Night Bus

About

Night Bus is a single player action game with horror and thriller themes. It was developed by Liquid Static Studio and was released on April 8, 2024. It received positive reviews from players.

"Night Bus" is a thrilling public transit simulator set in 1999 New Zealand, allowing you to pick up passengers, take their fares, and drop them off at their desired stops. With a hyper-realistic environment, interactable objects, and a CCTV bus monitoring system, the game offers a unique and immersive experience. However, beware of "That Which Has No Eyes" and make decisions that will impact the story's outcome.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

90%

Audience ScoreBased on 172 reviews

graphics4 positive mentions

stability2 negative mentions

The game offers a unique and enjoyable horror experience with multiple endings, making it fun for replayability.
The retro graphics and atmosphere are charming, capturing the essence of a cozy yet creepy bus driving experience.
Players appreciate the smooth controls and the inclusion of a pettable cat, which adds a calming element to the gameplay.

The game is very short, with playthroughs averaging around 10-15 minutes, leading many to feel it is overpriced for the content provided.
Numerous players have reported bugs, particularly with achievements not unlocking, which detracts from the overall experience.
Some players found the gameplay repetitive and lacking in depth, with not enough variation between the different endings.

graphics
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
56%
19%
The graphics of the game are characterized by a stylized retro aesthetic reminiscent of PS1 and VHS styles, which many players find nostalgic and well-suited to the game's mood. Reviewers appreciate the smooth performance and the unique visual presentation, often noting that the graphics enhance the overall experience, despite the simplicity of the design. Overall, the graphics receive positive feedback, with many players expressing enjoyment and a desire for more content.
- “The stylised retro graphics suit the mood perfectly, and the characters are voiced too, which you don't see often in indie games of this small stature.”
- “The most relaxing bus sim I have played; the PS1 graphics bring me so much nostalgia. I wish the route was much longer with more surprises.”
- “The PS1-like graphics are done well, and the game is smooth, with various endings and easy achievements to unlock if you enjoy collecting those.”
- “The PS1-like graphics are done well, but they feel outdated and lack the detail expected in modern games.”
- “Usual PSX/VHS style graphics create a moody atmosphere, but they can be too simplistic for some players.”
- “While the graphics bring nostalgia, they also highlight the limitations of the game's visual presentation.”
gameplay
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
58%
21%
The gameplay has been criticized for lacking satisfying mechanics and a sense of accomplishment, leading to a feeling of monotony. While the core mechanics function adequately, players desire more events and interactions to enhance the experience, as the current gameplay is perceived as limited and short, with only a few endings available. Overall, many feel the game is overpriced for its brief duration and restricted player agency.
- “Everything already works as it is; no need to polish the gameplay itself, it just needs a lot more events and interactions.”
- “I wish the game was much longer, and player actions could make a difference to the gameplay. Right now, it has very limited rules-based outcomes for the purpose of arriving at the few available endings.”
- “Gameplay impressions: https://youtu.”
- “No satisfying mechanics, no feeling of accomplishment, not a setting that really enchanted me... just sort of going through the motions.”
- “-bit expensive for less than an hour of gameplay.”
- “I wish the game was much longer, and player actions could make a difference to the gameplay; right now it is very limited rules-based outcomes for the purpose of arriving at the few available endings.”
story
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
30%
30%
The game's story is described as a nice little horror narrative, though some players feel it lacks depth and clarity, suggesting it could benefit from additional endings and dialogue. While the experience is engaging enough to warrant multiple playthroughs, some reviewers believe the overall content may not justify its price compared to other options.
- “The Steam achievements link in well to the horror experience, and multiple playthroughs help you not to miss any of the interesting story that comes together in the world.”
- “Seems like the game is missing a story.”
- “From what you've seen in the trailer, it's the whole story that you could see in the game, so...”
- “Some lack of clarity in the storyline made me think there was room for more endings and more dialogue.”
atmosphere
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
16%
17%
The game's atmosphere is described as creepy and immersive, effectively enhanced by its PSX/VHS style graphics and moody settings. Players feel a strong sense of unease while navigating the eerie countryside as a bus driver, making the overall experience engaging and atmospheric.
- “As a bus driver, you navigate the eerie countryside, picking up passengers and grappling with creepy events. The atmosphere is creepy and immersive.”
- “The atmosphere is great.”
- “Usual PSX/VHS style graphics, moody atmosphere, simple enough controls; I used a wired Xbox controller.”
humor
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is described as original, spooky, and genuinely funny, featuring a deadpan style that adds to its charm. While the comedic elements are well-received, some users feel that the content is lacking, suggesting that additional material could enhance the overall experience and prevent potential refund issues.
- “It is certainly original, spooky, and funny, with a few different outcomes to explore and a lovely deadpan nod to the out of the ordinary.”
- “Genuinely funny and good branding, with a bit of padding you would not only craft a richer experience for the player, but also yourself.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game has been criticized for its significant stability issues, with multiple users reporting persistent bugs that detract from the overall experience, making it difficult for players to fully engage with the content.
- “So buggy I can't convince myself to play through the 5th ending one more time.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
Users consistently highlight that the game offers strong replayability, indicating that players find value in returning to the game multiple times.
- “Replayability is a significant aspect of this game.”
- “The game offers a high level of replayability.”
- “There are numerous ways to experience the game, making it highly replayable.”