American Truck Simulator

Lore & Background

American Truck Simulator is set in a condensed 1:20-scaled version of the United States. At launch, the game included the states of California and Nevada. Arizona was released in June 2016 as a free update. Subsequent states have been added as paid downloadable content, covering the Western Contiguous and South Central regions, including part of the Midwest. Map expansions are available for New Mexico, Oregon, Washington, Utah, Idaho, Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, Arkansas, Missouri, Iowa, Louisiana, and Illinois. With all states, the game features over 250 visitable cities and thousands of miles of in-game roads.

Reader's Guide

American Truck Simulator received mostly positive reviews, scoring 76/100 on Metacritic. Critics noted its playability and similarities to Euro Truck Simulator 2. James Cunningham of Hardcore Gamer gave it a 4 out of 5, stating that while more realism would make it more fun, it is 'fantastically playable.' Laura Dale of Polygon rated it 8/10, noting that the fresh setting and driving on the opposite side of the road would lead to many hours of play. Andy Kelly of PC Gamer commended the game but advised cautious gamers to wait until it was more complete before purchasing. The game won Best Technological Solution at the 2016 Czech Game of the Year Awards and was nominated for Best Game, Best PC/Console Game, and Best Audio. Its significance lies in its continued expansion through DLC, with over 6 million copies sold, and its community-driven online radio station, TruckersFM.

Did You Know?

• The game was released one day earlier than its announced release date of February 3, 2016.
• The only way to avoid the California Border Protection Station is through Death Valley National Park on Nevada State Route 374 and California State Route 190.
• The most recent state added as DLC was South Dakota, released on September 24, 2026.
• On October 27, 2025, SCS announced a map extension for British Columbia, Canada, the first coverage outside the United States.

Origins & Place in the Series

American Truck Simulator occupies a distinct position within SCS Software's catalog. Announced on September 6, 2013, and formally unveiled to the public at E3 2015, the title arrived as the fifth entry in the Truck Simulator series. It serves as the American counterpart to Euro Truck Simulator 2 and carries the mantle of spiritual successor to the earlier 18 Wheels of Steel franchise. The game launched on February 2, 2016, simultaneously for Microsoft Windows, Linux, and macOS, making it one of the more platform-inclusive entries in the trucking simulation genre. SCS Software both developed and published the title, retaining full creative control over its direction. The project was conceived as a parallel experience to its European sibling, translating the same core simulation philosophy into a distinctly American context with conventional semi-trucks and U.S. geography.

The Dual-Layer Gameplay Loop

The gameplay architecture of American Truck Simulator weaves together two distinct systems: a driving simulation and a business management layer. New players begin by founding a trucking company and selecting a home city, which grants ownership of a pre-placed garage. Early progression revolves around quick jobs, where the player drives a company-owned truck to deliver cargo within a time limit, earning both cash and personal experience points. Performance matters, since late arrivals or damaged goods reduce payouts. Once the player accumulates enough funds, they can purchase their own class 7 or 8 trucks and trailers. Beyond personal driving, the business layer deepens considerably: players can hire NPC drivers, assign them to specific skill specializations such as dangerous goods or long-haul routes, purchase additional garages in other cities, and upgrade facilities. Loans with daily installments, fuel costs, and maintenance expenses create a persistent financial pressure that keeps the management loop active even between deliveries.

A Condensed America

The game's world is a stylized, 1:20-scaled representation of the United States. At launch in early 2016, players could traverse only California and Nevada. Arizona followed as a free update in June 2016, and the map has since expanded through paid downloadable content to cover the entire Western Contiguous and South Central regions, reaching into parts of the Midwest. The available DLC states include New Mexico, Oregon, Washington, Utah, Idaho, Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, Arkansas, Missouri, Iowa, Louisiana, Illinois, and South Dakota. With all expansions installed, the game offers over 250 visitable cities—most state capitals and major urban centers—connected by thousands of miles of drivable roads. The playable extremes stretch from Bellingham, Washington, in the north to Brownsville, Texas, in the south, from Eureka, California, in the west to Chicago, Illinois, in the east. SCS Software has indicated that most future map additions will come at additional cost.

Commercial Reach & Series Legacy

American Truck Simulator has achieved remarkable commercial traction for a niche simulation title, surpassing six million copies sold since its 2016 release. This figure is especially notable given that the game targets a specific audience of trucking enthusiasts and simulation fans rather than the broader AAA market. Its success reinforces SCS Software's position as a dedicated studio in the trucking simulation space, with the title serving as the American mirror to the long-running Euro Truck Simulator 2. As the fifth installment in the Truck Simulator series and the spiritual heir to 18 Wheels of Steel, it bridges two eras of the genre. The game's multi-platform availability at launch—spanning Windows, Linux, and macOS—broadened its potential audience beyond the typical PC-gaming demographic. The ongoing model of paid map expansions, covering states from Washington to Texas and Illinois, has sustained player engagement and revenue well beyond the initial release window, establishing a long-tail commercial model that continues to support the franchise.