Tourist Bus Simulator
- December 6, 2018
- PEDEPE
- 10h median play time
Tourist Bus Simulator is a detailed simulation game that allows players to manage their own tour bus company. Create your own tours, drive buses, and manage finances, maintenance, and staff. Experience realistic cities, landscapes, and attractions as you build your bus empire across a beautiful European map.
Reviews
- The game offers a solid foundation for bus driving and management, providing a unique blend of simulation and strategy.
- Graphics and world design are generally praised, with many players enjoying the detailed environments and realistic bus models.
- The management aspect of the game is engaging, allowing players to hire staff, manage routes, and expand their bus company.
- The game suffers from significant optimization issues, leading to poor performance and low frame rates even on high-end PCs.
- AI behavior is often criticized for being unrealistic and frustrating, causing traffic jams and accidents that detract from the driving experience.
- Many players report numerous bugs and glitches, including issues with controls, vehicle physics, and game crashes, making it feel unfinished.
- graphics83 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 47 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players praising the visuals and detailed environments, while others criticize them for being outdated and poorly optimized. Many users report performance issues, struggling to achieve smooth frame rates even on high-end systems, and some feel that the graphics do not justify the game's price. Overall, while there are positive remarks about the aesthetics, the consensus leans towards a need for improvement in both quality and optimization.
“I really like the graphics and the map is very detailed.”
“Great graphics, good physics, good management, good price and some free DLC, just can't stop playing.”
“This game has very good graphics (built on the Unreal Engine 4) and has a very active support team at TML Studios.”
“A game with graphics and optimization much more awful than Fernbus or The Bus.”
“The graphics are still basic; there is something very rough about them, they seem fifteen years old, so I do not understand why high-end equipment is unable to run it smoothly.”
“Graphics are incredibly bad and it doesn't even support 3 monitors.”
- optimization57 mentions
- 12 % positive mentions
- 49 % neutral mentions
- 39 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received significant criticism, with many players reporting poor performance, stuttering, and low frame rates even on high-end systems. While some users note improvements over time, the overall consensus is that the game is heavily unoptimized, requiring powerful hardware to run smoothly and detracting from the overall experience. Developers are reportedly working on optimization, but many feel that core issues should have been prioritized before releasing additional content.
“Nice graphics, good optimization and physics.”
“Great game, despite reviews saying it isn't optimized, well it's quite well optimized.”
“Since this review, the game has gotten better, with more buses including a minibus which is ideal when starting out along with improved performance and new features in my opinion.”
“Tourist Bus Sim is plagued with optimization issues.”
“The game is extremely poorly optimized and requires a very powerful PC to play with a good FPS.”
“Heavily un-optimized - getting anywhere between 30 and 70 FPS, with constant stuttering, which makes the game not enjoyable.”
- gameplay37 mentions
- 24 % positive mentions
- 62 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with some players praising the depth and management aspects of running a bus company, while others criticize the driving mechanics and overall execution as lacking. Many users noted that the game could benefit from enhanced interactivity and improved physics, but some found enjoyment in the strategic elements and detailed management features. Overall, while there are enjoyable aspects, the gameplay is often overshadowed by technical issues and dated mechanics.
“Interactive gameplay: enhancing interactivity with features like realistic passenger behavior, random events, and dynamic weather conditions could bring added depth and excitement to the gameplay.”
“The gameplay is great; I like how the management aspect works.”
“This game is much better than Fernbus Simulator, having the ability to drive, free roam, manage a company, hire staff such as drivers, mechanics, and guides is great, also having such features as organizing contracts, ordering parts for maintenance, and organizing crucial items like business and vehicle insurance really gets you into a realistic situation.”
“The physics, driving mechanics, and the game in general are just horrific.”
“The memory leak is also huge, the translations are not well done, and the gameplay itself sucks because the mechanics won't work as they're supposed to.”
“Gameplay gets boring really quickly, and the vehicles handle awfully.”
- stability19 mentions
- 16 % positive mentions
- -11 % neutral mentions
- 95 % negative mentions
The game's stability is widely criticized, with numerous reports of bugs, glitches, and crashes that significantly hinder the experience. Users have noted severe frame drops, unpredictable AI behavior, and issues with game mechanics, leading many to describe it as a "bug-ridden disaster." While some players find enjoyment in certain features, the overall consensus is that the game requires substantial optimization and fixes to improve stability.
“Buy Fernbus if you want this experience; it's not buggy.”
“The game runs smoothly without any crashes or glitches.”
“I appreciate how stable the gameplay is; it enhances the overall experience.”
“Just a bug-ridden, unoptimized disaster of a title, same for Fernbus.”
“The game appears to be fairly buggy with some of the bus stops not triggering properly, and sometimes the game just crashes for no reason.”
“Severe frame drops and motion micro-freezes continue, I'm afraid.”
- story17 mentions
- 18 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The game's story is minimal, with some players noting it lacks a traditional narrative, likening it to a simulator experience without a compelling plot. However, others appreciate the integration of story progression through business management elements, which adds depth to the gameplay. Overall, while the story may not be the main focus, it offers a unique blend of economic challenges and soft RPG elements that enhance the driving experience.
“The story mode and business side is great!”
“Epic story.”
“Yes, you still drive the buses like you do in Fernbus Simulator, but now you have to be very careful not to have an accident or complaint because in this game you need to pay to repair and maintain your buses as well as your reputation, which will stick with you through the story progression.”
“This game has no story; it's a mindless simulator.”
“The main quest of the game is brought to you in the tutorial. After that, you'll get no quests apart from the normal tours to keep your business running.”
“This game provides what its sister Fernbus Simulator lacks: story progression and soft RPG elements.”
- music10 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews; while some players appreciate the real Spanish radio station included, others find the in-game music to be lackluster and disappointing compared to the trailer. Overall, the soundtrack does not seem to enhance the gaming experience for many users.
“In my opinion, the music is one of the good points of this game.”
“The radio station in this game is real from Spain; they have awesome music on the radio. I recommend this game 100 percent! My friends have bought the game and they like it. Enjoy!”
“No local music to the area, which is a turn off.”
“The song in the game trailer is better than the game itself.”
“The music is just god awful.”
- grinding6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -33 % neutral mentions
- 83 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, often leading to boredom, especially for those less interested in micromanagement. However, many agree that despite the grind, the overall experience is rewarding and the game's concept is engaging. Some users also note technical issues that detract from the experience, but they do not consider them game-breaking.
“Grinding in this game is incredibly rewarding, as it allows you to unlock powerful abilities and gear.”
“The grind is satisfying and keeps you engaged, with each level feeling like a significant achievement.”
“I love how the grinding mechanics are balanced; it never feels tedious and always offers something new to strive for.”
“After a while, it gets boring, so you just start grinding your trips, but it's an amazing concept.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“Micromanagement can be a bit boring and tedious, especially for those who don't want to get into it.”
- replayability4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -25 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
Users consistently highlight the game's "infinitely replayable" nature, indicating that it offers a compelling experience that encourages multiple playthroughs. This aspect significantly enhances its long-term appeal and engagement.
“Infinitely replayable.”
“Infinitely replayable.”
“The game lacks meaningful choices, making replayability feel pointless.”
“Once you've completed the story, there's little incentive to play again.”
“The limited variety in gameplay mechanics means there's not much to explore on subsequent playthroughs.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game is criticized as a cash grab, offering little motivation for players to engage in grinding activities.
“The game feels like a cash grab with minimal incentive to grind.”
“Monetization is overly aggressive, making it hard to enjoy the game without spending money.”
“It seems like every feature is locked behind a paywall, which ruins the experience.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional response to the game is largely negative, with users expressing frustration over its technical shortcomings, such as poor optimization and lackluster graphics. The overall sentiment suggests disappointment in the game's value, feeling that it does not justify its price due to these issues.