Asphalt　mixtures　are　commonly　used　in　pavement　engineering,　especially　for　highway　construction.　The　mechanism　exploration　and　analysis　of　pavement　distress　are　the　main　challenges　for　researchers　and　industry　managers.　Thereby,　it　is　important　to　understand　their　properties　and　interaction　mechanisms　in　asphalt　mixtures.　It　is　difficult　to　conduct　some　sophisticated　or　microscale　tests　in　the　laboratory,　and　numerical　simulation　and　virtual　tests　can　be　solutions　for　these　cases　with　low　costs.　The　Discrete　Element　Method　(DEM)　is　a　promising　tool　for　researchers　to　undertake　these　tasks.　This　paper　mainly　summarized　and　analyzed　the　research　progress　and　development　prospect　of　DEMs　in　asphalt　mixtures　from　a　series　of　technical　sections.　The　laboratory　test　results　were　often　used　to　calibrate　the　DEM　simulations　as　well　as　Two-dimensional　(2D)　and　Three-dimensional　(3D)　modeling.　Several　modeling　methods　were　developed　to　generate　digital　samples,　like　user-defined,　image-based,　random-modeling.　In　addition,　the　conclusions　can　be　referenced　by　researchers　for　the　development　of　numerical　simulations.