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

31%

Audience ScoreBased on 77 reviews

optimization4 negative mentions

The game has great potential and offers a realistic driving experience with good graphics.
The integration of Steam Workshop allows for community-created content, enhancing the gameplay experience.
The developers are making progress, with recent updates introducing AI traffic and other features.

The game is currently incomplete, with very limited content and high prices for additional modules and DLCs.
Performance issues are prevalent, with many players experiencing low frame rates and crashes on various hardware setups.
Development has been slow and lacks transparency, leading to frustration among players who feel the game is not progressing as promised.

optimization
14 mentions
14 % positive mentions
57 % neutral mentions
29 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization has been criticized for significant performance issues, particularly on higher-end hardware, with many users experiencing low frame rates and lag, especially on larger maps. Despite some improvements, players feel that the developers prioritize less critical features over essential performance fixes, leading to a perception that the game is not worth its price, especially in early access. The community remains divided, with some defending the game's graphics while others highlight the lack of optimization and outdated engine concerns.
- “I do have performance bugs a bit still and the bus module still seems pricey, but it's getting better.”
- “Also they wanted a 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bad and will only get worse since the years are passing without any big progress and the game engine is getting really out of date.”
- “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
13 mentions
31 % positive mentions
31 % neutral mentions
38 % 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 low performance, poor frame rates, and outdated graphics API, leading to a disappointing visual experience overall. Despite some positive remarks about the game's potential 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!).”
- “Great graphics”
- “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
8 mentions
38 % positive mentions
25 % neutral mentions
38 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game is criticized for being underdeveloped and lacking in content, with users noting a significant amount of bugs and minimal progress over two years. Many reviewers express disappointment, suggesting that it offers potential rather than a fulfilling gameplay experience, and recommend investing in other titles that meet standard gameplay expectations.
- “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.”
- “Maybe it's still too young to appreciate its real potential; but really that's all it offers: potential and not gameplay.”
- “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 devs.”
story
2 mentions
0 % positive mentions
-50 % neutral mentions
150 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game is not well-developed, as it is still in early access and lacks engaging narrative elements. Users express frustration with the gameplay mechanics, particularly the inconsistent controls, which detracts from the overall experience.
- “The story feels disjointed and lacks coherence, making it hard to stay engaged.”
- “Character development is shallow, leaving players feeling disconnected from the narrative.”
- “The plot twists are predictable and fail to deliver any real surprises.”
monetization
1 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, due to its extensive resources in human capital, technology, and marketing. This disparity suggests that competing in the market may be challenging for smaller studios.