Beginner's Guide to BeamNG.drive: Your First Hour

Just picked up BeamNG.drive and not sure where to start? You're in the right place. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know to get the most out of your first hour in the game.

What is BeamNG.drive?

BeamNG.drive is a vehicle simulation game built around an advanced soft-body physics engine. Unlike most driving games, every vehicle in BeamNG is made up of thousands of interconnected nodes and beams that deform realistically in real time. This means crashes, off-road driving, and vehicle stress all behave in ways that feel genuinely physical rather than scripted.

Choosing Your First Vehicle

When you first load into BeamNG, you'll be presented with the vehicle selector. For beginners, we recommend starting with one of the standard road cars — the Ibishu Covet or the ETK 800-Series are great choices. They're forgiving to drive and give you a good feel for how the physics work.

Basic Controls

The default controls use WASD for steering and throttle/brake, with the spacebar for handbrake. You can customise all controls in the settings menu. If you have a steering wheel or gamepad, BeamNG has excellent support for both — check the input settings to configure your device.

Exploring the Maps

BeamNG comes with several official maps. For beginners, the Grid Map (a flat, open grid) is perfect for learning vehicle behaviour without obstacles. The Italy map is a great choice once you're comfortable, offering a mix of roads, off-road terrain, and the new quarry area added in v0.38.

Game Modes

BeamNG offers several ways to play. Freeroam lets you explore maps freely with no objectives. Scenarios are structured challenges with specific goals. Career Mode is a progression-based mode where you complete jobs, earn money, and build up a vehicle collection.

Installing Mods

One of BeamNG's greatest strengths is its modding community. To install mods, visit beamng.com/resources and subscribe to any mod you want. It will automatically download and install the next time you launch the game. The in-game mod manager (accessible from the main menu) lets you enable, disable, and update your mods.

Tips for Your First Hour

Don't be afraid to crash — that's half the fun. Experiment with different vehicles and maps. Try the built-in scenarios to learn the game's mechanics. And most importantly, take your time: BeamNG rewards patience and curiosity.

Welcome to the BeamNG community. Have fun out there.