Best truck simulators

Games about truckers on PC have some inexplicable popularity. Many players are ready to spend weeks and months, delivering cargo between cities in a huge truck. If you are already one of them, or you are just about to try your hand as a trucker, then our list of the best truck simulators will help you to choose the most interesting games.

Euro Truck Simulator 2

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There's big traffic, smart AI, lots of road signs on highways and in cities that you need to pay attention to. In general, breaking traffic rules here is like in real life - it's pricy. Because in the end, you'll get caught, and nobody needs fines and license suspension.

Hard Truck: 18 Wheels of Steel

Image: Steam

18 Wheels of Steel is one of the few game series where it's hard to pick out a specific part. The series evolved organically with the gaming industry: graphics improved, new mechanics were added, maps, and car models. But at its core, the game has always remained a long-haul truck simulator. Players drove on the roads of North America, building their own transport company from scratch.

A critical turning point came in 2009 with the release of "18 Wheels of Steel: Extreme Trucker". In this part, there is no global map: instead, they introduced several independent regions (the USA, Canada, Mexico, Australia) and even individual roads, like the infamous Yungas Road ("Death Road"). All the vehicles became real, as the developer got a license to create full-fledged truck models from Mercedes, Volvo, and other brands.

Scania Truck Driving Simulator

Image: Steam

Scania Truck Driving Simulator is a truly realistic simulator. It allows players to control Scania trucks with a complete replication of real car physics. Besides programmers and designers, engineers from Scania and experienced long-haul truckers worked on the game's development.

In the end, it turned out to be quite hardcore, but in a good way. When you have to transport cargo on winding mountain roads at walking speed and constantly turn the steering wheel sharply in one direction, it's a challenge. But when you see your name at the top of the leaderboards, you realize it was all worth it. While you can enjoy it with a keyboard, it's better with a gaming wheel. It really makes a difference here, and the experience will be entirely different.

Spintires

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Spintires had a tough and rocky path to mass appeal. Initially, the game was released on Steam but was soon removed because of a critical bug that would crash it completely, requiring a full reinstallation. When they fixed the bug, Steam was not willing to bring the product back. This played a cruel joke on the developers, depriving them of their main commercial platform. However, the community posts are still there.

The fixed game was a success! Mighty trucks, realistically recreated regions, great physics, and especially the deformation of the terrain, made possible by the innovative (at that time) Havok engine. It means that once you drive through the dirt, you leave deep tracks. If you drive there again in the rain, the third attempt might be your last.

Truck and Logistics Simulator

Image: Steam

Half of the gameplay in this game is focused on cargo delivery. It's all standard and enjoyable - there are trucks, vans, and pickups. There are different types of cargo, some need to be transported more carefully than others. There are hazardous cargoes, which come with their own complications. Numerous routes and maps, including urban areas and off-road terrain. You can form entire convoys, but the player directly controls the lead vehicle.

The control physics are quite realistic, making this game far from arcade-like. It's especially challenging with 20-ton trucks and trailers. But the special feature here is the loaders, from ordinary forklifts to telescopic and huge cranes. These aspects provide a fundamentally new experience and allow you to take a break from just driving.

MudRunner

Image: epicgames.com

In this game, you take control of one of 19 powerful off-road vehicles that transport logs, oil, or coal instead of soft cargo. It's tough, manly stuff! The tracks are rugged too: you start on asphalt, albeit in bad shape, and end up crossing water obstacles and thoroughly muddy dirt roads. And you'll get stuck no matter what: it's part of the gameplay. To get out, you'll need to call for specialized equipment and, while controlling it, rescue yourself from a muddy river or under a village.

And now, the most important part - no GPS or waypoints. Just a paper map, compass, winch, and radio, which doesn't work everywhere. Considering the huge open sandbox world and detailed graphics, this simulator is the real deal!

Big Mutha Truckers 2

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An old-school entertainment for those who like to make deliveries on time. One of the few long-haul truck simulators with a story. In it, Mama Jackson, a criminal truck driver, goes to prison for tax evasion and about 8,000 fines. We take turns playing as three brothers from the Jackson family. They need to earn money to hire a lawyer and get their unfortunate relative out of prison.

The sequel to the game doesn't deviate from the first part. The player has an open world to drive around and deliver cargo. Often, it's not the safest routes. However, the map here is larger, there are more missions, and you won't always be ready for them.

Garbage Truck Simulator

Image: Steam

This game is quirky in its own way. Its original modes include timed missions tracked on leaderboards. But in update 1.1, a free mode was added, so you can spend all your time in this world, smashing 300 unique items and cleaning up their remains after the garbage truck.

To collect all the honorable garbage collector achievements, it will take about 5 hours. The main key to achieving them is to pick up and crush every item in the game. There are no NPCs, multiplayer garbage routes, or a lot of trucks here. But the game can captivate you with its meditative quality.

Transportando o Brasil

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The game is about an Argentine driver, who must work to support his family. Alongside his main job, he can earn extra money at side gigs, which is organically integrated into gameplay. Players can even get out of their trucks and switch to smaller vehicles.

The developers captured the atmosphere of Argentine roads. The rugged terrain over which you have to deliver orders presents a challenge. You need to deliver the cargo on time and preferably intact, without damaging your vehicle or your mental health.

Transport Fever 2

Image: Steam

In this game, you don't just steer the wheel: you develop the entire transportation infrastructure. You build transport networks, introduce new modes of transportation, and provide services for moving from point A to point B. Here, you have not only trucks but also ships, planes, trains, and more.

The game features over 200 vehicles from different parts of the world. You can manage them in both the story campaign and free mode. The creators paid meticulous attention to detail, so you don't have to worry about realism.

SnowRunner

Image: Steam

Another game from the creators of MudRunner. However, the rugged trucks have swapped muddy off-road for snowy roads. In all other aspects, this game stays true to its predecessor's traditions of navigating through challenging terrains.

In your garage, you can have up to 40 unique vehicles. You can modify and customize them to suit specific routes and outperform everyone else. User reviews often share stories of getting stuck in the game, whether metaphorically or in a ditch — it's unclear.

Extreme Truck Stunts

Image: Steam

Realism is not a priority in this game. Trucks with semi-realistic physics perform stunts on tracks made of containers. It's a very unusual simulator but worthy of diversifying our top list.

At the time of writing, the developers promise 20 levels and 3 types of trucks. Whether this number will change is unknown. The game's concept challenges the player because performing tricks with a full trailer behind you is quite rough. So why not give it a try?

American Truck Simulator

Image: Steam

Let's finish our list with the spiritual successor to the ETS series. However, logically, you'll be hauling cargo on American winding roads and highways. The scenery here is picturesque. User reviews even include appreciative feedback from real truck drivers.

Players can drive realistic models of well-known global trucks. The setting also looks convincing. Plus, unlike ETS, updates continue to be released for this title.

That's the end of our top list. If you've decided which truck you'll sit behind the wheel of and what you'll do, go for it! And be sure to share your impressions in the comments.

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