Assetto Corsa is one of the best Sim titles to play due to the variety of content that you can download and try out (on PC only).
Want to drive a 2023 Formula 1 car on a classic track like Kalami?
That's easy to do on Assetto Corsa, and that's why, in this post, I will talk about some of the best Assetto Corsa Mods I have found.
EXTRA: I will assume in this post that you already know how to install mods onto Assetto Corsa; I will write a tutorial on how to install mods soon and will link back to it here once it's available.
Why Asesstto Corsa NEEDS Mods
In my opinion, AC is a sim where you will NEED to download mods to get the most out of it. AC came out in December of 2014, and while the base game does have some good content to offer, the true beauty behind Assetto Corsa is around its healthy modding community.
Even almost 9 years later, new and improved mods are coming out consistently, from new cars to tracks and even... dinosaurs.
Okay, well, I am sure that as fun as that is, most people who are looking to get a realistic experience won't need that. However, you'll find plenty of cars from Protypes to modern and classic Formula 1 cars, GT3s (you name it, the AC modding community has probably made it).
Being able to quickly download a new car pack and race it around your favourite tracks is one of the best feelings and one of the reasons I picked up a PC to start sim racing.
There are also some incredible graphical mods for AC to help modernise the game (making it look better than even some 2023 titles).
So, without further ado, here are some of the best Assetto Corsa mods you MUST try!
Assetto Corsa's Content Manager (UI Overhaul)
This mod is by far the single best mod you can get for Assetto Corsa. You can run the entire game through the Content Manager. It essentially just makes your life even easier when managing the game (and, more importantly) the other mods you will be using.
I can't tell you how often I've struggled to get something to work on AC, just for it to be the most simple task through the Content Manager.
Before downloading any mods for Assetto Corsa, MAKE sure the Content Manager is first downloaded!
SOL (Graphical Mod)
SOL is usually the second mod that people tend to download right after they've finished installing the Content Manager.
SOL is just as influential for the gameplay of AC as the Content Manager is for making your life easier when it comes to using AC.
If you've ever seen any gameplay from Assetto Corsa and thought, "Wow, this looks photorealistic!" That is most likely due to SOL. If you haven't, check out this gameplay with SOL in use.
Just remember that Assetto Corsa is an old game, and the mods aren't miracle workers. It will definitely improve the overall gameplay with its insane boost in graphics, but it's still running on that older engine.
SOL can be a bit confusing to set up how you would like it to, so I have included a tutorial below to help you out. However, right out of the box, you will notice how much SOL helps with the graphics of the Sim.
Custom Shader Pack (Graphical Mod)
To finish off the holy trinity of mods that every driver who plays AC on the PC needs is the Custom Shader Pack. Another mod that helps with the graphics of the game.
The main reason why I have included these 3 in this order is because CSP needs SOL to run and can be installed using the Content Manager. So it's important that the first two are installed before you install this mod (it just makes your life easier in the long run).
CSP helps tweak some of the smaller parts of Sim's graphics (such as the weather, shadowing & other effects).
The main benefit of downloading the Custom Shader Pack is for those who love doing endurance races. CSP adds a full Day and night cycle, allowing you to do 24HR races.
As I mentioned before as well, rain is included in this mod, making it even more realistic.
I've included a video above that goes through some of the settings in the Custom Shader Pack mod (it even has its own settings page within the Content Manager). This mod is something that ALL Assetto Corsa players will need - unless you do not care about the game's graphics.
Race Sim Studio (Car Mod)
Race Sim Studio is one of the best places to get different cars to use on AC. From driving around in a 1986 Formula 1 car to hopping into a modern P91 prototype car, Race Sim Studio is known for its incredible mods.
I've tried out the 2021 & 2022 Formula 1 mods from them, and I have to say I was very impressed with how the car felt and how detailed it was, from the grip each tyre gave to the weight transfer through fast corners.
I've also tried out their P91 prototype car, and this was really fun to drive around different circuits. It had a similar feeling to the F1 cars, but there were differences, and RSS did a great job at making those differences present between the different cars.
If you're a fan of fast cars, Race Sim Studio is a place you must check out for Assetto Corsa mods.
2Real Traffic Sim (Car Mod)
This next mod is really cool, and I love seeing videos on it! 2Real is a mod that lets you weave through traffic at high speeds on real-life motorways.
I am sure you've already seen videos like this:
It gives me the same feeling as Forza Horizon does (except with more realism).
Allowing for roughly 1,000 vehicles to be added to a single track, you can drift through the traffic or drive Max Verstappen's RB19 through traffic; whatever you choose to do, you'll have a lot of fun!
Sim Dream Development (Formula 1 Mod)
Sim Dream Development (or SDD for short) have created an awesome F1 mod. SDD have an entire arsenal of mods for Assetto Corsa, but as a Formula 1 fan, their F1 mods are where I showed the most interest.
They have mods for all different eras of Formula 1, meaning you can try out Senna's 1988 McLaren, or you can race with the entire 2009 grid.
They've also recently added some of the 2023 cars as well if you're looking to get a more modern feel for your F1 experience.
Project Touge (Track Mod for Drifters)
You guys remember Fast and Furious: Toyko Drift, right?
Well if you're anything like myself, you've probably always wanted to drift like they do in the film; that's, where Project Touge comes in.
Giving you roughly 50km of road, you can fulfil your drifting needs here. Whether you've never drifted before or you've spent 4,000 hours drifting in different sims, this mod is perfect for putting together a run (either by yourself on single-player or with friends in multiplayer).
Just like in some of the scenes for Tokyo Drift, you have descents, hairpins and twisty sections to drift around and practice.
HIGHLY recommend that anybody who likes drifting try this out!
Conclusion
As I mentioned in the beginning, Assetto Corsa gives you the flexibility to drive anything you want and drive it anywhere you'd like. It's a great Sim for trying out new cars or driving at cool tracks that you may not have the chance to do with other Sim titles.
Whenever somebody has asked me what mods they should get for AC, these are always my recommendations, so try them out and let me know in the comments what you think of them.
The Content Manager is a MUST as it makes your life 1000x easier.
Now get out there and have some fun with Assetto Corsa!