American Truck Simulator cover art

American Truck Simulator

2016SCS SoftwareXbox Series X|S, Linux, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Mac

American Truck Simulator puts you in the seat of a driver for hire entering the local freight market, making you work your way up to become an owner-operator, and go on to create one of the largest transportation companies in the United States.

What it feels like

The game emphasizes peaceful, atmospheric driving through iconic American landscapes rather than high-stress conflict. The relaxing, meditative nature of long-haul trucking invites unhurried reflection and presence during extended play sessions.

Serene60%
Contemplative55%

What it's about

Set in recognizable modern-day United States with real American truck culture, landmarks, and transportation infrastructure. Long cross-country hauls and the progression from hired driver to owner-operator form a transformative journey narrative.

Contemporary70%
Journey & Pilgrimage60%

How it plays

Driving and piloting trucks is the core interaction; all gameplay revolves around vehicle control and management. Buying and selling freight contracts, earning income, and managing finances are central to progression and the business simulation loop. Building and expanding a transportation company empire—hiring drivers, purchasing equipment, and scaling operations—is a core progression system.

Vehicular Control95%
Trading & Economy75%
Tycoon70%
Resource Management60%
Immersive Sim55%
Time Management45%

How it looks and sounds

The primary camera perspective is from the driver's seat, immersing the player in the truck cabin during all driving. Detailed, realistic truck models and American landscapes aim for visual plausibility and authentic road environments. Interface elements like the truck's dashboard and in-world landmarks integrate naturally into the driving fiction.

First-Person90%
Photorealistic65%
Diegetic UI50%

How it's structured

Single-player is a primary mode, though co-op is available; the experience is fundamentally designed around solo freight-hauling progression. American Truck Simulator features a large, continuous, explorable open world spanning California, Nevada, and Arizona that the player navigates freely. The player chooses which freight contracts to accept, routes to take, and business decisions to make, with no fixed story progression.

Single-Player85%
Open World80%
Nonlinear Progression70%
High Replayability65%
Online Co-op45%

Shares Vehicular Control, First-Person, Open World, Contemporary.

Both lean into Vehicular Control, First-Person, Single-Player, Open World.

Vehicular Control95%First-Person90%Single-Player95%Open World85%

Shares Vehicular Control, First-Person, Open World, Contemporary.

Both lean into Vehicular Control, Open World, Single-Player, First-Person.

Vehicular Control95%Open World80%Single-Player75%First-Person70%

Shares Vehicular Control, Open World, Contemporary, Trading & Economy.

Both lean into Vehicular Control, Single-Player, Open World, Contemporary.

Vehicular Control95%Single-Player80%Open World75%Contemporary75%

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