Alaskan Truck Simulator

Face the unforgiving weathers of one of the world’s coldest regions and deliver your loads safe and sound in Alaskan Truck Simulator, the newest trucking sim from developer Road Studio. Unlike its competition, this simulator is not about leisurely driving across the country, but rather battling against the weather and braving some of the most dangerous American roads.

Although the game’s commitment to realism is commendable, you simply can’t help but feel like something might be a bit off about Alaskan Truck Simulator’s overall gameplay. Perhaps it has to do with its controls, or maybe it’s because there are some aspects of trucking that are better handled by another immensely popular trucking franchise.

Similar Names, Different Trucks

First things first: it’s worth mentioning that Alaskan Truck Simulator has nothing to do with the highly-popular Euro Truck Simulator and American Truck Simulator series. Those games are made by SCS Software and have been lauded as the ideal truck driving sims by a multitude of fans.

However, Alaskan Truck Simulator isn’t necessarily a ripoff of SCS’s franchise. While those games are more about the managerial side of a trucking empire, Alaskan Truck Simulator seems more focused on maneuvering your vehicle against inclement weather and treacherous roads.

While some elements of this can be seen in Euro Truck Simulator, they’re never explored to the degree that they are here in this game. The dynamic weather system and fantastic lighting turn the experience of driving throughout Alaska into an unparalleled – and sometimes unpredictable – experience.

Visuals in general are amazing in Alaskan Truck Simulator. The reflections on the hood of your truck and the way the light shafts travel through a forest are simply marvelous, giving the game a feeling of polished quality that’s hard to find in derivative games.

Handling and Controls

If there’s one area where Euro Truck Simulator has this game beat, that would be in the physics simulation. The trucks in Alaskan Truck Simulator feel weightless compared to the massive vehicles they are in SCS Software’s games. Playing the game feels more like you are driving a big car rather than a truck, and it has to do with the game’s floaty controls and wonky sense of speed.

Another area where Alaskan Truck Simulator takes some odd decisions is in the way it handles most of the truck’s features. Instead of being set to hotkeys like usual, the game requires the player to look away from the road and into the truck’s dashboard to change the most minimal settings. It makes the game feel less like a truck sim and more like Microsoft Flight Simulator, which might be a bit too daunting for new players.

Overall, if you’re looking for a game that puts your driving skills to the test, in some challenging environments, definitely give this one a chance. Beginners and those looking for a more relaxed game might be better off looking at something like Euro Truck Simulator 2 thanks to its uncomplicated design and relaxed driving.

Pros

• Excellent visuals in both trucks and environments
• Awesome weather simulation
• Varied roads to explore

Cons

• Controls can get a bit too complicated
• Floaty physics make the trucks feel and control like cars