Developer: stillalive studios
Platforms: PC (Reviewed), PS5, Xbox Series X|S
Genre: Simulation
Publisher: Saber Interactive
Bus Bound is a surprisingly addictive bus driving simulator that was developed by stillalive studious and published by Saber Interactive. The game builds upon the ideas from the Bus Simulator series while adding a stronger focus on the actual city transformation and multiplayer mode. The game aims to focus on ultra-realistic driving and controls of being a bus driver, but also making bus driving fun, relaxing, and rewarding. The result is a game that feels welcoming to casual players while still giving a simulation to the fans.
It’s not a story-heavy game; Bus Bound tells its narrative through the city itself. The game takes place in a fictional American city of Emberville, where public transportation is free; as such, your job is to create efficient bus routes, transport citizens safely, and slowly transform Emberville into a more pedestrian friendly and eco conscious sixty.
The gameplay is the strongest part of Bus Bound, where driving buses feels smooth and extremely responsive whether you are using a controller or keyboard. I do wish I had a steering wheel, as the gameplay would have been amazing with it, and you would have truly felt like a bus driver. Many features of the game include managing bus routes, picking up and dropping passengers, upgrading bus stops, unlocking new buses and cosmetic skins, driving in the dynamic weather and different shifts, while playing multiplayer with up to 4 people. The progression system is satisfying as every successful route improves the city. Unlike many simulators that can feel repetitive, Bus Bound is constantly unlocking and upgrading.
That said, the game isn’t perfect, as there have been some glitches. The controls are simple and beginner-friendly, which helps the game appeal to a wider audience when played on all 3 different types.
The soundtrack in Bus Bound is calm, soft and atmospheric. Instead of loud action music, it helps players relax with different background tones that fit the peaceful driving experience. The ambient city sounds, passenger chatter, traffic noise and realistic bus engines help make Emberville feel alive. The audio design succeeds because it supports the chill nature of the game rather than distracting from it.
The art style is very realistic, even with its slightingly stylised and colourful presentation that gives it its charm. The city of Emberville feels vibrant without looking overly serious or gritty. The lighting and weather effects make the city and the transformations very impressive. Where the run-down areas become cleaner and more pedestrian-friendly, that gives the game its visual personality. Some NPC animations can feel a bit awkward, but overall the art style is appealing and relaxing.
Bus Bound succeeds because it understands what kind of experiences players want. It’s not a hardcore simulator, but it’s fun, doesn’t overwhelm players and is a calming yet rewarding driving experience. I do wish that there was a bit more to the game, maybe a storyline or something else that could add to the experience.
We are very thankful to have been provided with a few games, so some of the other players had their own thoughts. Sapphire said the following, “Bus Bound is the type of game that is very much directed toward a specific audience, especially players who enjoy simulation games. Honestly, it felt like a mix between a bus driving simulator and a relaxing open-road driving game. Still, Bus Bound does several things really well that I enjoyed, even as someone who is not usually a huge fan of simulators.
For instance, the visuals are stunning, and everything feels incredibly realistic, like I am genuinely driving a bus somewhere in America. Every little detail and piece of worldbuilding adds to the immersion while you are simply driving around. I think that is what makes the driving aspect so enjoyable. You get to take in the people around you, the tall buildings, monuments, traffic lights, and busy streets. Everything feels alive. Not only are the visuals impressive (even if the shaders can take a little while to load in, which is understandable), but the mechanics are also extremely realistic.
I do not even know how to drive in real life, yet the game somehow made driving feel stressful in the best way possible. Trying to make the correct turns, follow road signs, and avoid running red lights kept me constantly focused. You even need to indicate before turning, which brings up a little rear-view mirror feature that works really well. You can either play from an overhead perspective or in first person, and honestly, first person would probably feel amazing in VR. Being able to interact with the gears and all the different buttons for blinkers and doors would make it even more immersive.
I liked the driving overall, especially having to keep an eye on your speed and road awareness. The game even punishes you for speeding over speed bumps. However, the thing I struggled with most was making turns properly. I constantly found myself crashing into cars, causing traffic jams, or turning too late. Besides that frustration, though, the rest of the driving mechanics felt smooth. Braking, opening doors, and managing the bus all genuinely made me feel like a real bus driver.
As for the core gameplay, this is where the game did not fully appeal to me personally. For the first few hours, it is enjoyable. You complete different routes and missions where passengers rate their experience based on how well you drive. You stop at bus stations, let passengers on, and try to avoid mistakes. If you crash, drive onto the sidewalk, speed through red lights, or brake too harshly, passengers will become annoyed. The gameplay loop itself is very straightforward. You can also choose between different buses with their own stats, which is a nice touch. I also liked how you can upgrade shops and unlock new routes, giving you more progression beyond simply driving.
As for the multiplayer aspect, it is alright, but it does not really add much. Everyone is mostly just driving their own bus along the same routes, which felt a bit underwhelming. You end up replaying the same routes multiple times to improve your rank, and because of that, it never really felt like a game I would come back to often. I just wish the multiplayer had more interaction or cooperative elements, because right now it almost feels like single-player with other people nearby.”
Lastly, Vroggo had the following to say about Bus Bound, “Bus Bound caters to a specific audience, and it may not be me. Players drive from point A to point B, taking in and dropping off passengers, while navigating the rules of the road.
The game overall is neat. The graphics and city views are nice; the music from the radio and from the environment makes the experience feel atmospheric and vibey, and the simulation of driving a bus plus the physics that comes with it feels good.
But my joy for the game ends there. For what the game is offering, it doesn’t feel like much at that price point.”
Overall: 7/10
This is S & S. We are world game explorers. We play games. We have played over 10,000+ games! We travel, we write reviews AND we play more games!!!!
