Euro Truck Simulator

Popular programs in Racing games

What is Euro Truck Simulator

Euro Truck Simulator is a game that allows players to drive tractor-trailer trucks across a virtual Europe, while seeking to make the most money possible. Players start out as freelance owner-operators, selecting a starting truck from among the several available. Newly anointed drivers then proceed to select loads from a variety on offer, seeking to pick those that will offer the best return for their driving efforts.

A relatively slow-paced game that might put off those who are used to more action, Euro Truck Simulator nonetheless has plenty going for it. While the act of driving a large truck through Europe's towns and countrysides while observing legal limits is not inherently exciting, it proves to be a pleasantly relaxing way to pass the time. Players who exceed those limits will come to regret it in the context of the game, too, as fines will accumulate, which will quickly wipe out any profits that might have been realized.

Players who stick to the rules, on the other hand, will find themselves acquiring stockpiles of cash that can be put to good use. Trucks may be upgraded in a number of respects, so that even the basic starter trucks can be turned into highly capable load-hauling lords of the highways. Players can, of course, buy entirely new trucks as well, and may even leverage their expanding stables into trucking businesses of their own. All the way, the game keeps a focus on the driving, but this business-building side of things can become very interesting and involving, as well.

There are other challenges awaiting players, as well. Eventually, just about every player will seek the credentials required to pull dangerous loads, including flammable chemicals and other hazardous substances, as these predictably pay more than routine ones. While the game points out the most direct route for each delivery, figuring out how to maximize profits by ensuring that each drop-off point will have a lucrative load available to pick up is a skill that takes some time to develop.

Released some time ago, the game is not at the cutting edge when it comes to graphics. It looks serviceable enough, though, and its age means that it will work fairly smoothly on even aging computer systems. With a number of patches having been issued, too, it is a stable, honed product, which is another advantage of its time on the market.

Pros:

• Deep simulation extends to business-building and other financial issues.
• Basic act of driving a truck is re-created well and proves entertaining in a relaxing way.

Cons:

• Somewhat dated graphics will not impress those with high-end computers.
• Pace of game may be a little slow for some