Scoring for sim racers that want better upgrades, not just more gear.
Build your rigTier System
RigRank uses 10 score bands to describe how far a build has progressed. Lower tiers are about getting started and fixing obvious weak spots. Higher tiers are where every extra point gets more expensive, more specific, and a little more unserious.
Tier 1
You have officially started your sim-rig journey. It is basic, a little compromised, and absolutely enough to get hooked.
This is where many first setups land: functional, fun, and still clearly limited by entry-level gear or furniture compromises.
The goal here is not perfection. It is getting laps in, learning what matters, and identifying the first truly worthwhile upgrade.
Tier 2
You have moved past the bare minimum, but the setup still feels more like a practical starter station than a serious dedicated rig.
A Tier 2 rig usually has one or two thoughtful choices, but the overall experience is still shaped by cost control more than outright performance.
It can already be enjoyable, though the next gains are still obvious: better stability, better pedals, or a more coherent foundation.
Tier 3
The rig is becoming recognizable as a real hobby setup, even if a few weak links still keep it firmly in the early-upgrade phase.
This is the point where the setup starts feeling intentional rather than improvised, and other sim racers can see the direction you are heading.
Weak links still stand out, but they are now easier to spot because the rest of the rig is beginning to make sense.
Tier 4
You are clearly investing with intent now. The setup has some real strengths, but the foundation is still catching up in spots.
Tier 4 rigs usually have at least one genuinely solid component anchoring the experience, even if the surrounding hardware has not fully caught up yet.
You are no longer just sampling the hobby. You are building toward something more serious, and upgrade order matters a lot.
Tier 5
This is the point where the rig starts making sense to other enthusiasts. You are no longer guessing, and the upgrade path looks real.
A Tier 5 setup feels credible: the choices are more balanced, the obvious mistakes are mostly gone, and the rig can support meaningful skill development.
Most people here are past random buying. They are now refining around clear priorities instead of just chasing whatever looks exciting.
Tier 6
This is a proper enthusiast rig with meaningful hardware choices. It is balanced enough to feel serious instead of just expensive.
This is where a sim rig starts to feel properly sorted. The major categories are pulling in the same direction, and the build has real depth.
Upgrades still exist, but they are less about fixing problems and more about pushing a strong foundation higher.
Tier 7
Most sim racers would already call this a dream setup. The weak points are smaller now, and upgrades start getting more selective.
Tier 7 is where the conversation shifts from what is missing to what is worth optimizing next.
The rig is already strong enough that many future purchases become preference-driven rather than strictly necessary.
Tier 8
You are deep into premium territory. The rig is fast, focused, and probably stronger than what most people can meaningfully outdrive.
These builds usually combine premium hardware with a clear performance-first mindset. Very little here is accidental or casual.
At this level, improvement becomes expensive and situational because the setup is already delivering a lot of what the hobby can offer.
Tier 9
This is the kind of rig that makes people stop and stare. At this point, improvements are expensive, incremental, and slightly ridiculous.
A Tier 9 rig is already exceptional by normal enthusiast standards. The remaining gains tend to be narrow, premium, and hard to justify without real conviction.
This is where details, integration, and taste matter as much as raw spend because there are very few obvious problems left to solve.
Tier 10
Okay, now this is just getting silly. The rig is so far into no-compromise territory that the next logical purchase might have a VIN.
Tier 10 is for the rare builds that have gone fully off the deep end in the best possible way. Nearly every category is already living in premium or absurd territory.
Nothing here is about value anymore. It is about total commitment, personal obsession, and chasing the last few percent because you can.