Alaskan Road Truckers
- October 18, 2023
- Road Studio S.A.
- 13h median play time
Get on Steam"Alaskan Road Truckers" is a driving simulation game that immerses you in the life of an Alaskan trucker. Brave dangerous conditions, perform roadside repairs, and haul cargo through a sprawling, dynamic map. Survival elements are also present, as you may need to leave your cab and fix your truck in harsh weather. The goal is to become an Alaskan trucking legend, balancing risk and reward in your perilous journeys.
PC
Playstation 5
Windows
Xbox Series X|S
PlayStation
Xbox
Reviews
- graphics402 mentions
- 24 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received overwhelmingly negative feedback, with many users describing them as outdated, resembling titles from the early 2000s or even mobile games. Despite some players noting that the environments can be visually appealing, the overall performance is marred by significant optimization issues, leading to frequent stuttering and frame drops even on high-end hardware. Many reviewers express disappointment, stating that the graphics do not meet the expectations set by promotional materials, and call for urgent improvements to enhance the visual experience.
“The realistic graphics, challenging terrain, and dynamic weather effects create an immersive experience.”
“The gameplay is addictive, and the visuals are breathtaking.”
“Graphics are also amazing, Alaska never looked better in a video game (drive the whole route before you doubt me).”
“First, the graphics are terrible and outdated.”
“I was excited to see the pictures and videos looked good but after loading the game I was extremely disappointed. It looked like someone made it with a toaster, and I've seen some bad games and enjoyed some bad games, but I was seriously disappointed by this game's graphics from the first second I saw the terrible graphic design.”
“The graphics are really sub-par; it feels like almost no texturing was done to any surface.”
- optimization266 mentions
- 13 % positive mentions
- 59 % neutral mentions
- 29 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has been widely criticized, with players reporting significant stuttering, frame drops, and overall poor performance, even on high-end systems. Many users express frustration over the lack of effective patches and the prioritization of DLCs over essential performance fixes. While some improvements have been noted in recent updates, the consensus remains that the game requires substantial optimization to reach its full potential.
“Optimization is still not there completely, but it's very playable now with occasional stutters.”
“Engine optimizations needed a bit of tweaking manually for textures, LODs, foliage, rendering, etc., then it runs like a top.”
“I am pleased to say after having left my review the devs really turned it around; they released two back-to-back performance updates that have increased the playability significantly.”
“The optimization for this game… holy shit it needs to be better optimized because it runs very poorly but it’s not unplayable, it just needs some serious optimization patches.”
“Still poorly optimized, with frequent frame drops into single digits, lags, stutters and full on freezes.”
“The optimization is terrible, the control settings don't work properly, the controller controls don't make sense.”
- gameplay198 mentions
- 28 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game is characterized by a mix of innovative mechanics, such as survival elements and truck maintenance, which provide a unique experience compared to traditional truck simulators. However, many players report significant issues, including bugs, stuttering, and poor driving mechanics that detract from the overall enjoyment. While the core gameplay loop is engaging and has potential, it requires substantial improvements and polish to reach its full capabilities.
“The intricate balance between truck maintenance and personal survival in Alaska creates a compelling gameplay experience.”
“The game's commitment to realism, coupled with diverse missions, keeps gameplay engaging.”
“The mechanics to fix your own engine, add oil, and other fluids are amazing, adding tire chains, sleeping in your truck and cooking your food in the back is also a really nice touch.”
“Broken gameplay.”
“It freezes up too often, and there are many glitches that completely ruin the gameplay.”
“Game is far from ready to be released in my opinion, concept is great however the graphics are terrible and gameplay is glitchy, the map keeps glitching and is slow to load anything but the roads when driving, hopefully it will be updated fairly soon.”
- stability160 mentions
- 4 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 96 % negative mentions
The game's stability has been widely criticized, with numerous reports of bugs, glitches, and performance issues such as freezing and frame rate drops. Many players have experienced game-breaking bugs that hinder progress, leading to frustration and the need for frequent restarts. While some updates have improved the situation, the consensus is that the game remains unpolished and requires significant optimization to reach a stable and enjoyable state.
“The game seems amazing to me. I've got an i7 5800K and a 6-year-old RX480 8GB OC GPU, and it runs great. Grab it if you love trucking! The new update seems to have smoothed the game out a lot from what my friends have told me, and it felt great to me. I'm excited to have a great new trucking game!”
“It feels just right up my alley! I don't say it's bug-free though.”
“The new update seems to have smoothed the game out a lot from what my friends have told me, and it felt great to me.”
“Edit: after playing some more I'm editing my review to not recommend, there is no excuse for how buggy this game is when it's not an early access game.”
“Game is a buggy mess, I'm sure that the developers are hard at work to fix it, and when it can be played without discovering a new game-breaking bug I will be more than happy to recommend it.”
“This is another game that has been released way too early; it's full of bugs and glitches, even though there have been 4 patches so far it is still way off a stable and enjoyable game.”
- story38 mentions
- 16 % positive mentions
- 68 % neutral mentions
- 16 % negative mentions
The game's story aspect receives mixed reviews, with some players praising its engaging narrative and unique puzzles, while others criticize the lack of depth and coherence in the storyline. Many users express frustration over the absence of a clear plot, repetitive missions, and technical issues that detract from the overall experience. Overall, while some find the story compelling, a significant portion of players feel it is underdeveloped and in need of improvement.
“Its unique puzzles and engaging storyline keep me hooked, while the visual effects and music create an incredible atmosphere.”
“The game has a very in-depth story to it and is a nice addition to the other truck simulators out there.”
“The different kinds of missions (so far) are promising for the first day.”
“No story and no plot.”
“World feels empty, gameplay lacks any sort of depth, maybe a story or whatever.”
“From my side, I'd love to see more variety in traffic... and an improvement in the storyline because performing repetitive contracts gets boring after the first few hours.”
- music22 mentions
- 55 % positive mentions
- 32 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players enjoying the single radio station's pop selection and the overall atmosphere it creates during gameplay. However, many find the limited music variety quickly becomes repetitive and unsuitable for the driving experience, leading to a desire for more diverse genres like rock and country. Additionally, technical issues and a lack of customization options detract from the overall enjoyment of the music feature.
“Its unique puzzles and engaging storyline keep me hooked, while the visual effects and music create an incredible atmosphere.”
“The developers did their best to create it and now you can drive through snowy forests to pleasant soundtracks in cool vehicles.”
“Biggest issue I have is that the radio has too much good music, so I am just sitting in the truck refusing to go out.”
“Cons: music during the trip very quickly gets boring, graphics at maximum settings are not particularly clear, not real models of trucks.”
“I expected a cozy game with unique graphic effects and relaxing gameplay, but this is a boring 'one of those simulators' with empty worlds, very ugly lighting, a world from low-effort assets, the physics of the track is very simple, and it is not an interesting drive, no beautiful landscapes, no cozy radio (one station in the game plays music of a random genre from pop to rock, which is not suitable for the game at all).”
“The partnered radio interrupts a song every 30 seconds for a 5-word snippet of commentary, which detracts from the overall experience.”
- grinding16 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, with many tasks feeling like a chore that detracts from the overall experience. The lack of adjustable difficulty and poor AI further exacerbate the grind, making it particularly frustrating for those using keyboard and mouse controls. While some features are enjoyable, the overwhelming sense of monotony can make the game feel nearly unplayable for some users.
“The jobs very quickly become tedious, boring, and repetitive.”
“There's all this tedious clicking to do that constantly distracts from what you actually want to do - drive around Alaska a bit.”
“Very grindy and the difficulty is not adjustable.”
- atmosphere16 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 13 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its stunning graphics, immersive weather effects, and captivating landscapes that evoke the essence of North America, particularly Alaska. Players appreciate the combination of visual effects and music that enhance the overall experience, making it engaging even for those new to truck simulators. While it may not be the most realistic driving simulation, its atmospheric qualities provide a relaxing and enjoyable experience.
“Beautiful and very atmospheric, ready to watch the scenery for hours and turn the steering wheel in a relaxed way.”
“Its unique puzzles and engaging storyline keep me hooked, while the visual effects and music create an incredible atmosphere.”
“Honestly, it's a deep dive in Alaska, where the nature around completely conveys the atmosphere of North USA.”
“This is my first truck game ever. I was never interested in trucker simulators and stuff like that, so I can't judge the gameplay, but in other aspects, the game hooked me. As a beginner, it was an unforgettable experience and atmosphere.”
- replayability4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Overall, the game has limited replayability, earning a score of 7, but players appreciate the effort put in by the developers, suggesting it offers a fresh take on the trucking genre. While it may not feel fully polished, it is considered more enjoyable than its initial release.
“I don't see a ton of replayability overall, hence the 7, but with all the hard work put into this game by the dedicated crew, I would say it's a worthy purchase and a new perspective on the trucking game!”
“I would say buy it if you're into this type of gameplay, but it's still not finished game quality and is a lot more playable than the release version.”
- monetization4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization of the game has been heavily criticized, with users labeling it a "cash grab" and expressing frustration over the numerous bugs and lack of improvement despite multiple patches. Many reviewers feel that the game should still be in early access rather than a full release, leading to a strong recommendation against purchasing it.
“This was a total cash grab from this company, complete rip off.”
“Would suggest never buying another game from this cash grab company, just another rip off company.”
“It's been almost 2 weeks since release, 9 patches later the game is worse than it was at release.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the emotional depth of the game improves significantly over time, with many expressing that it becomes increasingly touching and impactful as they progress. Newcomers are encouraged to embrace the experience for its evolving emotional resonance.
“Started out okay... has been getting a lot better after some touching moments. I would definitely encourage newcomers to take the leap and play it!”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is derived from the clunky NPC interactions and the amusing experience of entering buildings, which players find entertaining. Additionally, while AI vehicles can be irritating, they contribute to the game's immersive environment, reflecting the frustrations of real-life driving.
“The NPC interactions are clunky and entering buildings can be quite funny. The AI vehicles are an irritation, but they add to the immersion (let's face it, normal drivers on the road can be an irritation too).”
“The humor in the game shines through the quirky NPC interactions and the absurdity of AI vehicles, making even the frustrating moments entertaining.”
