Bus Simulator 18

Sometimes we can feel stuck in a rut. Doing a job for a long period of time can lead to routine and a lack of challenge. It’s not uncommon that you may be looking for a change of career. Though for those that don’t want the hassle of the logistics that come with that, simulator games are the happy medium. So if driving bus routes and getting passengers safely to your destination sounds interesting to you, Bus Simulator 2018 may be the one for you.

If you’re wondering how this one plays, cast your mind to other vehicle-based simulator games such as Euro Truck Simulator or Flight Simulator. Though, thanks to the game understanding the genre has become a parody of itself. Bus Simulator also has arcade like qualities found in Crazy Taxi or the GTA series with particular emphasis on the mini games from that series.

Beautifully Detailed

Though these simulator games often take detail to the max and sometimes suffer through offering players too much. Bus Simulator 18 finds a happy medium though, offering as much detail and complexity as players are comfortable with. Each fully licenced bus offers a varying difficulty to handle and operate, somewhat mimicking a difficulty setting that is often missing from this genre of title.

Then in terms of aesthetic detail, it’s very much as you would expect from a game in this genre. The graphical detail is sublime. Offering authentically captured European city’s and surrounding areas. The buses exterior and interior is rendered perfectly. To the point that you often forget you aren’t sitting behind the wheel of a bus for real. Plus with dynamic weather options and day/night cycles, it truly feels as though you are inhabiting this world. Though if we to be critical, as a sum of all it’s parts, the graphics to look dated and not in touch with what’s on offer in 2018.

Keeps things interesting

Aside from the authentic bus driving experience, this title also keeps the gameplay interesting by using hazards, different routes and other considerations such as disabled passengers and ticket gates to keep players on their toes. The frequency of which can also be toggled which is a lovely touch and compliments the developers use of such features to act as a natural difficulty setting. Another fantastic and comical addition is the passengers dialogues as you take them to their destination. Often serving as the humorous interlude between stops that fills the silence. It’s another example of a title that understands what it is and doesn’t take itself too seriously, which works in it’s favour.

Along with added considerations such as hiring and working alongside other bus drivers and planning the most efficient and profitable routes, Bus Simulator 18 gives players more than enough variety and intrigue to play for hours.

Next Stop, fun

This game despite having it’s roots in a very serious and meticulously detailed genre, actually provides a fun experience for both the hardcore bus driver and casual gamer. The environments, details, adjustable settings, resource management and solid mechanics all culminate to give a fully fleshed out driving experience that anyone can enjoy.

Pros

• Solid mechanics
• Varied gameplay
• Subtle but welcome details
• Integrated difficulty settings

Cons

• Graphics are poor for the year of release
• Becomes stale after all features are exhausted