LOTUS-Simulator

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LOTUS-Simulator is a realistic driving simulation game that allows for single-player, 2-player, and multiplayer modes. Players can choose from various vehicles and drive around town while adhering to tight schedules and carrying special passengers. As skills and experience grow, players can participate in real-world conditions with colleagues, face radio coordination, unpredictable weather, and long shifts, all while having the option to recreate real-world routes with historic vehicles.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Reviews

32%

Audience ScoreBased on 158 reviews

humor1 positive mentions

optimization8 negative mentions

The driving mechanics feel real and satisfying, providing a decent simulation experience.
The game has potential for modding, allowing players to create and share their own content.
The graphics show improvement over previous simulators, and the integration with Steam Workshop allows for community-created maps and vehicles.

The game is still in early access with very little content, including only one tram and a small map, leading to disappointment for players expecting more.
Performance issues are prevalent, with many players experiencing low frame rates and crashes, even on high-end hardware.
The pricing is considered excessive for the current state of the game, with additional modules and DLCs costing as much as the base game itself, which is seen as a cash grab.

optimization
29 mentions
10 % positive mentions
62 % neutral mentions
28 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has been widely criticized, with players reporting significant performance issues, including low frame rates even on capable hardware. Many feel that the developers prioritize less critical features over essential performance improvements, leading to a lack of progress and ongoing lag, especially in larger maps. Despite some recent updates, the overall sentiment is that the game struggles with optimization, making it hard to justify its price, particularly in early access.
- “Even if at some point we think they haven't done so much, it's the opposite, because right now results are emerging - important features like non-scheduled AI, passengers, timetables, performance improvements, and now scheduled AI were added at least for the last year!”
- “I do have performance bugs a bit still and the bus module still seems pricey, but it's getting better.”
- “Due to the fact that we don't have AI yet, which is the most computer taxing content of the game, it's still too early to say how performance fares.”
- “Instead the developers seem to focus on trivial things like passengers and multiplayer, with performance improvements and important bug fixes being a rare afterthought.”
- “The game also seems to lag a lot in bigger maps you can find in the workshop, because there seems to be no optimization.”
- “Also, they wanted better performance based on how OMSI 2 worked, but as it is now, it's pretty bad and will only get worse since the years are passing without any big progress and the game engine is getting really out of date.”
graphics
28 mentions
32 % positive mentions
32 % neutral mentions
36 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many users describing them as mediocre and underwhelming, especially given the high price point. While some players appreciate the improvements over previous simulators, others criticize the performance issues, low frame rates, and outdated graphics API, leading to a disappointing overall experience. Despite some positive remarks about the physics and handling, the consensus leans towards a need for significant graphical enhancements.
- “The game looks promising, the driving feels real and satisfying, the graphics are an improvement from OMSI.”
- “It's not great in terms of content, but it does look amazing, and I have to say that the physics and handling are next level to any other tram simulation, as well as the graphics (they're stunning!).”
- “A whole other dimension in terms of graphics, ability to mod the game, physics, immersion, etc.”
- “The graphics are mediocre, the maps are small, and considering the price (I spent 97€ for the game + DLC), it was extremely disappointing.”
- “Most of the graphics barely look any better than OMSI or OpenRails did over a decade ago, and still the framerate sits at 15fps on an RTX 2060 at 1080p!”
- “Not to mention, the graphics API used is OpenGL, instead of a more modern alternative, such as Vulkan or at least DirectX 11/12.”
gameplay
16 mentions
13 % positive mentions
69 % neutral mentions
19 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game is criticized for being underdeveloped, with many users noting a lack of content, numerous bugs, and minimal progress over two years. Players feel it offers more potential than actual gameplay, leading to disappointment and a recommendation to invest in other titles that deliver a more complete gaming experience.
- “I think the game will finally run much smoother and will allow much better gameplay compared to OMSI 2.”
- “More than 2 years passed, and almost 0 progress gameplay-wise.”
- “It doesn't offer the possibility to choose its graphic resolution (it's the default one of your Windows operating system, I guess). If you have, like me, the buses DLC, there is only the Berlin map where you can drive with the bus; the two others currently on sale and available are Dresden and Düsseldorf, which are only for the trams. In short, save your money and invest in other games that will give you the normal gameplay you expect from a game.”
- “The game has a small amount of gameplay, lots of bugs, and terrible developers.”
- “More than 2 years have passed, and almost 0 progress gameplay-wise.”
story
4 mentions
0 % positive mentions
100 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game is not well-developed, as it remains in early access for an extended period, leading to frustration among users. Many reviewers express dissatisfaction with the lack of a coherent narrative or engaging missions, particularly for those seeking a bus simulator experience. Additionally, technical issues, such as inconsistent mouse controls, further detract from the overall experience.
monetization
2 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of Flight Simulator 2020 highlights the significant advantage that a large studio like Microsoft has over smaller developers, such as Lotus, in terms of resources and market reach. This disparity suggests that competing in the flight simulation genre may be challenging for smaller teams due to the extensive financial and technical capabilities of major studios.
humor
1 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is perceived as polarizing, with some users feeling that fanboys excessively downvote positive reviews, which may detract from the overall comedic experience.