Bus Simulator 18 Thumbnail

Bus Simulator 18 similar games & best alternatives

Bus Simulator 18

PC (Microsoft Windows), Xbox One, PlayStation 4 • 2018

Related articles

Quick resume

Experience the job of a bus driver in a vast and freely drivable urban area. Drive original licensed city buses from the great brands: Mercedes-Benz, Setra, MAN, and IVECO BUS. Transport your passengers safely and punctually, either solo in single player mode, or in multiplayer mode.

Global score

81/100

Genres

Simulator

Similar games

    Pros

    • Realistic and immersive bus driving experience
    • Good bus customization and company management
    • Engaging multiplayer cooperative mode
    • Decent graphics and sound design
    • Frequent updates and mod support

    Cons

    • Ai traffic and pedestrian behavior can be frustrating
    • Map size considered small by some players
    • Repetitive passenger dialogues
    • Performance issues on lower-end pcs
    • Some bugs and glitches remain

    Analysis

    Broadly representative of its motivational profile, with a few distinct shifts. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Fantasy, Violence, Story, Thrill. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Cooperation, Leadership, Fellowship.

    How to use the graph
    Similar games map

    Each dot is a game. They are arranged from the same motivation profile as in the “Motivations” section below. Closer dots usually mean more similar reasons to play (exploration, competition, relaxation, etc.)—not that one game is “better” than another.

    • Larger dot with a light outline: the game you are viewing.
    • Colour: groups of games with comparable motivation patterns (statistical clusters).
    • Hover a dot to see the game name; click to open its page.
    • Scroll or double-click the chart to zoom out and see more games.

    Why don’t the axes read like a score? This view uses t-SNE: it only keeps who is close to whom. The scales are not “good to bad” or hours played—they separate groups on the map. Read distance between dots, not the axis numbers.

    Motivations

    • Autonomy
      4

      "Players have control over driving style, route planning, bus customization, and company management, allowing significant personal freedom."

    • Competence
      3

      "Driving mechanics and management tasks provide skill challenges and feedback, though some aspects are simplified and accessible."

    • Competition
      -3

      "Focus is on personal progress and management rather than competing against others; multiplayer is cooperative rather than competitive."

    • Continuation
      3

      "Players report long play sessions and habitual engagement, with progression and multiplayer encouraging ongoing play."

    • Cooperation
      4

      "Multiplayer mode supports working together in the same company and routes, fostering teamwork and shared goals."

    • Creativity
      3

      "Customization of buses, routes, and company management allows creative expression and modification."

    • Domination
      -4

      "Interactions are balanced and cooperative; no evidence of exerting control or superiority over others."

    • Escapism
      4

      "Players use the game as a relaxing escape and stress relief, enjoying immersive bus driving and management."

    • Expectation
      -4

      "Players engage voluntarily out of personal interest and enjoyment rather than obligation or pressure."

    • Experimenting
      3

      "Players try different buses, routes, and management strategies, exploring game mechanics and customization."

    • Exploration
      2

      "The map has multiple districts and areas to unlock and explore, though some find it somewhat small."

    • Expression
      3

      "Bus customization options including skins, decals, and interior modifications enable player expression."

    • Fantasy
      -2

      "The game simulates realistic bus driving and management with plausible scenarios, minimal fantasy elements."

    • Fellowship
      3

      "Multiplayer and community features foster a sense of belonging and shared experience among players."

    • Growth
      3

      "Players learn driving skills, management strategies, and game mechanics, showing personal development."

    • Health
      -5

      "The game is sedentary with no physical activity or health-related features."

    • Idle
      -3

      "Requires focused attention during driving and management; not designed for passive or background play."

    • Intimacy
      -4

      "Social interactions are surface-level and task-focused; no evidence of close emotional relationships."

    • Leadership
      3

      "Players lead their own bus company and manage drivers, demonstrating leadership roles."

    • Progression
      4

      "Strong emphasis on acquiring buses, unlocking routes, and expanding the company."

    • Relaxation
      3

      "Gameplay is generally relaxing and enjoyable, balancing challenge and flow."

    • Sensation
      2

      "Visuals and sounds provide moderate sensory stimulation; not highly intense but pleasant."

    • Status
      -3

      "Achievements and progress are mostly personal; limited social recognition or status seeking."

    • Story
      1

      "There is a basic narrative framework around running a bus company, but story is minimal and functional."

    • Strategy
      3

      "Planning routes, managing finances, and optimizing operations require strategic thinking."

    • Thrill
      -2

      "The game is low-risk and calm; lacks suspense or high-stakes thrills."

    • Value
      3

      "Players feel the game offers good value for money and time, especially with updates and multiplayer."

    • Violence
      -5

      "No enjoyment of combat or destruction; focus is on constructive bus driving and management."

    • Survival
      -4

      "No survival or threat avoidance elements; gameplay occurs in stable, low-risk conditions."

    Where to buy

    Come talk about it on Discord!

    Last update: 29/04/2026