Believe it or not, non-gamers, but in the world of gaming the simulator genre is very popular. Bus Simulator 21 (it launched in September 2021, you see) by Stillalive Studios is a fine example.
We’ve always wanted to try one of these titles and… THE TIME IS NOW! Thus, we’ve paid for our ticket and we’re ready to follow the rules of the road in the world of bus-based travelling.
Chillout and Hit the Road in Bus Simulator 21
The game takes place in the fictional US city of Angel Shores in San Francisco Bay Area. As the player, you get to design your bus driver and begin a new bus service business venture.
With any simulator game, the goal is to make the experience as lifelike and pedantic as possible. This means you’ve got a lot of functionality with the bus to get used to, including:
- Switching the engine off
- Managing the lights
- Opening several doors
- Managing the ticket machine
- Managing your route
- Stopping to let passengers on and off
- CONFRONTING PASSENGERS WHO DON’T HAVE A TICKET!!!
Our in Angel Shores, you have to drive like a bus driver would drive. As in, you’ve got to respect the local laws, keep to the right lane, don’t speed, and stick to a rigid timetable. Basically, it’s the exact opposite of an ultra-violent game such as GTA V.
Here’s bit of the methodical bus-based romp in action.
Now, as you can see with the above YouTuber (The Steering Bro), some gamers take the simulator genre very seriously. He’s got a wheel and gear setup for extra realism.
Whilst we found Bus Simulator 21 a bit lacking in its delivery (and gaming press reviews from late 2021 were also average), there’s no denying the therapeutic benefits of this genre.
A competitor title, Euro Truck Simulator 2, has also been very popular (shifting over 15 million units since 2012). The game received strong reviews and was probably the one we should have played over Bus Simulator 21. But as an intro to the genre it’s an engaging enough time of it.
It does feel like driving a bus, something we’ve always fancied giving a whirl.
Although we’re sure the real job has its many stress points, it does at least have clear goals: be on time, deliver customers across a designated bus route. That’s the kind of clear routine often lacking in many other modern jobs.
Thus, Bus Simulator 21 (available on PC and PS4/5, Xbox) is an interesting time of it. Methodical, deliberately plodding, and somewhat relaxing in its pursuit of mundanity. 🚌
The RISE of Boring Simulation Games
One of our favourite YouTubers we discovered recently, Vanessa Wingårdh, did a video on this earlier in 2025. With a focus on the wildly popular PowerWash Simulator (2022), this genre of game is positively booming right now.
She considers the concept of why gamers are coming home from a day of work to indulge in virtual chores. Lawn Mover Simulator (2021) being a fine example.
We covered this in our guide to the best video games for autistic adults feature, but for some people it’s just a relaxing release. The repetition and clear objectives are a stress relief factor that works.
Sure, other gamers will want to pile into GTA V or play a violent FPS to relieve frustration and stress, but everyone is different. This is why series such as The Sims were so popular 20 years ago, games that had non-gamers getting into the titles to enjoy the lark.
A curious thing with modern simulator games (Drug Dealer Simulator, House Flipper, Farming Simulator 25, Chef Life, PC Building Simulator, Two Point Museum) is the critical responses aren’t exactly great. A bunch of those games, notably Drug Dealer Simulator, have mediocre reviews.
It doesn’t seem to matter to genre fans, though, as many sell very well. The reviews for the above include a 5/10, 4/10, and 5/10 from various sources (59/100 overall on Metacritic).
Yet Steam lists the game as Very Positive based on over 9,000 user reviews.
Thus, if you want to live our your bus driving, lawn mowing, or drug dealing fantasies, then this is the genre you need to turn to for your various kicks.
