruising around the open-world map, which is based on the beauty of Mexico.

Naturally, Forza Horizon 5 has a fantastic selection of cars that all feel great to drive, and on top of this, the game features breathtaking graphics, allowing players to sit back and immerse themselves in the experience and scenery.