Bus Simulator 16

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Bus Simulator 16 is a single player and multiplayer open world racing game. It was developed by stillalive studios and was released on February 3, 2016. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

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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63%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,416 reviews

gameplay20 positive mentions

graphics56 negative mentions

The game offers a fun and engaging bus driving experience with a good variety of buses and routes.
The management aspect of running a bus company adds depth and keeps players invested.
The interactions with passengers and random events create a lively atmosphere.

The game suffers from poor optimization, leading to lag and low frame rates even on high-end PCs.
Graphics are dated and do not meet the expectations for a 2016 release.
The AI behavior is often frustrating, with pedestrians and vehicles causing unnecessary accidents.

graphics
254 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
57%
22%
The graphics of the game have received largely negative feedback, with many users describing them as outdated, bland, and reminiscent of early 2000s titles. Players have noted poor optimization, leading to lag and low frame rates even on high-end systems, and many feel the visuals detract from the overall experience. While some users found the graphics acceptable or decent, the consensus leans towards disappointment, particularly in comparison to other simulation games.
- “The graphics are really good in this game compared with OMSI 2.”
- “Good graphics and 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 game is very poorly optimized, the graphics are very bad.”
- “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.”
optimization
158 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
58%
22%
The game's optimization is widely criticized, with many players reporting severe performance issues even on high-end systems, often struggling to achieve stable frame rates. While some patches have improved performance, significant optimization problems remain, detracting from the overall experience. Players recommend waiting for further updates to address these issues before purchasing.
- “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. 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.”
gameplay
88 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
68%
9%
The gameplay of the bus simulator is a mixed bag, with some players finding it enjoyable and addictive, while others criticize the driving mechanics as unrealistic and lacking depth. Although the game features a blend of arcade and simulation elements, many users report issues with lag and poor optimization, which detracts from the overall experience. Despite its flaws, the game has potential for improvement through updates and community feedback, making it a decent choice for fans of the genre.
- “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.”
- “Overall, I am enjoying the game thoroughly and would recommend it (based on gameplay quality, not performance).”
- “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.”
stability
40 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
15%
85%
The game is frequently described as buggy and unstable, with numerous crashes and glitches reported by players. While some users noted that it can run well with adjusted settings, many experienced significant loading issues and performance problems. Overall, despite its stability issues, players still find enjoyment in the gameplay, considering it a decent bus simulator.
- “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.”
- “It's 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.”
story
36 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
61%
11%
The game's story is centered around a series of missions that allow players to unlock new features and manage a bus company, providing a fun and engaging experience. While the storyline is generally well-received, some players find the mission objectives unclear and the overall game optimization lacking. Despite these issues, the variety of missions and events, such as dealing with passenger problems and emergencies, contribute positively to the gameplay experience.
- “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 game has very bland graphics, a complete lack of physics, and very unclear mission objectives.”
- “The only issue I have is the fact that the game is not very well optimized, and also that you're going to have pedestrians run in front of you while you're driving, which will cancel the mission.”
humor
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is a notable highlight, with players finding amusement in the quirky interactions between passengers and the absurdity of the map size. While some jokes and conversations can become repetitive over time, the overall comedic elements, including character quirks and hidden funny moments, contribute to an enjoyable experience. Despite its graphical shortcomings, the humor remains a strong selling point for many players.
- “This game is not bad, but it is quite funny, especially with the passengers and what they say. It has decent buses in there 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.”
grinding
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
83%
Players report that grinding in the game is extensive, particularly for achieving milestones like "1000km," which can become tedious over time. While some find the initial gameplay enjoyable, the repetitive nature and lack of engaging content lead to frustration, especially when compared to other simulators in the same price range. Overall, the grinding experience is seen as a significant drawback, raising concerns about the game's long-term viability and development direction.
- “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.”
- “Deplorable... how a game can be this bad in 2016 is beyond me. Every other simulator in this price range, and some for a few dollars more (ATS2, ETS, TS2017, Farming Sim 2017) are far superior in graphics, dynamics, and mechanics.”
monetization
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization aspect of the game allows players to customize their fleet with various paint jobs and advertisements, which can generate extra income. However, some users note a limitation in the number of available decals and ad options, with only eight choices for each. Overall, the system encourages company progression through customization and unlocking new features.
- “You can paint your fleet various colors, and add advertisements to generate extra income.”
- “- lacking decals and ads options (both only have 8)”
- “- you can buy and customize your buses with decals, earn extra money by placing ads, and hire drivers to drive them.”
music
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The music in the game is well-received, enhancing the overall experience with a pleasant and varied soundtrack that complements the gameplay. Players appreciate the ability to listen to music or podcasts while driving, adding to the immersive atmosphere of the game.
- “Comic graphics, nice town, spoken stop announcements, police and ambulance emergencies, nice music, cool varied missions, managing part 'just right': not too easy but makeable.”
- “Give it a try if you want to drive a bus while you listen to podcasts or music.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's replayability is considered mediocre, with some players returning occasionally but not finding enough incentive for frequent play.
- “I still play every now and again, so I would say the replay value is mediocre.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game effectively establishes a compelling atmosphere for a bus simulator, fostering a sense of accomplishment with each successful run. Players appreciate the immersive experience that enhances their enjoyment of the gameplay.
- “This game creates a great atmosphere for a bus simulator, and I feel a sense of accomplishment every time I successfully finish a run.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game appears to evoke strong feelings, leading some players to feel overwhelmed or reluctant to engage with it further. This suggests that the game may tackle heavy themes or experiences that resonate deeply, prompting a desire for distance.