$24.99rFactor Serious racing, endless mods
Drive demanding simulated races at any hour, swap drivers in endurance events, and add almost any car or track you can name.
Is rFactor worth it?
rFactor is worth it if…
- you want a driving sim that rewards hours of practice, not an arcade racer
- you like tinkering with mods almost as much as driving
- you have a wheel, or are ready to learn with one
- you want to run endurance races with driver swaps against real people
- you enjoy classic sims and can live with 2005 graphics
Screenshots
Physics that make you earn every apex
This is a simulation first: 15 degrees of freedom physics, advanced tire modeling, complex aerodynamics, engine boost and detailed bump modeling. The car reacts to everything. Track and ambient temperatures change over a race, so grip is not the same on lap 1 and lap 40. Head physics and cockpit vibrations tell you what the chassis is doing before you slide. There are driving aids and difficulty settings if you want a gentler start, but the point of rFactor is learning to control a car the hard way, and it takes hours before you are even moderately quick. That is the appeal.
Races your way, from sprints to 24 hours
Set up almost any race you want: lap based, time based, or both, with a field of AI cars whose strength and aggression you define. A full day-night cycle means you can start in daylight and finish under projected headlights. Multiplayer goes further, with driver swaps that make real 24 hour endurance events possible with a team. There is a career mode with upgrades that change how your car looks, performs and sounds, plus a vehicle economy with mileage. One honest note: the built-in career is thin, and the base car and track list is modest. The real content lives elsewhere.
A modding base that became a universe
rFactor was designed to be extended, and the community took the invitation. New tracks, new cars, new liveries, custom rules, league schedules, even HUD and force feedback plugins: if a series or circuit exists in the real world, there is a good chance someone has built it for this game, from 1980s Formula cars to touring cars to drift mods. Players agree the mods are the real reason to own it, and that the flow of new ones never really stopped. Fair warning: getting mods installed can take patience, and separate installs help when mod packs conflict.
Can you play it without mods?
Can you play it solo, or is it online only?
Solo works fine. You can race against a field of AI cars whose strength and aggression you set yourself, run career mode, or build your own race weekends with custom rules and league schedules. Multiplayer, including driver swaps for 24 hour endurance events, is there when you want it, but nothing forces you online.
Do you need a steering wheel to play?
A wheel is recommended and well supported, but not required; the game works with a gamepad too. Expect to spend some time configuring your controls either way, since the customization options are deep and the default setups take tweaking.
How hard is it to learn?
Very. This is a demanding simulation, and it takes a lot of hours to control a car even reasonably well. Driving aids and adjustable AI strength soften the early grind, but if you want to relax without learning anything, this is the wrong game. If you want to actually get better at driving, it is the right one.
