Bus Sim 16, 18, 21

The question keeps coming up: Which bus simulator was actually the most successful? Many would immediately guess Bus Simulator 18, because that entry clearly made the astragon series much bigger. Others would name OMSI 2, because it still has a huge modding scene and an extremely loyal community. With current Steam estimates, the picture is now clearer: within the astragon series, Bus Simulator 18 remains ahead – but in the wider bus simulator market, the leader is different.

Today, things are getting really tight for bus sim fans: Anyone who wants to test Bus Simulator 27 before release in a current beta version only has until 2 PM. After the feedback on the public demo, the team is planning a larger closed playtest on PC. This means the upcoming Bus Simulator 27 is not simply getting another marketing round, but a new practical test with selected players. Is this now the most important chance to directly influence the game feel before release?

Bus Simulator 27 is not one of the most expensive major simulation releases of the year. On Steam, the Standard Edition starts at 29.99 euros, while the Year 1 Edition is offered for 49.99 euros. There is an exact difference of 20 euros between the two versions – but which content do you receive and which edition suits us as bus simulation players better?

The free Bus Simulator 27 demo was intended to build excitement for the September 8 release, but it currently has only 47 percent positive reviews on Steam. The number is uncomfortably clear: At the current editorial check, only 83 of 173 Steam reviewers recommend the Bus Simulator 27 demo, while 90 users voted negatively. This leaves the free test at 47 percent approval and the rating “Mixed.” But how seriously does Simteract have to take this result when slightly less than three months remain before release on September 8?

Trailers can present a new map, licensed buses, and sunny landscapes well – but the actual driving feeling is what ultimately matters. Since June 15, 2026, a free Bus Simulator 27 demo has therefore been available on Steam, offering a first playable section of Felicia Bay. What can you already try in it and which major features remain locked until the full version?

There is finally much more concrete information about Bus Simulator 27. Alongside a new trailer, the release date, platforms, several editions, the pre-order bonus, and the contents of the first Season Pass have now been announced. Even more important, however, is the major gameplay innovation: For the first time, the series is moving beyond pure city traffic and introducing official coaches as well as longer intercity journeys. Will Bus Simulator 27 therefore become the biggest change in the entire series so far?

Bus Bound had a really decent launch on Steam. On April 30, 2026, the new bus simulator reached an all-time peak of 1,064 concurrent players. In a current snapshot, only around 86 players were in the game at the same time – that is just about 8 percent of the launch peak. Is this already a warning signal or simply the normal drop after a curious release day?

Solaris is not simply “just another brand” on the manufacturer list in Bus Simulator 27. For many fans, the license is quite exciting because Solaris has been extremely present in real European public transport for years, but in bus simulations it often has not played the role you might expect given that level of presence. What is important here is the proper classification: the three models were not just freshly pulled out of a hat, but are among the vehicles already communicated for Bus Simulator 27. That is exactly why it is worth taking a look now at what these buses actually offer – and why this particular selection fits the new game quite well.

Yesterday, the next major bus simulator was released with Bus Bound – and slowly, you can really say: the genre currently has a pretty packed timetable. First, The Bus went into full release on March 26, 2026, then City Transport Simulator 2026 followed on April 14, and now Bus Bound is already the third larger bus title within just over a month to arrive at the stop. That alone is remarkable. But the launch itself is even more exciting: Bus Bound has so far made a clearly positive start on Steam. Around 80 percent of reviews are positive. For a freshly released simulation game, that is not a small detail, but a fairly strong signal. But why is Bus Bound being received so well right now – and where can you still tell that there is room for improvement?

Over 45 buses from 13 manufacturers – that sounds like a real statement at first. But this exact number is raising a completely different question: Will Bus Simulator 27 actually be better because of it – or just bigger?

Many bus simulators are fun to play alone. You drive your route, stick to the schedule, and enjoy that classic sim experience. But this is exactly where Bus Bound could hit a sweet spot that tons of players have been waiting for for years. Just imagine: four players, four routes, all running simultaneously in the same city. Not only could this be incredibly exciting gameplay-wise, but it could also completely take off for communities, Discord servers, and groups of friends.

Many bus simulators focus primarily on the actual driving. Select a route, pick up passengers, arrive on time. That’s exactly what many of us love. But in Bus Bound, a feature now seems to be taking center stage that could clearly set the game apart from other titles. Because here, it’s apparently not just about driving a route smoothly, but actively helping to shape how the entire city develops. That could very well end up being the game’s strongest feature.

No sooner has The Bus reached full release and City Transport Simulator 2026 is already in the starting blocks than the next big bombshell for bus sim fans follows. Right now, it almost feels as though the market is coming to a head within just a few weeks. A real bus simulator thriller is unfolding, as yet another major title is now slotting in right behind the previous releases. Who’s even supposed to keep up with all this right now?

You see the name Bus Simulator 27, and instantly you know what to expect. Even before seeing gameplay, it already feels familiar. And that’s where the difference begins. Other games start from zero. But is that just normal – or does it make things unfair?

Many players are currently following the development of Bus Simulator 27 very closely. New screenshots, new details and plenty of discussions about what the next entry in the series might look like. But one question keeps appearing in the community again and again. Who is actually developing the new game – and why is it suddenly a different studio? Behind the scenes, something has indeed changed. Bus Simulator 27 is no longer developed by the same studio as the previous titles. But where do we actually know this new developer from?