Bus Simulator 18

Lore & Background

Bus Simulator 18 is set in the fictional modern city of Seaside Valley, which comprises twelve districts and is 2.5 times larger than the map in Bus Simulator 16. Players can drive eight licensed vehicles from four manufacturers—Iveco, MAN, Mercedes-Benz, and Setra—ranging from low-floor buses to articulated buses. The game uses a procedural generation system requiring players to complete missions to unlock new districts, and allows management of bus lines, including buying, selling, and upgrading buses.

Development saw a shift from the Unity engine used in Bus Simulator 16 to Unreal Engine 4, resulting in considerably improved graphics. An in-game trailer was released in May 2018. The Windows version launched in June 2018, with modding and multiplayer introduced for the first time in the series. Console versions for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One followed on September 17, 2019. A map expansion downloadable content was released in May 2019.

Reader's Guide

Bus Simulator 18 received mixed or average reviews according to Metacritic. Critics noted several shortcomings: Chris Jarrard of Shacknews gave it a 6, citing a lack of content, multiplayer bugs, and a boring campaign. Chris O'Connor of Impulse Gamer rated it 4 out of 5, finding the game relaxing but not deep enough. Alec Meer of Rock, Paper, Shotgun praised the atmosphere, stating it left him with deep sympathy for bus drivers and terror at the thought of becoming one. Andy Kelly of PC Gamer compared it to Euro Truck Simulator 2, suggesting that while Bus Simulator 18 may not be as good as the truck simulator, it is full of interaction—something the Truck Simulator franchise lacks. The game's significance lies in being the first in its series to offer modding and multiplayer, and in its technical upgrade to Unreal Engine 4, though its legacy is tempered by mixed critical reception and complaints about content depth and bugs.

Did You Know?

• The map of Seaside Valley is 2.5 times larger than that of Bus Simulator 16.
• It was the first Bus Simulator game to feature modding and multiplayer modes.
• A map expansion DLC was released in May 2019.