Taxi Life: A City Driving Simulator

55%
Game Brain Score Based on 1,511 reviews
  • graphics
  • optimization
  • gameplay
Taxi Life: A City Driving Simulator Game Cover
Taxi Life: A City Driving Simulator is an incredibly authentic game that is only held back by some mild performance issues.
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"Taxi Life: A City Driving Simulator" is a driving game that puts you in the role of a taxi driver in Barcelona. With your car and a dream, build up your transport empire by navigating the city's busy streets, transporting customers to their destinations while dealing with road rules, changing weather conditions, and traffic. The game is compatible with popular steering wheel peripherals and game controllers.

  • PC
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

55%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,511 reviews
graphics114 positive mentions
optimization44 negative mentions
  • The game features a beautifully rendered city of Barcelona, providing an immersive driving experience.
  • Driving mechanics are enjoyable, especially with a steering wheel, making it a fun and relaxing game.
  • The game has potential for growth, with developers actively working on updates and improvements.
  • AI behavior is poor, with cars and pedestrians often causing accidents and traffic jams.
  • The game lacks optimization, leading to frame rate drops and performance issues even on high-end PCs.
  • There is limited customization for vehicles and a lack of variety in passenger interactions, making gameplay feel repetitive.
  • graphics249 mentions

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players praising the detailed environments and car models, while others criticize the overall optimization and performance issues, including blurriness and frame rate drops. Many users report that even high-end graphics cards struggle to maintain smooth gameplay, leading to a frustrating experience. Overall, while the visuals can be appealing, significant improvements in optimization and graphical fidelity are needed to meet player expectations.

    • “Let me tell you, this game is absolutely beautiful to play, especially on a steering wheel with my gearbox and pedals. It's a really realistic game with such amazing graphics of the cars and the city. Great job on that; it's as realistic as it gets.”
    • “The graphics are brilliant and so detailed.”
    • “Graphics: 8.5-9/10 (at max settings)”
    • “Not sure why, but the graphics are very blurry even on max settings.”
    • “Horrible, trash, I expected better; it has horrible graphics, no reflections from your side mirrors, very unrealistic game.”
    • “The graphics seem outdated, akin to those from 2010.”
  • optimization155 mentions

    The game's optimization has received widespread criticism, with many players reporting severe performance issues, including stuttering, frame drops, and bugs, even on high-end PCs. While some users have managed to run the game smoothly, the overall consensus is that significant improvements are needed to enhance performance and stability. Many hope for future updates to address these optimization concerns, as they detract from an otherwise enjoyable experience.

    • “However, I will hopefully rebuy the game once it's better optimized or I get a better PC.”
    • “Unfortunately, I think this is still the best taxi driving game right now, but it definitely could use a lot of bug fixes and optimizations.”
    • “I plan on making this a long-running series on my YouTube, and I have loved the game already, although I think with a few quality of life changes and video changes, optimization would make this game unstoppable!”
    • “One issue I have with the game is that it feels poorly optimized.”
    • “Fun game, but poor optimization kind of ruins it.”
    • “The game has severe frame drops in certain areas, and optimization is mediocre!”
  • gameplay119 mentions

    The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with some praising the driving mechanics and immersive city environment, while others criticize it for being repetitive, clunky, and plagued by glitches. Many players noted that the AI and NPC interactions feel outdated, detracting from the overall experience, and expressed a desire for more variety and depth in gameplay elements. Despite its potential, the game is perceived as unfinished and lacking polish, leading to a sense of disappointment among players.

    • “Nice chilled game doing taxi runs in a scenic and bustling city with many features and gameplay aspects that are excellent.”
    • “Despite the driving mechanics being more arcade-like, it feels realistic thanks to the well-implemented shock absorber immersion during braking and the unique steering wheel acceleration—something I haven’t experienced in any other driving game.”
    • “With its realistic cityscape, challenging traffic system, and diverse NPCs, it provides an immersive gameplay experience that will keep you coming back for more.”
    • “Driving and overall gameplay is bad.”
    • “Other than that, repetitive gameplay and shallow management component are by far the biggest problems.”
    • “The overall presentation feels outdated and uninspired, further detracting from the already lacklustre gameplay experience.”
  • stability68 mentions

    The game's stability has been widely criticized, with numerous reports of bugs, glitches, and AI issues that detract from the overall experience. While some players have noted improvements since launch, many still find the game to be unfinished and plagued by performance problems, including freezing and erratic AI behavior. Overall, players suggest that while the gameplay can be enjoyable, the frequent technical issues make it difficult to recommend at its current price point.

    • “Game runs great, not one car hit me and not one pedestrian walked in front of the taxi.”
    • “I wouldn't mind that it's got an arcade style driving type and I think full on sim driving mode, but I've only done the arcade driving which is a bit jerky using keyboard and mouse. Not sure if controls and wheels are supported. Scenery is very beautiful, the town is expansive and beautifully rendered. Railroad tracks and speed bumps make your car's suspension act in a predictable and smooth way. I have no glitches or known bugs that I have found as of yet.”
    • “Tl;dr: if you like chill driving games, and aren't expecting a bug-free experience, it's worth the price tag.”
    • “Too buggy, glitchy, and laggy in some parts; not worth it.”
    • “I bought this game when it was $35 because I thought it would be more realistic driving than GTA V; however, the game clearly has a lot of glitches that make it unplayable. You're better off enjoying GTA V for what it has to offer at its price point.”
    • “You would think this game launched in early access today with how buggy and featureless it is, but no, this is a full release asking for $30 of your hard-earned dollars.”
  • story57 mentions

    The game's story is largely absent, with players noting that it consists mainly of a basic tutorial followed by repetitive missions that lack depth and engaging content. While some appreciate the realistic mission feedback and traffic interactions, many feel the game would benefit from a more developed narrative and varied mission types to enhance player investment. Overall, it is described as more of a sandbox experience focused on passenger transport rather than a story-driven game.

    • “Epic story.”
    • “Conceptually sound, decent story progression and development, and a lot of things to keep the gameplay flowing.”
    • “While not crucial for the simulation experience, it's always nice to have some added story to the game.”
    • “☑️ This game has no story unless you count the tutorial :)”
    • “The missions feel repetitive, and there's a noticeable absence of depth or engaging content to keep players invested in the long term.”
    • “There isn't much of a storyline; it is more of a sandbox game where you pick up passengers and you can develop a small company later on.”
  • music41 mentions

    The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some players enjoying the electronic and rock metal tracks, while others criticize the limited selection and repetitive nature of the radio. Many users express a desire for the ability to add custom music and expand the radio options, as the current offerings feel monotonous and underwhelming. Overall, while the music can enhance the immersive experience, it often falls short of expectations due to its lack of variety.

    • “The music rocks as well, especially the electronic and rock metal ones (station 1 and 3, I think).”
    • “It has potential, but in the future, I hope they will expand on more locations and the ability to input our own custom music on the radio.”
    • “This is basically Euro Truck Simulator 2 (ETS2) with taxis - a casual driving game perfect to chill out while listening to your favorite songs or podcast.”
    • “The radio only plays the same song that's from the main menu and I hate it with passion.”
    • “The music feels like it's on loop, there's not much variation on people you pick up (or in general), and I’ve already had repeat conversations.”
    • “Music sucks, sounds like it's royalty free.”
  • humor14 mentions

    The humor in the game is generally well-received, with players finding the chaotic and glitchy behavior of NPCs and vehicles amusing, despite acknowledging the game's shortcomings. While some aspects can be frustrating or underwhelming, many users report that the comedic elements shine through after acclimating to the gameplay. Overall, the humor is a highlight, making the game enjoyable despite its need for improvements.

    • “Overall, it's a funny game.”
    • “After a short period of getting used to the game, it's actually funny.”
    • “The NPCs hit each other, which is quite funny!”
    • “Not funny, not pretty, not polished enough.”
    • “Not funny, not pretty, not polished enough.”
  • atmosphere12 mentions

    The game's atmosphere has received mixed feedback; while some players appreciate the effort to recreate Barcelona's vibrant cityscape and find it beautiful, others feel that immersion is lacking. The graphics are praised, and the overall ambiance is considered enjoyable, particularly in the narrow streets, but technical issues like AI quirks and bugs detract from the experience. If these issues are resolved, the game could offer a more immersive and relaxing driving simulator.

    • “And that atmosphere is exactly why this game got my attention.”
    • “Graphics are fantastic, AI has quirks that y'all will likely resolve, but overall it's a good delivery of atmosphere.”
    • “I have now played for over 2 hours and am having a great time; transporting passengers is relaxing, the city is really beautiful and vibrant, especially the part with the narrow streets which has a lot of atmosphere.”
    • “I didn't feel as if I was too immersed in the Barcelona cityscape, although I commend the effort to recreate the city's atmosphere, and the scale at which this is achieved is admirable.”
    • “Could do with some atmosphere.”
    • “Could do with some atmosphere.”
  • grinding10 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience; while the progression system offers fair rewards that motivate continued play, some report technical issues like frame drops that can make the grind feel tedious. Overall, the grind is seen as manageable and enjoyable, particularly in the context of unlocking new vehicles and cosmetics.

    • “The 'grindy' nature of being a taxi driver is there; it seems fair in terms of the XP and money that is granted, but it can become tedious over time.”
    • “It is fun, but the grinding aspect can feel excessive and detracts from the overall experience.”
    • “The game has potential, but the constant need to grind for progress makes it feel more like a chore than an enjoyable experience.”
  • replayability4 mentions

    Users consistently highlight the game's "infinitely replayable" nature, indicating that it offers a compelling experience that encourages multiple playthroughs.

    • “Infinitely replayable.”
    • “Infinitely replayable.”
    • “Infinitely replayable.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

54% average critic score

Buy Taxi Life: A City Driving Simulator

Play time

4hMedian play time
5hAverage play time
2-7hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 20 analyzed playthroughs

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