Motor Town: Behind The Wheel

Developer: P3 Games
Release: Dec 17th 2021
Platforms:
Single-player Multi-player Adventure Casual Indie Racing Simulation Early Access
Varied
Immersive
Addictive
Repetitive
Early Access

" Relaxing open-world driving sim with diverse vehicles and jobs but low-poly visuals and bugs "

Motor Town: Behind The Wheel Review

Motor Town: Behind The Wheel is a versatile sandbox driving simulator that impresses with its depth and variety. Featuring a large map inspired by Korean and American elements, it offers multiple vehicle types, jobs, and an economy system. Players can race, deliver cargo, tow vehicles, or work as taxi and police drivers, with a notable autopilot feature enhancing accessibility. The game supports singleplayer and multiplayer modes, with an active and helpful community. Despite simple low-poly graphics, the game delivers satisfying vehicle physics and a relaxing, immersive experience, especially with wheel and pedal setups.

Developed by a very small team, Motor Town is praised for its continuous updates, rich content, and engaging gameplay loops. However, it remains in early access, with some rough edges like repetitive map assets, occasional bugs, and a lack of tutorial guidance. Nonetheless, its affordability and unique blend of driving and tycoon mechanics make it a standout indie title for fans of driving sims and sandbox games.

Highlights

Players particularly praise the game's vast variety of vehicles and jobs, allowing different playstyles from racing to logistics. The autopilot feature is hailed as one of the best in driving sims, easing gameplay. The active developer support and regular content updates keep the experience fresh. Many enjoy the relaxing, immersive driving physics and appreciate the game's performance on modest hardware. The multiplayer mode adds cooperative fun, enhancing replayability. The economy and company-building elements add strategic depth, making it more than just a driving game.

Criticisms

Common criticisms include the repetitive and shallow map design with many empty or unusable buildings, which can reduce immersion. The lack of a strong overarching story or guidance leaves some players feeling directionless. Some UI and control systems are described as confusing or clunky, especially for beginners. The sound design is noted as the weakest aspect. Multiplayer can suffer from community issues, and certain gameplay mechanics like police roles and offroading need refinement. Occasional bugs and physics quirks are present but not game-breaking.

Pros

  • Extensive variety of vehicles and jobs to suit all driving preferences.
  • Innovative autopilot feature enhances accessibility and relaxation.
  • Active developer team with frequent updates and community engagement.
  • Deep economy and company-building systems add strategic gameplay.
  • Runs well on low-end hardware without sacrificing core experience.
  • Multiplayer mode offers cooperative and roleplaying opportunities.
  • Satisfying and realistic vehicle physics with customizable controls.

Cons

  • Low-poly graphics and repetitive map assets reduce visual appeal.
  • Lack of tutorial and guidance can confuse new players.
  • Sound design is underwhelming and could be improved.
  • Some gameplay mechanics like police roles feel underdeveloped.
  • Community can be frustrating and may affect multiplayer experience.
  • UI and controls sometimes feel clunky or unintuitive.
  • Early access status means occasional bugs and physics glitches.

Rating Criteria

Story
Difficulty
Graphics
Duration
Stability
Worth the Price

About This Game

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About the Game

"Sometimes the best therapy is a long drive with music"

Open World

Drive day & night, pick up hitchhikers, refuel, check engine temperature. Watch out for the cops!

Driving jobs

Taxi, Bus, Trucks and much more!

Realistic Tire Physics

With sophisticated vehicle and tire physics, you can enjoy realistic and challenging driving. Feel the tire grip and burn some tires by drifting! If you are a keyboard player, don't forget to use 'Burnout' when you want to let the rear go sideways. Driving Assist is available for keyboard players and controllers are fully supported.

Singleplayer and Multiplayer Mode

Enjoy solitude in single-player or have fun with friends in multiplayer mode.

Time attack

The online leaderboard shows you how fast you are. Autocross is a good way to improve your driving skills.

Race

You can compete with other players on the on-road and off-road tracks, or you can set waypoints and open a street race event.

Company

Create a company and make your own bus/truck route.
Hire an AI driver or other player to work for you.

Key Features

  • Open world (24 x 16 Km) with Day & Night cycle

  • 50+ Cars, Trucks and Trailers

  • Driving with Keyboard, Mouse, Gamepad, Steering wheel

  • Realistic, yet easy (with the assist feature) driving

  • Single-player and Multiplayer Mode

  • Passenger Transportation (Hitchhikers, Taxi, Bus)

  • Cargo Transportation (Pickup, Trucks, Semi-Trailer)

  • Special Vehicle Jobs (Police, Tow Truck, Ambulance and more will be added)

  • Refueling

  • Replacing car parts

  • Buying/Renting cars

  • Blinker, Headlight, Horn, Driving Mode, and Auto-Pilot!

  • Race

  • Time attack

  • Autocross

  • Online leaderboards

“If you're looking for a deep driving sim that won't melt your GPU like Forza, then climb into Motor Town and buckle up. And don't let the chunky graphics fool you, it's a pretty deep sim with realistic physics, a day and night cycle, progression, and lots of vehicles to drive and missions to complete. Ferry passengers around in a taxi or bus, haul cargo in a truck or trailer, refuel, replace parts, or just pick up hitchhikers in your personal vehicle. You can use turn signals, headlights and highbeams, and honk your horn, and the cops will even chase you if you're breaking the rules of the road. And unlike a lot of car games, you can get out of your car, walk around, and even sleep in your house to fast-forward the clock. There's a lot of entertainment packed into this demo, and there's a beta you can sign up for too. —Chris”
PC Gamer

Enjoy realistic driving in the open world. Relaxing cargo deliveries or driving buses and taxis will give you enough money to buy new cars and parts. You can test your driving skills at the race track. It's all about pure driving pleasure!

Release Date Dec 17th 2021
Publisher P3 Games
Developer P3 Games
Platforms

User Reviews

Very Positive (3,782)
94% Positive 6% Negative