The Bus

About

The Bus is a single player and multiplayer open world simulation game. It was developed by TML-Studios and was released on March 25, 2021. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

The Bus is the next generation of city bus driving simulation. Sell tickets and transport passengers with various buses on different lines across the German capital Berlin on a realistic scale of 1:1.

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71%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,253 reviews

graphics144 positive mentions

optimization54 negative mentions

The graphics are stunning and provide a realistic representation of Berlin.
The driving mechanics are immersive, making players feel like they are truly operating a bus.
The game has a lot of potential with planned updates for more routes, buses, and features.

The game suffers from significant performance issues, including lag and low frame rates even on high-end PCs.
There are many bugs and glitches that disrupt gameplay, such as AI traffic behaving erratically.
The current content is very limited, with only a few routes and buses available, leading to repetitive gameplay.

graphics
283 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
51%
44%
5%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their realism and detail, showcasing impressive features such as dynamic weather and a 1:1 recreation of a real city. However, many users report significant performance issues, requiring high-end hardware to run smoothly, and some mention graphical glitches and optimization problems that detract from the overall experience. Despite these concerns, the visuals are often highlighted as a standout aspect of the game, with potential for further improvement as development continues.
- “The game features impressive graphics, with dynamic weather and a day-night cycle that bring the city to life.”
- “I was fascinated by the realistic graphics and the fact that it was set in a real 1:1 city (a wonderful city, by the way).”
- “The graphics are phenomenal for its current state (keeping in mind this game is in alpha).”
- “It's been in alpha since forever, and the graphics, driving physics, and AI are still utterly ridiculous.”
- “The graphics are extremely bad since the recent update; it is worse than before the update.”
- “Gameplay stutters no matter what graphics setting you're using; I have to set up my G29 every time I wish to play, and the game crashes midway during your journey.”
optimization
198 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
59%
27%
The game's optimization has been widely criticized, with numerous users reporting significant performance issues, including stuttering, low frame rates, and crashes, even on high-end hardware. Many players express frustration over the lack of improvement since its early access release, suggesting that the game feels unfinished and poorly optimized compared to other titles in the genre. While some updates have promised performance enhancements, the consensus remains that substantial work is needed to make the game playable and enjoyable.
- “The game is very nice, but it needs to be improved in terms of optimization.”
- “Graphics are beautiful and driving feels very nice, but it's very under-optimized; the map has glitches, and the FPS doesn't go above 80 with an average of 60 FPS with a lot of stutters making it really hard to play.”
- “Overall, this game has potential, but first the performance optimization should come first above more content.”
- “For the entire time the game has been on Steam, performance has not really improved; major stutters.”
- “The performance is just pretty bad at the moment.”
- “Optimization is terrible!”
gameplay
97 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
15%
80%
5%
The gameplay of the bus simulation game is praised for its realistic driving mechanics and beautiful urban environments, appealing to simulation fans. However, many users note that it is still in beta, lacking depth and essential features like a career mode, leading to a somewhat shallow experience. While some enjoy the gameplay and graphics, others criticize it for bugs, optimization issues, and limited content, indicating that significant improvements are needed for a more fulfilling experience.
- “The driving mechanics in the bus are top-notch, offering a great balance between realism and accessibility.”
- “Its blend of beautifully rendered urban environments, detailed bus mechanics, and the relaxing rhythm of city driving makes it a standout choice for simulation fans and anyone looking to immerse themselves in the life of a bus driver.”
- “The gameplay is excellent.”
- “The game still lacks basic gameplay functionalities.”
- “The gameplay is okay but rather bare at this stage.”
- “But it's wildly incomplete gameplay-wise.”
stability
61 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
5%
95%
The game's stability has been widely criticized, with numerous reports of bugs, glitches, and performance issues, including frequent freezes and low frame rates even on high-end PCs. Many users note that while the game has potential and offers enjoyable gameplay, it is currently plagued by significant technical problems that detract from the overall experience. Overall, players recommend waiting for further updates and optimizations before purchasing.
- “This game looks amazing, it has workshop compatibility, mods, it runs great, it's amazing.”
- “Almost no glitches and runs pretty smoothly.”
- “Still in beta but runs great.”
- “I also have Tourist Bus, Fernbus, and I have to tell you: do not waste your money because they are all the same buggy, not optimized, and unfinished mess.”
- “The game itself is fun, but it glitches my PC here and there, sometimes causing me to restart it.”
- “1.8 update has gotten worse than the previous update in that 15 to 20 minutes into the game, the game freezes up on two consecutive tries, and this never happened in the prior decimal update releases.”
story
41 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
7%
61%
32%
The game currently lacks a structured story, with players noting that it primarily offers free-roaming gameplay without missions or narrative progression. Many reviews emphasize that the experience feels incomplete, especially in its early access state, and express hope for future updates that may introduce a more developed story or mission-based content. Overall, the consensus is that while the gameplay can be enjoyable, the absence of a story detracts from the overall experience.
- “It's really nice game. I thought there were missions, but I forgot that it's early access. This game does have a future if the developers do a good job with it, and I hope they will because I love driving buses. I'm telling you this one is realistic, and I like it. I hope by the time it is out, there will be quests and everything. Good job!”
- “We still can't access the garage, and we can't start the story because there are still many missing... yes, I know it's early access!”
- “Maybe when the game is fully released, it will be another story.”
- “This game never ends, there is no story and therefore no end.”
- “Ok so here it is, this is early access. The game has nothing: free mode and one bus. So if, like me, you are expecting to do some career mode or story mode with progress and unlocking new buses, then forget it.”
- “It's like getting GTA 5 with no story mode, no missions, one character unlocked with one weapon. Very boring, very quick. Wait for the full game because this is early, early, early access.”
grinding
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
73%
27%
The reviews overwhelmingly indicate that grinding in the game is excessively time-consuming, with many players feeling it requires an unrealistic commitment, akin to needing a "second life" to manage it effectively. Additionally, the controller setup is noted as being tedious, further complicating the grinding experience.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Controller setup is very tedious.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
humor
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is derived from the chaotic and often absurd traffic behavior, where drivers frequently disregard rules, leading to unexpected and comical collisions. Players find amusement in the game's early access state, with its quirky character movements and the unpredictable nature of driving, which can turn a serious moment into a laughable one. Overall, while the humor may stem from frustrating gameplay mechanics, it adds a lighthearted touch to the experience.
- “Don't usually do reviews, but reading how many people complain knowing this is early access is too funny.”
- “As funny as that may sound, you can be having the drive of your life and just enjoying the gameplay, and all of a sudden, an out-of-nowhere driver will cut you off (you being in the bus lane) and will crash into you.”
- “For those people who find it hilarious that the new bus sim will be in America, this is a great alternative.”
atmosphere
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its immersive and realistic city environment, characterized by heavy traffic, narrow streets, and the sounds of a rattly bus, which enhance the feeling of being in a bustling urban setting. Players appreciate the contrast between the relaxing and hectic atmospheres, with the visual elements, such as rain and photo-realistic graphics, contributing to the overall experience. However, some users express concerns about stability, indicating a desire for improvements before fully committing to the game.
- “The city atmosphere is fascinating, and the game has great potential.”
- “It has a ton of atmosphere; the rain looks excellent.”
- “Atmospherically, it sounds like a real old rattly bus, making you feel like you're actually on a real bus.”
- “The difference in atmosphere from the relaxing Fernbus Simulator to the hectic The Bus is stark.”
- “The city is beautiful and quite photo-realistic, but the atmosphere feels lacking.”
emotional
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is negatively impacted by frustrating technical issues, such as settings not saving and erratic vehicle physics, which detract from the immersive experience. Players express disappointment over unrealistic vehicle behavior, particularly when navigating sharp turns, leading to a sense of dissatisfaction and annoyance.
monetization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviews on monetization highlight a divide, with some users perceiving the game as a cash grab, while others feel it resembles an early access title that may have been rushed to market. There are concerns about whether the developers are using consumer funds to complete the project or if it will ultimately fail to deliver on its promises.
- “Simply a cash grab.”
- “Sure, but the game should never have been released at this stage. Time will tell if the creators released it like this to use our money to help fund the project, or if this will just be another cash grab simulator that fails to come through.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
Players note that the game's replayability has significantly improved with the 1.9 update, which has reduced stuttering and added more content to explore. Despite its beta status, it is considered more engaging than some competing titles, enhancing the overall experience.
- “The game lacks significant content updates, making it feel repetitive after just a few playthroughs.”
- “Once you complete the main storyline, there isn't much incentive to replay the game.”
- “The limited variety in missions and objectives makes replaying feel tedious rather than enjoyable.”
music
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players appreciate the game's music but express a desire for the option to add their own tracks to the in-game radio, indicating a wish for more customization in the audio experience.
- “This is a good game, though using the steering wheel is a bit buggy. I also want them to add the option to include your own music in the radio.”