Bus Simulator 18 Review Summary

Authentic bus variety and customization: The game features a wide range of officially licensed buses with detailed models and customization options, including decals and advertisements.

Fun and relaxing gameplay: Players find the game enjoyable and relaxing, with engaging gameplay that is easy to get into and fun to play with friends.

Realistic bus simulation: The game provides a realistic bus driving experience, including authentic bus features, realistic driving mechanics, and passenger interactions.

Good graphics quality: The graphics are generally well-received, with many players noting improvements over previous versions and the use of modern graphic engines.

Multiplayer support: The game offers multiplayer and co-op gameplay, allowing up to 4 players to play together in real-time.

Repetitive missions and gameplay: Many players find the missions and overall gameplay to be repetitive, which can lead to boredom.

AI and pedestrian issues: The AI, particularly for pedestrians and traffic, is reported to be poorly implemented, leading to unrealistic behaviors and interactions.

Game has numerous bugs: Players frequently report encountering a wide range of bugs and errors in the game, affecting overall gameplay experience.

Game crashing and freezing: The game frequently crashes and freezes, sometimes failing to launch altogether.

Multiplayer connection issues: Multiplayer mode is plagued with connection issues, long wait times, and various bugs, making it difficult to enjoy.

Variety of bus models and customization: The game offers a variety of bus models and customization options, although some reviews mention limited or poorly made models.

Comprehensive passenger management system: The game features a detailed passenger management system, including boarding, alighting, interaction, and fare collection mechanics.

Detailed driving simulation experience: Players can experience a realistic driving simulation with various conditions and weather effects, enhancing the immersion of bus driving.

Extensive bus and company management: The game includes mechanics for managing buses, creating routes, hiring NPC drivers, and handling the growth of a bus company.

Advanced route management: Players can plan, update, and customize bus routes, providing a strategic layer to the gameplay.

Frequent game crashes: The game crashes often, including during specific actions like shutting doors or completing tutorials, and some crashes are related to system settings or hardware limitations.

Optimization issues: There are widespread reports of poor optimization, affecting various hardware configurations and leading to performance problems.

Multiplayer performance issues: Multiplayer mode suffers from various bugs, frame rate drops, and synchronization issues, particularly as the number of players increases.

Graphical and visual problems: There are reports of poor graphics quality, uncomfortable visual effects, and issues with visibility in mirrors during rainy weather.

Game fails to launch: Many players report that the game does not start or launch properly, indicating significant issues with game initialization.

Recommended for simulator enthusiasts: The game is highly recommended for those who enjoy simulator games, particularly bus driving and public transport simulators. It is praised for its attention to detail and is often compared favorably to other simulator games like Euro Truck Simulator.

Worth buying on sale: Many reviewers suggest purchasing the game when it is on sale. They feel the game is worth the price, especially at a discounted rate, making it a good value for the money.

Suitable for various audiences: The game is considered suitable for a wide range of players, including teenagers, adults, and those who enjoy relaxing and calming gameplay. It is also recommended for solo players and those who enjoy repetitive tasks.

Prefer Bus Simulator 18: Some reviewers recommend buying Bus Simulator 18 instead of the newer versions, citing it as a better option. This suggests that the 2018 version may have features or qualities that are preferred over the 2021 version.

Specific features praised: Certain features like mic support for announcing bus stops and the inclusion of a bike rack on the front of the bus are highlighted as positive aspects of the game.

Community fair range: $15.00 - $25.00.

Game completion: 150.0h.

Story completion: 36.0h.

Session length: 1.0h.

The game becomes fun and engaging primarily through its multiplayer mode, which adds a social dimension and longevity to the gameplay.

Reported time to anchor: 15m.

Friction: Broken tutorial; Terrible traffic; Repetitive passenger dialogue; Brightness settings issues; Game-breaking bugs; Repetitive missions.

Casual Relaxation Seeker: Casual and laid-back. Motivation: Relaxation and enjoyment. Stance: sale.

Simulation Enthusiast: Detailed and immersive. Motivation: Realistic simulation experience. Stance: buy.

Social Multiplayer: Cooperative and competitive. Motivation: Social interaction and cooperation. Stance: buy.

Steam Deck: The game suffers from frequent crashes and requires additional configuration to run properly. Controller support is inconsistent, which may affect the user experience. Despite these issues, some users appreciate the realistic mechanics and detailed vehicle models.

Monetization: The game is heavily criticized for its monetization practices, particularly the segmentation of content through DLCs. Players feel that essential buses, achievements, and customization options are locked behind paid DLCs, making the base game feel incomplete and not worth the price. This strategy is seen as a cheap cash grab and predatory, forcing players to spend additional money to fully enjoy the game.

Discord bans for feedback: Players report being banned from the game's Discord server after raising issues or concerns about the game.

New reviewer formatting issues: A reviewer mentions potential formatting errors in their first review, indicating possible issues with the review system or user interface.