American Truck Simulator
" Realistic indie truck simulation with authentic physics and landscapes but costly DLC pricing "
American Truck Simulator Review
American Truck Simulator offers a deeply immersive and relaxing driving experience, praised for its realistic truck physics, detailed American landscapes, and the freedom to explore the U.S. virtually. Players appreciate the game's flexibility, from casual driving with music to hardcore simulation settings involving manual controls. The progression system, involving job completion and truck customization, keeps the gameplay engaging over long periods.
The graphics are clear and visually pleasing, with weather effects and day-night cycles adding to the immersion. The active modding community further enriches the experience by adding trucks, maps, and custom content. Many players find the game addictive and therapeutic, often spending hundreds or thousands of hours enjoying long hauls and convoys with friends.
However, the game’s DLC pricing model, requiring separate purchases for each state, is frequently criticized as expensive and fragmented. Stability issues and occasional crashes also detract from the experience. Despite these drawbacks, the game remains highly recommended for simulation fans seeking a chill yet engaging truck driving adventure.
Highlights
Players highly praise the realistic and responsive truck physics that make driving feel authentic and satisfying.
The detailed and expansive maps of American states, combined with dynamic weather and day-night cycles, create a captivating and immersive environment.
The relaxing gameplay loop of long-haul deliveries paired with customizable trucks and an active modding community enhances replayability.
The game's atmosphere, supported by authentic audio and the ability to listen to personal music, is often described as therapeutic and addictive.
Multiplayer convoys and community engagement add social depth to the otherwise solitary driving experience.
Criticisms
The primary criticism centers on the DLC pricing model, where each state map is sold separately, leading to a high cumulative cost that many players find prohibitive.
Some users report stability issues, including crashes and platform hiccups, affecting gameplay smoothness.
While the game is visually appealing, some areas and states require reworks or updates to improve map detail and realism.
The AI traffic and NPC behavior, although realistic, occasionally lack polish or variety.
A few players desire more in-depth simulation features, such as advanced lighting effects and improved steering mechanics.
Pros
- • Realistic truck physics deliver an authentic driving experience.
- • Detailed American landscapes with dynamic weather and day-night cycles.
- • Relaxing gameplay ideal for zoning out with music.
- • Extensive modding community adds new trucks, maps, and features.
- • Customizable trucks enhance player engagement and personalization.
- • Progression system motivates continuous play through job completion.
- • Multiplayer convoys offer social interaction and shared experiences.
Cons
- • Expensive and fragmented DLC pricing for individual states.
- • Occasional game crashes and stability issues reported.
- • Some map areas need graphical and layout improvements.
- • Limited depth in certain simulation aspects like lighting effects.
- • Steering mechanics can be challenging at higher speeds.
- • AI traffic behavior sometimes lacks variety or polish.
- • No free content updates; all expansions are paid DLC.
Rating Criteria
About This Game
Just Updated
Join your friends and keep on truckin' together in 8 player Convoy multiplayer mode, now available!
Give Euro Truck Simulator 2 a test drive
Start your new truck empire in Europe! Try the demo of Euro Truck Simulator 2 and visit the Steam store page.
About the Game
Experience legendary American trucks and deliver various cargoes across sunny California, sandy Nevada, and the Grand Canyon State of Arizona. American Truck Simulator takes you on a journey through the breathtaking landscapes and widely recognized landmarks around the States.
Game mechanics are based on the highly successful model from Euro Truck Simulator 2 and have been expanded with new features, creating the most captivating game experience from SCS Software.
American Truck Simulator puts you in the seat of a driver for hire entering the local freight market, making you work your way up to become an owner-operator, and go on to create one of the largest transportation companies in the United States.
Features
- Drive highly detailed truck models officially licensed from iconic truck manufacturers.
- Your truck is your new home. Make it yours by changing cabins, chassis, paintjobs, adding tuning accessories or more powerful engines.
- Lots of different cargoes to choose: From food to machinery to hazard cargoes.
- Multiple types of trailers – from reefers to flatbeds, from dumpers to lowboys and goosenecks.
- The longest trailers (up to 53 ft) will challenge your skills and patience while hauling and during parking.
- Deliver your cargoes to a rich variety of companies and locations like refineries, oil storage, gas stations, car factories, or roadworks.
- Various simulation settings for trucking enthusiasts: Air brake simulation; different types of brakes: retarder, Jake brake, trailer brake; multiple types of transmissions straight from real trucks, brake intensity, and more.
- Get the feel of being inside a real cabin: Adjust your seat, mirrors and position your head to get the best view of the road.
- Drive safely, follow the rules and speed limits – police will fine you if you aren't careful!
- Ensure that you are not delivering overweight cargo – you may be checked at the weigh scales.
- Use the route adviser as your personal assistant during the travels.
- Try the life of a truck driver for hire. By delivering the cargoes safely and improving your skills, become the owner of your own, successful company!
- Build your own fleet of trucks, buy garages, hire drivers, manage your company for maximum profits.
- Make your trucking time better by listening to your favorite songs via built-in music player or streaming your favorite radio stations.
- Capture your favorite moments with a photo mode offering rich set of editing options.
- Great support for steering wheels, gamepads and other input devices.
- Long-time support of the game, including new features.
- Obtain challenging Steam achievements and collect all hand-painted Steam trading cards.
World of Trucks
Take advantage of additional features of American Truck Simulator by joining our online community on World of Trucks, our center for virtual truckers all around the world interested in Euro Truck Simulator 2, American Truck Simulator and future SCS Software's truck simulators.
- Use in-game Photo Mode to capture the best moments and share them with thousands of people who love trucks.
- Favorite the images you like the most and return to them anytime in the future.
- Discuss the screenshots with everyone using World of Trucks.
- See the best images hand-picked by the game creators in Editor's Pick updated almost every day. Try to get your own screenshot on this list!
- Upload and use your custom avatar and license plate in the game.
- More features coming soon!
To join World of Trucks, simply sign up with your Steam account on the join page. You will need to own American Truck Simulator or Euro Truck Simulator 2 to join World of Trucks.
World of Trucks is an optional service, registration on World of Trucks isn't required to play the game.
8/10 – PC Gamer
“Listening to Eric Clapton's "Wonderful Tonight" while driving a big rig at night into Las Vegas is something that will stick with me probably forever.”
8.5/10 – Destructoid
“I'm impressed with the amount of detail and beauty that's been injected into these virtual environments.”
8.5/10 – Forbes
Experience legendary American trucks and deliver various cargoes across sunny California, sandy Nevada, and the Grand Canyon State of Arizona. American Truck Simulator takes you on a journey through the breathtaking landscapes and widely recognized landmarks around the States.
