City Car Driving

About

City Car Driving is a single player casual racing game. It was developed by Forward Development, Ltd. and was released on November 3, 2016. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

City Car Driving is a realistic driving simulator focusing on urban driving scenarios. The game features advanced physics, realistic traffic AI, and a variety of customization options for a true-to-life driving experience. It also includes driving school lessons to help players improve their skills and learn traffic rules.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

+16

Skip User Reviews

74%

Audience ScoreBased on 6,745 reviews

gameplay31 positive mentions

graphics109 negative mentions

Realistic driving experience that helps players learn traffic rules and driving skills.
Good for practicing with a steering wheel and pedals, enhancing the immersion.
Offers a variety of scenarios and customizable settings for different driving conditions.

Frequent crashes and bugs, especially in free driving mode, making it frustrating to play.
Unforgiving career mode with strict penalties for minor mistakes, leading to a tedious experience.
Limited support for newer steering wheels and inconsistent performance on laptops.

graphics
445 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
55%
24%
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many users noting that they are dated and reminiscent of older titles, often comparing them to graphics from the early 2000s. While some players appreciate the game's realistic driving mechanics and find the visuals acceptable for a driving simulator, others criticize the poor optimization, especially for integrated graphics, leading to crashes and performance issues. Overall, while the graphics may not be cutting-edge, they serve their purpose in providing a functional driving experience, though many players hope for future updates to improve visual quality.
- “The graphics are amazing and the attention to detail is incredible.”
- “Great graphics and fun gameplay.”
- “The graphics are actually very good.”
- “The graphics are so bad.”
- “Graphics look like an upscaled PS2 game and the environments are empty.”
- “The graphics are really old, from like 2011, rather than a 2016 open world city driving game where you can learn how to drive.”
story
196 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
8%
81%
11%
The game lacks a traditional narrative, with many users noting that it primarily consists of driving missions and challenges rather than a cohesive story. Players often find the mission structure frustrating, as it can be overly punishing and riddled with bugs, leading to repeated failures for minor mistakes. While there are various driving tasks available, the absence of a compelling storyline leaves many feeling that the game is more of a simulator than a narrative-driven experience.
- “The way the game works, the missions, the laws, it's all really good.”
- “You can drive free roam on two maps, do taxi (ruber) missions, or delivery missions, do driving school missions etc. With everything said, I'm very pleased with the game, and would recommend it to anyone who wants to experience true driving.”
- “The missions are good for helping you understand the basics of driving.”
- “☑ no story”
- “The missions and mods will be keeping me interested for a very long time to come.”
- “Unfortunately there is no story mode but I think that the taxi job and the package delivery job compensates for no story.”
gameplay
161 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
76%
5%
The gameplay of City Car Driving is characterized by its focus on realistic driving mechanics and urban scenarios, making it a useful tool for both novice and experienced drivers. However, many players express frustration with the game's mechanics, sensitivity to penalties, and frequent crashes, leading to a mixed reception overall. While the driving experience can be immersive and educational, issues with graphics, AI behavior, and steering wheel support detract from the overall enjoyment.
- “Remarkably optimized, it runs seamlessly even on modest hardware, without compromising the integrity of its hyper-realistic mechanics.”
- “City Car Driving is a remarkably detailed driving simulator that prioritizes realistic urban driving experiences over arcade-style gameplay, making it a valuable tool for both aspiring drivers and simulation enthusiasts.”
- “The game excels in the realistic gameplay, and does so pretty well.”
- “I haven't enjoyed this game due to the awful gameplay and car physics.”
- “You start hating the game after 10 minutes of gameplay.”
- “The mandatory driving tests are quite possibly the most infuriating and garbage gameplay segments I've done in my life.”
optimization
102 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
16%
50%
34%
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players praising its performance on high-end systems, reporting smooth gameplay even at maximum settings. However, many users have criticized the game for poor optimization, particularly for VR and lower-end hardware, citing issues like stuttering, crashes, and incompatibility with steering wheel setups. Overall, while there are signs of improvement, significant performance problems persist, making it unplayable for some users.
- “Remarkably optimized, it runs seamlessly even on modest hardware, without compromising the integrity of its hyper-realistic mechanics.”
- “The game is well-optimized, and I didn’t experience any noticeable frame drops, even when driving through busy areas or with dynamic weather effects enabled.”
- “Performance wise, quite good at 1920 x 1080 medium settings.”
- “Great concept, but if you have a newer wheel and pedal setup, it is very poorly optimized and difficult to play with a newer rig.”
- “I have an RTX 5090, Intel i9-14900KF, 32 GB RAM, and am running this off an SSD; there is no excuse for the performance issues, constant crashes, and total incompatibility for these standard consumer inputs/outputs.”
- “The optimization of this game is horrible; I can literally run CS:GO on my laptop and can't run a driving simulator?”
stability
76 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
5%
95%
The game's stability is widely criticized, with numerous reports of bugs, freezes, and crashes that significantly hinder gameplay. Many users experience issues such as lag, unresponsive controls, and unfair penalty systems, particularly on lower-end devices. While some players find enjoyment in the game, the overall consensus is that it is a buggy mess that requires substantial troubleshooting and is not worth the full price.
- “Runs great on a variety of specs.”
- “The mods are very good and not buggy like other games.”
- “This game is broken; it just keeps lagging whenever I play it, so it basically just freezes. It's unplayable.”
- “The level 'city test' is no joke; it's the most unpolished, buggy level I've ever encountered in any game.”
- “This game is horrible because every 2 to 3 seconds it freezes up, and it's just unplayable. I can't refund, so steer away from this game.”
humor
31 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
94%
6%
The humor in this game is characterized by its absurd and exaggerated driving scenarios, such as quickly changing traffic lights, comically aggressive AI drivers, and the hilarious consequences of player actions like stalling at a green light or running over pedestrians. Players find the game's realistic yet ridiculous situations, including funny sound effects and unexpected crashes, to be both entertaining and educational, making it a unique blend of humor and driving simulation. Overall, the game is appreciated for its ability to provide laughs while also serving as a learning tool for driving.
- “This game is super realistic and funny to cut off the AI ”
- “I've had plenty of crashes which I'd have expected to write off both me and the car, and I have to say that the screams of the pedestrians as I mow them down is absolutely hilarious!”
- “Funny and educational game!”
- “But not funny 'haha' - funny weird.”
- “This game was not funny when you didn't have mods. I played for 1 hour and wanted to refund it, but after installing mods from the workshop, now it's funny.”
grinding
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
7%
61%
32%
The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being tedious and time-consuming, with many players feeling it detracts from the overall experience. Achievements are often described as boring and unfair, leading to a sense of frustration among achievement hunters. Overall, players suggest that the grinding could be so overwhelming that it feels like one would need a "second life" to manage it effectively.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “A bit grindy sometimes.”
- “It does get the job done, but it is pretty tedious and loses you time every time.”
- “The game itself is good, but if you are an achievement hunter, you'll find the achievements very boring, not fair, or tedious.”
- “Really good game, however it can get very tedious after doing lots of jobs.”
music
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
49%
13%
The music aspect of the game is a mixed bag; while some players enjoy the relaxing experience of driving with their own music or the limited radio stations, others note the absence of in-game music as a drawback. Many find it enjoyable to cruise around while listening to their favorite tracks, enhancing the overall gameplay experience, though some express frustration with the radio's functionality and the lack of variety. Overall, the game is seen as a good backdrop for personal music, making it a pleasant driving experience.
- “I love it, turn the weather on rain, drive a nice car, and listen to some music; I swear it's so relaxing.”
- “A very relaxing game if you love driving, tons of mods in the workshop, so it's great when you have some music and drive.”
- “Just choose your car, turn on your favorite music, and enjoy!”
- “There is no music in this game.”
- “I wasn’t expecting music even if all the simulated cars have stereos, but the title feels very silent apart from the engine sounds and turn signals when activated.”
- “Putting on music and strolling around is alright but overall it gets a 7/10 for me.”
replayability
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
55%
9%
Players highlight the game's strong replayability due to its diverse challenges and missions, suggesting that it offers endless opportunities for engagement. While currently lacking multiplayer features, many believe that enhancements could further elevate its replay value, with some rating it as infinitely replayable.
- “The game also includes a variety of challenges and missions to complete, which adds to its replayability.”
- “I know it is not currently listed as going to be multiplayer, but this gives it endless amounts of replayability and will make it even more fun :)”
- “ infinitely replayable”
- “If developers can fix it and make the simulator more playable on this mode, then the game will be a 9/10 for me.”
emotional
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express a range of emotional responses to the game, from frustration over perceived inaccuracies in driving mechanics to deep emotional engagement during career mode, which has even led to tears. While some appreciate the potential for learning and improvement, others report physical discomfort, such as headaches and nausea, indicating a complex relationship with the game's emotional impact. Overall, the experience elicits strong feelings, both positive and negative, highlighting its potential to resonate deeply with players.
- “Career mode has made me cry.”
- “This is the only VR-supported game that made me feel horrible headaches and nausea, and I actually use VR for about 4 years now.”
- “After a couple of months not touching it, and then playing an additional 39 hours, I should say:”
atmosphere
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
80%
60%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its immersive and believable urban environments, despite its lower-quality graphics and quirky design elements. Players appreciate the detailed cultural elements, realistic traffic, and overall ambiance, though some express a desire for more roads and scenery to enhance the experience further.
- “Visually, while the graphics may not rival the latest AAA titles, the game’s environments are detailed enough to create a believable urban atmosphere, with realistic road layouts, traffic infrastructure, and pedestrian behavior.”
- “The culture is very nice, the atmosphere is very nice, the cars are very nice, and the highways are the most realistic of all.”
- “The concept is there, and there's a really nice atmosphere to the whole thing.”
- “The atmosphere feels empty and lacks the depth needed to immerse players fully.”
- “While the visuals are decent, the overall atmosphere is flat and uninspiring.”
- “The game fails to create a compelling atmosphere, leaving players feeling disconnected from the world.”
monetization
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization aspect of the game has received criticism for being exploitative, particularly with the VR tag being perceived as a cash grab that fails to deliver on its promises for SteamVR users. Additionally, the presence of advertisements is minimal and often deemed ineffective, contributing to a negative perception of the game's overall monetization strategy.
- “The VR tag is a huge cash grab while not delivering for my SteamVR dependent headsets.”
- “Usually, this kind of home simulator's advertising is completely faulty.”
- “Ads.”