Even Roblox has a public transport simulator – and it looks surprisingly promising!

The public transport simulator by LOMLA Modding is a Roblox project that is clearly aimed at fans of buses, trams, and public transport. The main game has been in development since 15 October 2021 and is currently in the Early Access phase. The goal sounds quite big at first: a comprehensive bus and tram driving simulation with a large fleet, well-known cities, and many lines. According to project information, more than 150 trams and 90 buses are planned to be included when finished. For Roblox, that is definitely ambitious.

At the same time, one has to classify it fairly right away: Roblox is of course not OMSI, not City Transport Simulator, and not The Bus. Anyone expecting an ultra-realistic simulation with real driving physics, deep vehicle functions, complex sound design, and maximum technical accuracy here will probably start with the wrong expectations. Roblox has limits. The platform is more designed for accessible, shared gameplay experiences and not for hardcore simulation down to the last screw. That is exactly why the public transport simulator should not be seen as a replacement for classic simulators, but as an interesting attempt to make public transport playable within Roblox.

Added to this are the technical hurdles that Roblox as a platform simply brings with it. So you should not expect AI traffic like in classic simulators, dense car traffic, AI passengers at stops, or highly detailed track systems here. Vehicles, graphics, and environments naturally look more blocky and simplified, tracks and roads have fewer details, and many processes are implemented more playfully than realistically. That is exactly why the project is explicitly not aimed at players who expect a serious hardcore simulation with deep driving physics, realistic vehicle functions, complex operation, and believable traffic behavior. Anyone who plays OMSI, City Transport Simulator, or The Bus because of technical depth, real operating logic, and the most authentic possible atmosphere will probably not be happy here. I would recommend the public transport simulator more to Roblox players, younger public transport fans, or people who are simply curious about how bus and tram operations can be implemented within Roblox.

What is especially exciting is that the project does not only offer a single small test route, but several maps with different approaches. Map Erfurt is the first map of the game and is based on Erfurt in Thuringia. It currently consists of sections of four tram lines and one bus line. The map has already been in development since 21 September 2021 and was first released on 28 February 2022. For a Roblox project, that is already quite a long development period.

In addition, there is Alphastedt, a fictional metropolis with a very big ambition. The city is described as having 6 million inhabitants and is said to stand out especially through its beach, city center, and a lot of traffic. The planned scope is particularly interesting: 67 tram lines, 5 subway lines with more planned lines, 17 S-Bahn lines, and more than 100 bus lines. That of course sounds gigantic. Whether everything will ultimately be playable in this size in a meaningful and clean way remains to be seen. But the idea alone shows that this is not only meant to be a small fun map, but a large fictional public transport world.

Stadt Lichten also follows its own approach. According to the description, the fictional modern city is located in Franconia and combines urban public transport with smaller surrounding towns. In the game, several transport companies are responsible, such as Stadtwerke Lichten, Verkehrsbetriebe Großraum Lichten AG, and S-Bahn Lichten. All of them belong to the Verkehrsverbund Großraum Lichten. What is particularly interesting here is that the map is not only intended for driving, but can also be explored. Side streets, parks, and smaller paths are intended to allow players to discover Lichten by bus and also on foot.

This is exactly where the appeal of this Roblox project lies. It is not about being the most realistic simulation on the market. That would hardly be believable on Roblox anyway. It is more about creating an accessible public transport experience that brings younger players, Roblox fans, and public transport enthusiasts together. You can drive, explore maps, try different vehicles, and engage with buses and trams in a playful environment. This is less hardcore simulation and more of a creative public transport game world.

Especially for the future of the genre, something like this is not uninteresting. Many players do not first enter the hobby through complex simulators like OMSI or Train Simulator Classic. Some discover buses, trams, or trains through Roblox, Minecraft, mobile games, or simple browser projects. If a Roblox project makes young players aware of public transport in the first place, that can even be valuable in the long term. Not everyone starts directly with pedal control, timetable logic, and a manual. Sometimes interest begins much more simply.

Nevertheless, expectations should remain realistic. The public transport simulator by LOMLA Modding is an Early Access project on Roblox. It will be technically limited, it will be more playful, and it will not offer the same depth as classic PC simulations. But it does not have to. What matters more is whether the project is fun within its platform, offers enough content, and implements public transport in a way that keeps players curious.

In the end, the public transport simulator for Roblox is an unusual, but certainly exciting project. It shows that public transport as a topic does not only take place in classic simulators anymore. Even on Roblox, there are players and developers who want to recreate buses, trams, lines, and entire cities. You do not have to celebrate it as a hardcore simulation. But as a promising attempt to make public transport accessible in a playful way, it is definitely worth taking a look.

Link: https://www.roblox.com/de/games/7530125184/PNV-Simulator

The question for you is: Would you try a public transport simulator on Roblox – or do you prefer staying with classic simulators like OMSI, CTS, or The Bus?