Bus Simulator 21
Bus Simulator 21: Next Stop
Release Date: September 7, 2021
Simulation, economic, cars, transport, co-op, buses and streetcars, PS Plus Premium, PS Plus Extra, multiplayer, singleplayer, internet
Bus Simulator 21 is another installment of the well-known series of city bus simulators, which has been developed by astragon Entertainment company for years. The game offers a number of improvements and novelties compared to the previous part.
Bus Simulator 21 is another part of the simulator series, which allows players to drive city buses. The game offers a number of changes compared to the previous version (e.g. new vehicles and a second map). StillAlive studio is responsible for creating this game, which has also developed Bus Simulator 18. The publisher is astragon Entertainment.
Mechanics
In Bus Simulator 21, the player's main task is to drive city buses in accordance with the applicable traffic regulations, as well as taking care of schedule timeliness. We must also remember about the passengers (interact with them, sell tickets) and deal with all kinds of problems. The game offers new vehicles as well as two extensive maps. The first one is a revamped version of the city of Seaside Valley, modelled on the European metropolises (referred to as the extended version known from the add-on). The second, the city of Angel Shores, is new and inspired by San Francisco.
However, the role of the driver is not everything - in addition, the player also manages the company. Also in this respect, improvements have been made to the game mechanics - we can, for example, shape extensive timetables and routes for our bus fleet (we should take into account the number of passengers). Importantly, users who do not want to do this kind of thing and prefer to drive can rely on an AI assistant to take over from them.
The developers have also improved the systems responsible for the mobility of pedestrians in the city and the weather. The game also offers a fast travel system, the ability to speed up time and the option to immediately take over any bus driven by artificial intelligence - we can sit at the wheel at any time.
Game modes
We can play Bus Simulator 21 alone or with others. The core of the game is the career mode. Doing our job properly, we are gradually building up our position and reputation, and our results will make passengers more eager to ride with us, so we earn more money and can buy better buses. There is also a sandbox mode, in which we focus only on driving.
The game also has an online, co-op multiplayer mode, where several players jointly build one transport company.
Technical aspects
The developers of Bus Simulator 21 used Unreal Engine 4. The game offers a nice graphic design and looks much better than the previous part. Noteworthy here are the reliably rendered models of each bus, as well as the eye-catching locations.
September 11, 2021
Bus Simulator 21 Review: Realistically Mundane
If you ever wanted to get a taste of what driving a bus was like without quitting your day job, Bus Simulator 21 is how you can get a taste of the action. We guarantee you will appreciate public transportation even more.
Videos and Screens
[1:22] Bus Simulator 21 Official Tram Extension trailer
[0:37] Bus Simulator 21 Thomas Built Buses Bus Pack DLC trailer
Gamepressure Review
Bus Simulator 21
If you ever wanted to get a taste of what driving a bus was like without quitting your day job, Bus Simulator 21 is how you can get a taste of the action. We guarantee you will appreciate public transportation even more.
FingerGuns: 7 / 10 by Kat Bullock
Bus Simulator 21 allows you to experience the day in the life of a bus driver managing their own company. Create routes, receive pay days, scold ticket dodgers and be on time. The game comes with a clunky and overwhelming interface and little tutorial, but if you shift past this, Bus Simulator 21 could invite a satisfying ride.
Screen Rant: 2.5 / 5 by Nathan Gibson
Where Bus Simulator 21 excels is in providing a relaxing and strangely soothing experience, much like the Euro Truck Simulator series. Slowly driving around a city and picking up passengers can be more calming than expected, even with all the distractions and extra elements that have to be managed. Of course, that’s only when the game actually works properly and doesn’t suffer from any of the performance and technical issues. Until they are fixed with a patch, Bus Simulator 21 might be more of a headache than it is worth, but it will likely prove oddly therapeutic for some, which means even in its buggy state it still may merit a play depending on what a user is looking for.
Thumb Culture: 8 / 10 by Stuart Shortland
How long is a piece of string? yes, I know twice the length from the end to the middle. However, Bus Simulator 21 will give you hours and hours of gameplay. I guess you could compare the amount of game time to the amount of real-time you would be waiting for a bus replacement service in central London. Getting stuck into having multiple bus driving routes around the city is just such a success story. Thankfully you can share that fun with a friend in the coop mode. Final Thoughts Overall if you are a fan of simulation games then Bus Simulator 21 is for you. Don’t delay because you don’t want to miss the next bus. Bus Simulator 21 receives the Thumb Culture Gold Award
GAMERS Score
Average score from 31 votes. 26 players anticipated the game.
Bus Simulator 21 Summary
Game Series: Bus Simulator
Platforms:
PC Windows
PlayStation 4
Xbox One
Developer: stillalive studios
Publisher: astragon Entertainment
Bus Simulator 21 System Requirements
PC / Windows
Minimum: Intel Core i3-2120 3.3 GHz / AMD Phenom II X4 830 2.8 GHz, 8 GB RAM, graphic card 2 GB GeForce GTX 760 / 3 GB Radeon R9 280 or better, 18 GB HDD, Windows 10 64-bit
Recommended: Intel Core i5-4440 3.1 GHz / AMD FX-8140 3.2 GHz, 8 GB RAM, graphic card 8 GB GeForce GTX 1070 / Radeon RX Vega 56 or better, 18 GB HDD, Windows 10 64-bit
Bus Simulator 21 Announced
StillAlive and astragon Entertainment have announced Bus Simulator 21, another installment of the popular series of games that enable us to become a bus driver. The game will debut on PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One in 2021.
video games
Milosz Szubert
August 11, 2020