Bus Simulator 16

63%
Game Brain Score Based on 708 reviews
  • graphics
  • optimization
  • gameplay
Bus Simulator 16 Game Cover
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Win the daily battle with the clock—become a bus driver!Six true-to-life city buses, including two Lion’s City buses licensed by MAN, and a gigantic freely accessible world are waiting for you in Bus Simulator 16. Transport your passengers to their destinations across five authentic city districts safely and on time. Drive a two-door, three-door, or a true-to-life articulated bus through commuter …

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Reviews

63%
Audience ScoreBased on 708 reviews
gameplay10 positive mentions
graphics28 negative mentions
  • The game offers a fun and engaging bus driving experience with a variety of tasks and challenges.
  • The management aspect of running a bus company adds depth and keeps players invested.
  • The graphics and environment are decent, creating a lively atmosphere with interactive passengers.
  • The game suffers from performance issues, with lag and low frame rates even on high-end systems.
  • The AI behavior can be frustrating, with pedestrians and traffic often causing unexpected accidents.
  • There are significant bugs and glitches that detract from the overall experience, such as crashes and loading issues.
  • graphics127 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received largely negative feedback, with many users describing them as outdated, bland, and reminiscent of early 2000s titles. While some players noted that the graphics are acceptable for a simulator, the overall consensus is that they lack detail and polish, leading to a subpar visual experience. Additionally, performance issues and poor optimization further detract from the graphical quality, making it difficult for players to enjoy the game even on higher-end systems.

    • “The graphics are really good in this game compared with OMSI 2.”
    • “Good graphics and a big map to play in.”
    • “The game has generally good graphics and runs very smoothly, although loading the game can take a while occasionally.”
    • “The graphics are disappointing; it looks like someone took standard assets from the Unity store and made a city out of it.”
    • “The graphics are so bad that the immersion gets completely spoiled.”
    • “Graphically the game is very poor; the bus models aren't too bad, but everything else looks like a PS2 game upscaled and to make that seem worse, it doesn't even run well.”
  • optimization79 mentions

    The game's optimization has received overwhelmingly negative feedback, with many players reporting severe performance issues even on high-end systems, resulting in low frame rates and crashes. While some patches have improved stability, significant optimization problems remain, detracting from the overall experience. Players recommend waiting for further updates to address these ongoing performance concerns.

    • “It's surprisingly stable after the December 2016 performance patch, and does what it says on the box.”
    • “Since the patch on March 10th, the game optimization has become much better, and will run smoothly on high-end computers.”
    • “Overall, I believe Bus Simulator 16 is a great simulator and is much better than the previous bus simulator I had, which was OMSI 2, which had no end of glitches, crashes, and bad in-game optimization etc. It's not every day you get a good bus simulator like this, probably one of the best to date.”
    • “The optimization is horrific and you can barely get a stable 20/30 fps out of Bus Simulator with a high-end computer, one which meets the recommended specifications.”
    • “The game itself is a lot of fun to play, but the lack of optimization ruins the experience.”
    • “Optimization is what hurts this game right now.”
  • gameplay44 mentions

    The gameplay of the bus simulator is a mixed bag, with some players enjoying the fun and addicting mechanics while others criticize the driving physics and controls as lacking realism. Although the game offers a decent experience with updates and community suggestions, many find the graphics dated and the overall performance laggy. Overall, it appeals to those who prioritize gameplay over technical execution, but it may not satisfy players seeking a more realistic simulation experience.

    • “Besides all that though, the gameplay itself is pretty fun and it does what it says on the tin.”
    • “I'm no expert in the simulator genre by any means, but Bus Simulator 16 employs some pretty addicting mechanics, which was unexpected to say the least.”
    • “Well, the devs have clearly spent more time on gameplay (which is what I expect from a simulator).”
    • “Controls are horrible and the gameplay is pretty bad.”
    • “The gameplay is laggy and feels slow.”
    • “Unfortunately for me, the game falls flat in one of the most important mechanics, the driving part.”
  • stability20 mentions

    The game's stability is a mixed bag, with many users reporting frequent bugs, crashes, and long loading times, which can detract from the overall experience. While some players have found ways to mitigate issues, such as adjusting settings, the consensus is that the game is quite janky and requires patience. Despite these stability concerns, some players still enjoy the gameplay, suggesting that it may appeal to those willing to overlook its technical shortcomings.

    • “It's surprisingly stable and bug-free.”
    • “Despite a little lag here or there, it runs great!”
    • “I have everything turned down, and it runs great.”
    • “Overall, it was not a horrible game but I did experience many crashes and glitches within the game.”
    • “First of all, it’s buggy to the core.”
    • “Its really shocking, it's really buggy and laggy and it keeps crashing. I can't load up my saved game without it crashing on me.”
  • story18 mentions

    The game's story is centered around engaging missions that allow players to unlock new features and manage a bus company, providing a fun and varied experience. While the narrative is generally well-received, some players find the mission objectives unclear and the overall gameplay can be confusing at times. Despite these issues, the storyline is considered enjoyable, with a good mix of events and challenges.

    • “Good storyline”
    • “+ story, lot of people and events in the game (like random failures of the door, problems with some passengers, etc.)”
    • “You get missions that help you unlock new features.”
    • “Had over a day playtime but now I can't start a mission; I advise you do not buy this game.”
    • “The story is confusing and lacks clarity, making it difficult to engage with the missions.”
    • “The game has very bland graphics, a complete lack of physics, and very unclear mission objectives.”
  • humor7 mentions

    The humor in the game is a notable highlight, with players finding amusement in the quirky interactions between passengers, the repetitive yet initially funny dialogues, and the absurdity of certain situations, such as the map size and character antics. While some aspects may become tiresome over time, the overall comedic elements contribute positively to the gaming experience.

    • “This game is not bad, but it is quite funny, especially with the passengers and what they say. It has decent buses as well if you have all the DLCs, so I definitely would recommend this game.”
    • “I love the police and buses, plus passengers calling me 'dear'—so funny! :D”
    • “There are a lot of funny things hidden in the game, which is really amusing.”
  • grinding6 mentions

    Players report that grinding in the game is extensive, particularly for achievements like "1000km," leading to a tedious experience over time. While some find the initial gameplay enjoyable, the repetitive nature and lack of innovation compared to other simulators have left many feeling disappointed, especially after investing significant hours. Overall, the grinding aspect is seen as a major drawback that detracts from the game's potential.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “Grinding in this game is rewarding and keeps you engaged.”
    • “The grind is challenging but ultimately satisfying.”
    • “A lot of grinding is needed for the last achievement ('1000km').”
    • “Issuing tickets starts out being fun at first, but then it becomes tedious, with the AI all saying 'thank you, dear' in European and poorly pretended American accents.”
    • “After 153 hours of grinding, this game has been very nice and different.”
  • monetization5 mentions

    The monetization aspect allows players to customize their fleets with various colors and decals, as well as place advertisements to generate additional income. While there are options for customization and earning extra money, some users feel that the selection of decals and ad placements is limited. Overall, the system encourages company progression through leveling and unlocking new buses and city districts.

    • “The monetization system feels limited, with only 8 options for decals and ads.”
    • “While you can customize your buses and earn extra money through advertisements, the overall monetization feels restrictive.”
    • “The monetization aspect is frustrating, as it relies heavily on ads and lacks variety in customization options.”
  • music2 mentions

    The music in the game is well-received, complementing the overall experience with a nice variety that enhances gameplay, particularly during bus driving. Players appreciate the combination of engaging soundtracks and spoken announcements, which contribute to the immersive atmosphere.

    • “Give it a try! You can drive a bus while listening to podcasts or music.”
    • “Comic graphics, nice town, spoken stop announcements, police and ambulance emergencies, nice music, cool varied missions, and the managing part is just right: not too easy but achievable.”
    • “The music is repetitive and lacks variety, making it hard to stay engaged.”
    • “I found the soundtrack to be bland and forgettable, which really detracted from the overall experience.”
    • “The audio quality of the music is poor, and it feels like an afterthought rather than a key component of the game.”
  • replayability1 mentions

    The game's replayability is considered mediocre, with some players returning occasionally but not consistently.

    • “I still play every now and again, so I would say the replay value is mediocre.”
    • “The game lacks enough variety to keep me coming back for more.”
    • “Once you finish the main story, there's little incentive to replay.”
  • atmosphere1 mentions

    The game effectively establishes a compelling atmosphere for a bus simulator, evoking a sense of accomplishment with each successful run.

    • “This game creates a great atmosphere for a bus simulator, and I feel a sense of accomplishment every time I successfully finish a run.”
  • emotional1 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is perceived negatively, with users expressing a reluctance to engage with it due to its impact on their feelings.

Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Buy Bus Simulator 16

Play time

10hMedian play time
27hAverage play time
3-62hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 5 analyzed playthroughs

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