Junkyard Truck similar games & best alternatives

Junkyard Truck

PC (Microsoft Windows) • 2022

Should you play it?

Junkyard Truck is an open-world off road driving and mechanic simulator. Build, upgrade, and maintain your old off road truck. Make money using your skills in driving, scavenging, gambling, or moonshine brewing. Try to build a truck capable of taking on the difficult challenges around the map.

What works
  • Deep vehicle customization and engine building
  • Engaging sandbox with multiple ways to make money
  • Active and responsive developer with frequent updates
  • Relaxing and immersive gameplay experience
  • Good value for price with growing content
Things to keep in mind
  • Early access bugs and glitches
  • Performance and optimization issues
  • Lack of controller and wheel support
  • Limited map size and content depth currently
  • Some clunky controls and physics quirks

What to play next

Similar games, hidden gems, and fresh directions from this game.

Top picks

Games that feel the closest overall

  • Aviassembly

  • The Sapling

  • Saloon Simulator

  • Gas Station Simulator: Prologue - Early Days

  • Derail Valley

  • Lakehopper

  • American Theft 80s

  • Farmer's Dynasty 2

  • Cookard
Hidden Gems

Less popular games with surprisingly high similarity

  • Lakehopper

  • Diesel Railcar Simulator

  • Star Shelter
If you liked…

Recommendations by what you enjoyed most

  • Autonomy

    American Truck Simulator
  • Continuation

    Devil Spire Falls
  • Escapism

    Microcivilization

Similarity map

Explore nearby similar games and see why they’re close.

How to use the graph
Similarity map

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

  • Purple star: this page’s game — everything on the map is relative to it.
  • Coloured chips: click to highlight games that mainly differ on that motivation; click again to reset.
  • Dotted line: link between this page’s game and the one selected for comparison.
  • Hover a dot for a screenshot preview, score, and top score gaps; click to compare in the panel on the right.
  • 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 (hidden on purpose).

Junkyard Truck: A very typical example of its motivational profile. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Violence, Fantasy, Story, Thrill. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Survival, Story, Thrill.

Why this game works

A motivational profile of the game, with the closest similar game for each player motivation.

  • Autonomy

    Game with the same Autonomy vibe

    4

    "Players have freedom to choose routes, manage their trucking company, customize trucks, and decide how to drive (obeying or breaking traffic rules)."

    Capsule for American Truck Simulator American Truck Simulator

    "Players have freedom to explore, choose how to repair and upgrade their truck, and decide which jobs to pursue without handholding or tutorials."

  • Competence

    Game with the same Competence vibe

    3

    "Game involves skillful driving, managing vehicle damage, and completing challenging missions, though some tasks can be frustrating."

    Capsule for Carmageddon 2: Carpocalypse Now Carmageddon 2: Carpocalypse Now

    "Game involves skillful engine building, vehicle repair, and driving challenges with feedback, though some mechanics are simplified compared to similar games."

  • Competition

    Game with the same Competition vibe

    -4

    "Focus is on personal progression and sandbox play without competitive or ranked modes."

    Capsule for AI＊Shoujo/AI＊少女 AI＊Shoujo/AI＊少女

    "Focus is on personal progress and sandbox play; no mention of ranked modes or player-vs-player competition."

  • Continuation

    Game with the same Continuation vibe

    4

    "Players report long play sessions, habitual engagement, and eagerness to return despite bugs."

    Capsule for Devil Spire Falls Devil Spire Falls

    "Many players report long play sessions, habitual return to the game, and sustained engagement despite bugs."

  • Cooperation

    Game with the same Cooperation vibe

    -4

    "Game is primarily single-player with no cooperative multiplayer or teamwork features described."

    Capsule for Thomas & Friends™: Wonders of Sodor Thomas & Friends™: Wonders of Sodor

    "Game is primarily single-player with no cooperative multiplayer or teamwork features mentioned."

  • Creativity

    Game with the same Creativity vibe

    3

    "Players customize vehicles, crew loadouts, and upgrade strategies, allowing creative approaches to gameplay."

    Capsule for Death Skid Marks Death Skid Marks

    "Players customize and upgrade their trucks and engines, experimenting with parts and builds."

  • Domination

    Game with the same Domination vibe

    -5

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

    Capsule for Havendock Havendock

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

  • Escapism

    Game with the same Escapism vibe

    4

    "Players use the game as a relaxing distraction and immersive experience away from real-life stress."

    Capsule for Microcivilization Microcivilization

    "Players use the game as a relaxing distraction and immersive experience away from real life stress."

  • Expectation

    Game with the same Expectation vibe

    -4

    "Engagement is driven by intrinsic interest and personal desire to explore and reflect, not obligation."

    Capsule for SEASON: A letter to the future SEASON: A letter to the future

    "Engagement is voluntary and driven by intrinsic interest in mechanics and exploration, not obligation."

  • Experimenting

    Game with the same Experimenting vibe

    4

    "Players try various car builds, parts, and driving strategies, exploring mechanics and game limits."

    Capsule for Drive Beyond Horizons Drive Beyond Horizons

    "Players try different engine builds, vehicle setups, and approaches to tasks, exploring game mechanics."

  • Exploration

    Game with the same Exploration vibe

    3

    "Game features a large map with many locations and encourages exploration, though some areas are reused."

    Capsule for Weird West: Definitive Edition Weird West: Definitive Edition

    "Game features a map with various locations to discover and explore, though some find it small."

  • Expression

    Game with the same Expression vibe

    2

    "Customization of cars and drivers allows some self-expression, though mostly functional rather than cosmetic."

    Capsule for Death Roads: Tournament Death Roads: Tournament

    "Customization of vehicles allows some self-expression, though mostly functional upgrades rather than cosmetic."

  • Fantasy

    Game with the same Fantasy vibe

    -2

    "Game simulates realistic rural Canadian life and car mechanics with some light humorous exaggeration."

    Capsule for Mon Bazou Mon Bazou

    "Game simulates realistic vehicle mechanics and rural life, with some exaggerated physics but grounded in reality."

  • Fellowship

    Game with the same Fellowship vibe

    -4

    "Minimal social connection; mostly solo play though an active Discord community exists outside the game."

    Capsule for Black Hole Fishing Black Hole Fishing

    "Minimal social connection; players mostly engage solo with limited community interaction outside developer Discord."

  • Growth

    Game with the same Growth vibe

    4

    "Players develop driving skills, learn car handling, and improve strategies over time."

    Capsule for F1® 24 F1® 24

    "Players learn vehicle mechanics, improve skills, and develop strategies over time."

  • Health

    Game with the same Health vibe

    -5

    "Game is sedentary with no physical activity or health-related gameplay."

    Capsule for Farming Simulator 25 Farming Simulator 25

    "Game is sedentary with no physical activity or health-related gameplay."

  • Idle

    Game with the same Idle vibe

    -3

    "Requires focused attention on tasks; not designed for background or casual idle play."

    Capsule for Bus Flipper: Renovator Simulator Bus Flipper: Renovator Simulator

    "Requires active attention and focus on tasks; not designed for background or casual idle play."

  • Intimacy

    Game with the same Intimacy vibe

    -5

    "No evidence of close social relationships or emotional sharing within gameplay."

    Capsule for Cyber Hook Cyber Hook

    "No evidence of close social relationships or emotional sharing within gameplay."

  • Leadership

    Game with the same Leadership vibe

    -5

    "No leadership or group management roles; gameplay is individual."

    Capsule for AI LIMIT AI LIMIT

    "No leadership or group management roles; gameplay is individual."

  • Progression

    Game with the same Progression vibe

    4

    "Players accumulate upgrades, certifications, and better equipment to improve truck and gameplay."

    Capsule for Star Trucker Star Trucker

    "Players accumulate parts, upgrades, and money to improve their truck and capabilities."

  • Relaxation

    Game with the same Relaxation vibe

    3

    "Many players find the game relaxing and enjoyable despite some bugs and challenges."

    Capsule for Pumping Simulator 2 Pumping Simulator 2

    "Many players find the game relaxing and enjoyable despite some bugs and challenges."

  • Sensation

    Game with the same Sensation vibe

    2

    "Visuals and sounds provide moderate sensory stimulation, though some find graphics dated or janky."

    Capsule for Farmer's Dynasty 2 Farmer's Dynasty 2

    "Visuals and physics provide sensory stimulation, though graphics are modest and some find them janky."

  • Status

    Game with the same Status vibe

    -4

    "Achievements and progress are personal; no social recognition or visibility features."

    Capsule for How To Date A Magical Girl! How To Date A Magical Girl!

    "Achievements and progress are personal; no social recognition or visibility features."

  • Story

    Game with the same Story vibe

    1

    "Simple narrative presented via text and voice acting; story is minimal but adds context to gameplay."

    Capsule for Planets Under Attack Planets Under Attack

    "There is a light narrative with missions and characters, but minimal voice acting and simple text-based story."

  • Strategy

    Game with the same Strategy vibe

    3

    "Players plan upgrades, manage resources, and decide task priorities, involving problem solving."

    Capsule for Sunken Engine Sunken Engine

    "Players plan repairs, upgrades, and resource management, requiring problem solving and decision making."

  • Thrill

    Game with the same Thrill vibe

    1

    "Some excitement from challenges and vehicle testing, but overall low risk and moderate tension."

    Capsule for Main Assembly Main Assembly

    "Some excitement from vehicle challenges and physics unpredictability, but overall low risk and tension."

  • Value

    Game with the same Value vibe

    4

    "Players feel they get good entertainment and content for the price, with frequent updates adding value."

    Capsule for House of Legacy House of Legacy

    "Players feel they get good entertainment value for the price, with frequent updates adding content."

  • Violence

    Game with the same Violence vibe

    -4

    "No combat or destruction; gameplay focuses on constructive activities like repairing and selling cars."

    Capsule for Car Dealer Simulator Car Dealer Simulator

    "Gameplay focuses on constructive vehicle repair and upgrading rather than destruction or combat."

  • Survival

    Game with the same Survival vibe

    2

    "Players must avoid crashes, manage resources like fuel and tires, and maintain position to succeed."

    Capsule for iRacing Arcade iRacing Arcade

    "Players manage fuel, vehicle condition, and resources to avoid failure, though consequences are mild."

Come talk about it on Discord!

Last update: 01/06/2026