New truck simulators don't stand a chance—and it's not their fault! Has Euro Truck Simulator 2 ruined the market?!

Whenever a new truck simulator launches, something almost automatic happens. You start playing, explore a bit, and very quickly your mind begins to compare. Not in a conscious way, but naturally. You notice the amount of content, how the driving feels, what might still be missing – and in the background, ETS2 becomes the benchmark for everything. The problem is that this benchmark has been built over many years, making it incredibly difficult for any new game to match it from day one.

A game like On The Road is a good example. It’s not perfect, but the real question is whether it’s being judged for what it is, or only for what it is not compared to ETS2. Because ETS2 has grown over time, adding content, building a modding scene and expanding continuously. It’s like comparing a new release to a game that has been evolving for more than a decade. Naturally, the new one feels smaller and less complete.

And this is where frustration starts to build. New games never begin on equal ground; they always start behind. They have less content, fewer systems and a smaller community, and before they even get the chance to grow, they are already dismissed. Players try them briefly, compare them immediately and then return. Not necessarily because the new game is bad, but because it feels unfinished in comparison.

At the same time, ETS2 has become a fixed point in the market, a game that many players rely on and return to. It offers a lot, keeps expanding and gives players little reason to switch. And this leads to a provocative but important question: has Euro Truck Simulator 2 simply dominated the market, or is it now blocking it? Because when one game becomes so large that players rarely leave it, new titles face a much bigger challenge. Why switch if you already have everything you need?

This creates a cycle that is comfortable for players but extremely difficult for new games. Without players willing to move on, real competition struggles to grow, and without competition, there is less pressure for innovation. That’s why new truck simulators today face a much harder task than before. They don’t just need to be good; they need to be strong enough to make you leave ETS2, even if only for a moment. And that is exactly where many of them fail before they even get the chance to fully develop.

Be honest: do you give new truck simulators a chance – Yes or No? Do you mostly play ETS2? How quickly do you return to ETS2? Do you automatically compare new games to ETS2?