American Truck Simulator

Big Rigging through a small town with a big reputation.

Starting at $7.99Buy now

"American Truck Simulator" is a vehicle simulation game that allows players to become truck drivers and deliver goods across the United States. The game features a detailed map of the Western and Southwestern junkyard of the US, with numerous cities to explore. Players can manage their own trucking business, purchase and customize their trucks, and follow real-world driving rules and traffic laws.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Reviews

97%

Audience ScoreBased on 76,046 reviews

graphics2,337 positive mentions

story114 negative mentions

graphics
4,016 mentions
58 % positive mentions
39 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The graphics in American Truck Simulator are widely praised for their stunning detail and realism, effectively capturing the diverse landscapes and iconic landmarks of the United States. Many players appreciate the game's ability to run smoothly even on lower-end systems, while those with higher-end setups can enjoy enhanced visuals at maximum settings. However, some reviews note that the graphics engine feels dated and could benefit from further updates to improve texture quality and overall visual fidelity.
- “The graphics are stunning, capturing America's beauty perfectly.”
- “The attention to detail in the graphics and the vast, beautifully crafted landscapes make every drive a joy.”
- “The graphics are unbelievable; it makes it so real when you have triple monitors.”
- “The graphics are terrible and aren't what I thought it would be at all.”
- “The graphics could use a bit of improvement but other than that I have no complaints.”
- “The graphics engine sucks though.”
gameplay
1,792 mentions
34 % positive mentions
64 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The gameplay of American Truck Simulator (ATS) is widely praised for its realistic driving mechanics, smooth controls, and immersive experience, making it a favorite among simulation enthusiasts. Players appreciate the balance between relaxation and engagement, with many enjoying the extensive customization options and the ability to manage a trucking company. However, some reviews note that the gameplay can become repetitive over time, especially without the addition of new content or challenges, and that it shares many similarities with its predecessor, Euro Truck Simulator 2. Overall, ATS offers a satisfying and enjoyable trucking experience, particularly for those who appreciate the genre's slower-paced, methodical gameplay.
- “The gameplay mechanics are smooth and intuitive, allowing for a relaxing yet engaging experience.”
- “The gameplay strikes a perfect balance between simulation and relaxation.”
- “With its stunning graphics, realistic gameplay, and engaging career mode, it offers countless hours of enjoyment.”
- “The gameplay can become repetitive over time, as the core mechanics remain consistent throughout the game.”
- “While the gameplay loop of driving long distances and managing deliveries can feel repetitive to some, the game's relaxing and meditative nature can also be a positive aspect for those seeking a more laid-back experience.”
- “The gameplay is repetitive, with the player spending most of the time driving on long, straight roads.”
music
1,242 mentions
28 % positive mentions
71 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The music aspect of the game is highly praised for its ability to enhance the overall experience, allowing players to listen to their own playlists or tune into a variety of internet radio stations while driving. Many users find it relaxing to cruise through beautiful landscapes accompanied by their favorite music or podcasts, making it a perfect game for unwinding after a long day. However, some players express disappointment with the in-game music options, noting that the default soundtrack can be repetitive and suggesting improvements for a more diverse selection.
- “The soundtrack is a perfect companion during long hauls, and I enjoy listening to the radio stations as I drive.”
- “With a carefully curated selection of radio stations, players can lose themselves in a soundtrack that feels tailor-made for their journey.”
- “The music enhances the atmosphere, making every drive feel like a scene from a classic road movie, where each song tells your story—evoking nostalgia and desire as you navigate the highways.”
- “The music feels like it comes out of a corporate safety video, and while jarring, feels appropriate to the genre.”
- “The soundtrack is also top-notch, featuring a mix of country, rock, and blues that perfectly complements the game's Americana feel.”
- “The game doesn't have any music you can listen to over the road, no preset stations, you'll have to manually put music into the folders or have an internet connection to play the radio stations that are coded into the radio, though they have a high bit rate and lag more often than not.”
story
659 mentions
8 % positive mentions
75 % neutral mentions
17 % negative mentions
The game lacks a traditional storyline, focusing instead on delivering goods across diverse American landscapes, which some players find moderately engaging. While the missions can become repetitive, the immersive experience of driving and the freedom to explore create a unique narrative for each player. Many users express a desire for more story elements or character interactions to enhance the gameplay experience.
- “American Truck Simulator is a stellar gaming experience that immerses players in the adrenaline-fueled world of long-haul trucking across the vast landscapes of America. From the bustling highways of Los Angeles to the serene countryside of the Midwest, the game offers a meticulously detailed open world filled with diverse environments and challenging missions.”
- “This isn't just a game; it's a love letter to the open road, where every highway is a story and every delivery is a mini-adventure.”
- “While the game lacks a traditional storyline, the career mode is engaging. Each mission taken, load to bear, feels like a real-life lesson, from managing the controls of the truck to handling various traffic situations.”
- “There is no deeper meaning or story to be told; just drive a truck for a few hours.”
- “Once you do, the game is very basic and straightforward with fast progression and no quest line or story to follow.”
- “The game's lack of variety in cargo and delivery missions makes it feel like a chore to play.”
grinding
352 mentions
1 % positive mentions
34 % neutral mentions
65 % negative mentions
The reviews consistently highlight that "American Truck Simulator" is a highly grindy experience, often requiring players to invest significant time to progress and unlock features. While some find the grinding tedious, many appreciate the therapeutic nature of the gameplay, likening it to other simulation games like "Farming Simulator." Overall, the game appeals to those who enjoy slow-paced, repetitive tasks, but may not be suitable for players seeking fast-paced action or immediate rewards.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “A bit grindy sometimes.”
- “This is one where the repetitive gameplay is enjoyable and not grindy.”
- “The vanilla game will hold you over for some time until you get tired of grinding for player levels in order to customize your truck.”
- “It can be frustrating and grindy, but once you get past whatever grind you have it truly does feel worth it.”
- “The reason I graded this game only a 6/10 is because of the grind; the game is mostly just grinding and buying new trucks, and it tends to get old after a while.”
optimization
330 mentions
36 % positive mentions
51 % neutral mentions
13 % negative mentions
The optimization of American Truck Simulator has received mixed reviews from players. While some commend its ability to run smoothly on a variety of systems, including older hardware, others report significant performance issues, particularly in densely populated areas, with frequent frame rate drops and stuttering. Overall, while there are instances of good optimization, many players feel that the game still requires further improvements to enhance performance, especially for lower-end systems and in VR scenarios.
- “The graphics are stunning, and the optimization is excellent.”
- “This game runs smoothly and comes packed with amazing content from beautiful scenery, accurate truck models, and realistic physics all the way down to rolling resistance.”
- “I have a bad computer but I started playing this game and it's not stressing at all; I was able to turn the graphics up and still run smoothly.”
- “The optimization is terrible even if you turn graphics down and have no traffic mods.”
- “Terrible optimization makes the game run at very low fps to the point it's unplayable.”
- “I absolutely love the game but I think they need to fix the stuttering and the skipping; right now it's unplayable.”
humor
195 mentions
99 % positive mentions
1 % neutral mentions
1 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is frequently highlighted as a major draw, with players enjoying the comedic antics of AI drivers and the absurd situations that arise during gameplay. Many reviews emphasize the fun of playing with friends, where chaotic moments and glitches lead to laughter and memorable experiences. Overall, the game is described as a lighthearted and entertaining experience, perfect for casual play and shared laughs.
- “Maneuver your mammoth rig through traffic, dodge reckless drivers, and try not to spill your virtual coffee – it's a hilarious ride from start to finish.”
- “Playing this game with a G920 is so satisfying, I love streaming this, talking to friends, and the community also working together coming out with awesome, cool, useful, funny addons.”
- “Spent 3 hours pissing myself laughing while on a convoy with friends, doing literally nothing but driving.”
- “So lifelike it's not funny.”
stability
193 mentions
25 % positive mentions
2 % neutral mentions
74 % negative mentions
The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting frequent bugs and glitches, particularly after recent updates. While some users enjoy smooth gameplay and minimal issues, others experience significant problems such as freezing, controller malfunctions, and AI behavior glitches. Overall, the game is seen as fun and engaging, but its stability issues detract from the experience for many players.
- “The game runs great, the maps are beautiful, but I guess there could always be more details.”
- “Very stable and bug free.”
- “I have had no glitches or crashes using the vanilla version in quite a bit of driving.”
- “Buggy 1.50/1.51 gameplay update, stuttering, low framerates, messed up controls, and censorship from forum moderators that allow only words disrespectful against players who report/complain those bugs to exist.”
- “At this time I would not recommend this game when using any Xbox 360 controllers for Windows. Everything worked fine before the 1.51 update: the new controller update made the game unplayable. All the controllers I own, even the commands I use on my keyboard, do not work correctly. I will not buy any more DLCs and recommend this game until ATS/SCs Software either reverts back to the 1.50 update or fixes the buggy/non-working controller configuration.”
- “The game is legitimately getting less fun to play the further you get into it; it's riddled with various bugs and glitches, and if it didn't have co-op, I probably wouldn't play it at all.”
atmosphere
126 mentions
47 % positive mentions
51 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in American Truck Simulator is widely praised for its immersive and relaxing qualities, effectively capturing the essence of various U.S. landscapes and cultures. Players appreciate the detailed graphics, dynamic weather, and ambient sounds that enhance the driving experience, making it feel like a nostalgic road trip. The game's ability to evoke a sense of freedom and exploration, combined with a soothing soundtrack, creates a tranquil environment that many find therapeutic.
- “The music enhances the atmosphere, making every drive feel like a scene from a classic road movie, where each song tells your story—evoking nostalgia and desire as you navigate the highways.”
- “I absolutely love the concept and just the atmosphere of all the different states; each state has its own kind of vibe, and it really helps the game's realism.”
- “The sounds and the atmosphere are so well done I can almost smell the desert sage on the wind as I move through Arizona and New Mexico, or the evergreens and aspens as I go over I-70 to Denver.”
- “The atmosphere of driving through the night in the middle of the desert or Moab with rain hitting the windshield and beading off really does something for me; you feel all cozy inside your cab with nothing to worry about.”
- “The atmosphere of ATS is less stimulating and feels more like the bland trucking games of the 00s.”
- “The driving, reminiscent of a real-life truck drive, creates an enchanting atmosphere that pulls you into its embrace.”
replayability
87 mentions
41 % positive mentions
55 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The game boasts exceptionally high replayability, with many players noting its near-infinite potential due to a vast array of routes, trucks, and mods, as well as a deep career mode that allows for extensive company management. Regular updates and a supportive modding community further enhance the experience, making it appealing even to those who may not initially be interested in trucking. Overall, players consistently rate the replay value as outstanding, often describing it as endlessly engaging.
- “The game offers high replayability with its vast map, numerous jobs, and regular updates that introduce new content and states.”
- “The depth of the career mode, including managing your own trucking company, adds layers of strategy and replayability.”
- “Overall a fantastic game with infinite replay value.”
- “Unfortunately, the amount of DLCs you 'have' to buy to make this game somewhat less boring and more playable is just unimaginable. I mean, if they were like $5 each, then that would be somewhat understandable, but some of these DLCs cost as much as the base game itself.”
- “Honestly, there's no replay value if you have played ETS and ETS2.”
- “Don't get this game until it's in a more playable state.”
monetization
70 mentions
4 % positive mentions
17 % neutral mentions
79 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the absence of intrusive microtransactions and ads, while others criticize the introduction of real-world advertisements and the necessity of purchasing multiple DLCs for full content access. While some view the game as a cash grab due to its reliance on paid DLCs and advertising partnerships, others find value in the extensive content and replayability it offers, especially when purchased during sales. Overall, the monetization strategy has sparked debate over its impact on the gaming experience, with opinions divided on whether it enhances or detracts from the game's appeal.
- “There are no microtransactions, which adds to the game’s appeal, and its replay value is very high, thanks to the sheer variety of routes, trucks, and mods available.”
- “No annoying microtransactions or in-game store.”
- “In a world full of games that want you to spend 23 hours a day with microtransactions, this game is a refresher to the days of old.”
- “Can't really recommend this game anymore as they've decided to start using it as an advertising and recruitment platform that is enabled by default.”
- “This game is an unfinished cash grab; it was supposed to be in production for a long time, but at launch it had 2 states and 2 trucks, and now has 3 trucks and 3 states.”
- “Don't buy it, even on sale, even if you're a fan of ETS; it's a blatant cash grab.”
emotional
46 mentions
98 % positive mentions
-4 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
Players find "American Truck Simulator" to be a deeply emotional experience, often describing it as a heartfelt journey that evokes nostalgia and personal reflection. The game's stunning scenery and evocative soundtrack enhance its emotional impact, making players feel connected to their virtual travels and the memories they evoke. Many reviews highlight the game's wholesome nature, with players expressing feelings of joy, sadness, and a sense of community, often leading to moments of genuine emotional release.
- “American Truck Simulator is not just a game; it's an emotional odyssey that captivates players with its charm, warmth, and delightful road trips.”
- “Each state you drive through is breathtakingly heartfelt, contributing to an experience that effortlessly tugs at the heartstrings.”
- “When I first launched this game, I cried... I cried at the absolute beauty I was witnessing.”
- “The game tries to play with your emotions, but it often feels forced and manipulative.”
- “While the game aims to evoke strong feelings, it ultimately falls flat and feels superficial.”
- “I expected a deep emotional experience, but instead, I was left feeling disconnected and unengaged.”