Assetto Corsa

Given time and future updates, the gap between this and the top-tiers could be shortened considerably. Give this a budget buy today, and mark the name for future greatness. [November 2016, p69]

With a wheel and pedals, Assetto Corsa offers the finest, smoothest simulation of real driving yet. But as an actual racing game, it's rather sedate, feature-light and often unfairly difficult. [Oct 2016, p.84]

Gritty and realistic, Assetto Corsa is for serious racing fans. It lacks finesse, but it's one of the best racers on the market.

It can’t compete with Forza, Gran Turismo or Project Cars when it comes to looks, cars or tracks. The career mode is tedious and often frustrating, and the presentation makes it feel even nerdier and less accessible than it is. Yet the core driving experience remains magnificent, with some of the best handling and most immersive racing around. This isn’t a racer for everyone – it’s tough, demanding and a bit too hardcore – but if you want a sim with thrills and authenticity, it’s well worth taking for a spin.

This isn't a casual gamer's sim-style racer, but if you're looking for a more authentic driving sim Assetto Corsa might just win your heart.

The best-feeling racing sim out there, but physics aside, it's lacking in most areas compared to its rivals. [Oct 2006, p.68]

Assetto Corsa does a lot right, and a lot wrong. It does; however, get the gameplay right which is far and away the most important aspect in racers, even if it fails to deliver a compelling career mode. In its Special Events mode the game shows off its best side while the career mode is average at best. Not to mention the antiquated look cannot be ignored. That being said, Assetto Corsa has a unique tone and feel that differentiates it enough from the competition.

Mostly a game aimed at the most hardcore players of the racing simulation genre, Corsa won't find too many fans in the crowd. The console version also leaves the impression of an incomplete game that we just can't recommend.

Assetto Corsa does not have a lot of tracks nor cars, does not have a good campaign and the multiplayer mode is average. But, it also offers very impressive physics for a console race game.

Despite its amazing driving simulation, Assetto Corsa just doesn’t get the racing right. Out on track alone it feels amazing; there’s no denying the remarkable realism Kunos Simulazioni has captured here. Unfortunately the team just hasn’t been able to wrap a comprehensive or competitive racing experience around it this time.

While the car handling and actual driving is excellent, Kunos Simulazioni don’t successfully turn this into an enjoyable game, stuffing it with single player events and a career that are both frustrating rather than fun. At its best, Assetto Corsa is quite simply a sublime driving sim. I just wish I could say that without caveats.

Assetto Corsa may try to parade around on console as a video game, but it’s not fooling anyone. It’s a simulator made for those that want the most realistic driving experience possible. Even then, it’s fairly rough around the edges and is only in any way recommended to diehard racing fans who are willing to drop money on a decent wheel and pedal setup.

A valiant effort, but far better sims exist.

Ultimately, this is a disappointment that lacks the heart required to truly celebrate the cars it has so lovingly recreated.