It’s hard to deny the allure of any game with good or even great destruction physics. Rather strangely, it appears to be less common in the current generation of gaming despite the increased fidelity and performance of modern hardware. When a game does showcase its destructibility, it becomes a treat for the senses and can often elevate an okay game into something truly awe-inspiring.
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The games on this list continue to set the industry standard and when these titles embrace their explosive ludicrousness, it’s hard not to have a Cheshire cat-like grin as things go boom, crash, or wallop. A disclaimer, the games on this list are no older than 10 years, which means noMinecraftorRed Faction.So, with that in mind, here are some of thebest destruction physics in modern games.
7Just Cause 4
WhileJust Cause 4may be a weaker entry in the long-running series, due to some of the downgraded visuals, it’s hard to deny the eye-watering scale of its destructibility, particularly with the inclusion of a new tornado weather system. But the dynamic destruction on display inJust Cause 4is no less spectacular than its predecessor, occasional performance issues aside. What Avalanche Studios allows players to do with all the tools and toys in Rico’s arsenal is joyous chaos of the highest order.
If players can think it, they can most probably do it. The previously mentioned tornado is a sight to behold as it rips up a good portion of the environment in its wake and using Rico’s wingsuit to glide around a debris-heavy twister is nothing short of breathtaking. Couple that with the destructibility found on structures such as buildings, bridges, vehicles, and precariously placed fuel tanks, and it creates a recipe for some of the best destruction found in gaming.
6Teardown
Good destruction physics in games won’t always come from AAA budgets or flashy graphics.Teardownmay use voxel graphics similar toMinecraft, it’s hard not to be impressed by the extensive destructibility on display. Using voxels allows for some of the most impressive destruction in recent memory as structures crumble like sand. And everything from buildings to windows, gates, doors, and everything in between can be broken into strangely satisfying lumps of cubed goodness.
It providesthe sort of cathartic releaseplayers would experience while breaking down Lego kits, just without the physically painful aftermath of accidentally standing on a rectangular brick.What makesTeardowntruly specialis the minutiae of its destructible details. Depending on the object players are using to cause said destruction, a structure has various layers that need to be broken through. So, despite its simplistic visuals, it’s highly detailed and full of depth.
5Horizon Zero Dawn / Horizon Forbidden West
What Guerrilla Games achieved with bothHorizon Zero Dawnand its sequelHorizon Forbidden West, in terms of open-world traversal and design, is nothing short of astounding. When players first encounter the larger roaming machines with an underpowered Alloy, it’s hard not to be frozen with fear (first time encountering a Thunderjaw anyone?).
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When players finally have a few new tools and weapons, there is nothing quite like strategically deconstructing a robotic dinosaur or creature during a lengthy battle. Sound design, visuals of sparks flying, and narrow escapes followed by, hopefully, emerging victorious add a level of satisfaction not seen or felt in other first-party Playstation titles. Destruction has never been so terrifying in recent memory withHorizon Zero DawnorHorizon Forbidden West.
4Doom Eternal
The opening of this list stated destruction, but it never said what type of destruction, and in the case ofDoom Eternal, it’s that of a bodily variety. While theDoomreboot amazed and wowed with its gnarly takedowns inflicted on the various Hellspawn,Doom Eternalgoes one further and actively shows the physical destruction players wreak on the demons gunning for Doom Guy’s blood. Shotgun blasts, explosions, and fire all pave the way for demonic destruction. Chest cavities are exposed, flesh hangs on by a thread and the results are wonderfully nauseating for even the most ardent horror fan.
When several games on this list focus on environmental destruction, it’s refreshing to see a game likeDoom Eternalbring it back to the body-gibbing days of early 2000s PC gaming with an evolution of their physics. With the frenetic gameplay front and center, it can sometimes be hard to miss the level of detail id Software’s developers put into each of the demons’ various stages of physical destruction. But when a glory kill is performed, it’s hard not to smile at the havoc players have caused to the creatures.
In 2015 Avalanche Studios released the highly underrated licensed gameMad Max,and in the years since, a multitude of gamers have started to come around to this wild wasteland wonderland. Although not on the same destructibility scale as theJust Causetitles,Mad Maxstill includessome of Avalanche Studios' sublime destruction magic,particularly in vehicular combat. Shards of metal scrap break, twist, and fly off their respective vehicles with alarming regularity during chases, all of which are punctuated with crunchy sound designs.
Then, when the sandstorms hit, it becomes a deadly destruction derby as objects break off toward Max and his car the Magnum Opus. A terrifying white-knuckle ride ensues as players attempt to avoid anything that isn’t nailed down or, if they’re feeling particularly brave, try to harpoon a scrap crate to safety or use it as a makeshift weapon to take out other fleeing vehicles. The destruction may be minimal, but it’s no less impressive.
2Battlefield 1 / Battlefield 5
No list which covers game destruction would be complete without some of the FPS pioneers, in this case, theBattlefieldseries.Battlefield 1&Battlefield 5have been grouped into one entry because, despite a few environmental changes in the latter title, physical destruction remains quite similar.With the recentBattlefield 2040, it’s shocking just how much of a downgrade the destruction physics are compared toBattlefield 1&Battlefield 5.
The sense of intensity in gameplay, whether in single-player or multiplayer, is almost unmatched by any other military shooter. And despite the difficulties the Frostbite Engine has caused developers in the past, it shows its full range in theBattlefieldtitles. Walls of buildings crumble, whether it’s from explosions or driving a tank through it, zeppelins erupt into fiery balls, and the environment allows for gameplay advantages. It’s hard not to be entertained regardless of skill level while playing either of these games.
1Control
With their prior titles likeAlan Wake,Max Payne,andQuantum Break,Remedy Entertainment always had elements of destructible environments in their worlds. But it’s withControlthat they introduced their most impressive playground for destructible mayhem. Wanton carnage ensues every time a shootout or combat encounter occurs within the Federal Bureau of Control (FBC). This destruction is only exacerbated further with each new ability Jesse unlocks during her time in the building.
Telekinetic powers allow players to rip objects off walls, and then use said object as a destructive weapon. Hiding behind concrete cover often leads to rumble from gunfire, windows shatter with pleasing regularity, and walls are no match for special powers. Anything not nailed down can be thrown, exploded, shot, used as a shield, or smashed through thanks to the power of the Northlight Engine. WithControl, Remedy Entertainment continues to show what wonderful mad scientists they are within the games industry.
