Bus Simulator 21 is a bus simulator game developed by Stillalive Studios and published by Astragon Entertainment. It is developed on the Unreal Engine 4. It is the sixth in the Bus Simulator series, and is the direct sequel to Bus Simulator 18. The game has been released on 7 September 2021 for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.
| Bus Simulator 21 | |
|---|---|
 Cover art of the game featuring Mercedes-Benz Citaro | |
| Developer(s) | Stillalive Studios |
| Publisher(s) | Astragon |
| Series | Bus Simulator |
| Engine | Unreal Engine 4 |
| Platform(s) | |
| Release |
|
| Genre(s) | Vehicle simulation |
| Mode(s) | Single-player, multiplayer |
Gameplay edit
Bus Simulator 21 takes place in "Angel Shores", a new fictional modern city located in the United States which is based on the San Francisco Bay Area. The game features a coastline and districts like Chinatown. In addition to the California map, the game will have a revised "Seaside Valley" map from its predecessor Bus Simulator 18.[1] Vehicle-wise, the game introduces a double-decker bus, such as the officially-licensed Alexander Dennis Enviro500, as well as electric buses to the series.[2] Further licensed bus brands include Blue Bird, BYD, Grande West, Iveco, MAN, Mercedes-Benz, Scania, Setra and Volvo. The game also offers a cooperative multiplayer mode.[3] A career mode would be available following the Next Stop major update.[4]
Development and release edit
Stillalive Studios and Astragon Entertainment will remain as the series developer and publisher respectively. The game was targeted for a 2021 release for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.[5] The release date was later confirmed on 7 September 2021.[6]
Next Stop DLC edit
The Next Stop DLC is an expansion to Bus Simulator 21. It was released on 16 May 2023, one week earlier than expected, bringing dedicated versions of the game to PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S. The Next Stop DLC also includes new features, including:
- Ebusco Bus Pack (Available on release)
- Angel Shores Map Extensions (Available on release)
- School Bus Extension (Available August 31, 2023)[7]
- Thomas Built Buses Bus Pack (Available September 22, 2023)[8]
- Tram Extension (Available Q4 2023)
The Angel Shores map extension is available to all players for free, while all the other new features can either be bought separately as they release, or as a season pass bundle at a discounted price.
On top of the new content players can take advantage of, the game includes new NPVs (non-player vehicles) to add to the realism of the game, including planes, trains, and trucks.
Reception edit
Bus Simulator 21 received "mixed or average" reviews according to review aggregator Metacritic.
| Aggregator | Score |
|---|---|
| Metacritic | PC: 73/100[9] PS4: 60/100[10] XONE: 69/100[11] |
| Publication | Score |
|---|---|
| Push Square |   [12] |
References edit
- ^ Grippo, Gennaro (11 August 2020). "Bus Simulator 21 is driving towards a 2021 release". PlayStation Blog. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
- ^ Watton, Neil (11 August 2020). "Bus Simulator 21 announced for Xbox One, PS4 and PC". TheXboxHub. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
- ^ Deogracias, Elisha (11 August 2020). "Your route, your way! Bus Simulator 21 coming to PC and consoles next year". Gaming Trend. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
- ^ "Bus Simulator 21 Next Stop: Big Update, Career Mode, Next Gen, Map Expansion, Gold Edition, and more..." gamespress.com. 28 February 2023. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
- ^ Barker, Sammy (11 August 2020). "Bus Simulator 21 Makes a Stop on PS4 Next Year". Push Square. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
- ^ Watton, Neil (6 May 2021). "Bus Simulator 21 release date confirmed". TheXboxHub. Retrieved 5 September 2021.
- ^ Bus Simulator 21 Next Stop - School Bus Extension Launch Trailer | PS5 & PS4 Games, retrieved 5 October 2023
- ^ Bus Simulator 21 Next Stop - Thomas Built Buses Bus Pack Trailer, retrieved 5 October 2023
- ^ "Bus Simulator 21 for PC Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 21 September 2021.
- ^ "Bus Simulator 21 for PlayStation 4 Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 21 September 2021.
- ^ "Bus Simulator 21 for Xbox One Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 21 September 2021.
- ^ "Mini Review: Bus Simulator 21 (PS4) - Zen Sim Doesn't Take Itself Too Seriously | Aces high". Push Square. 8 September 2021. Retrieved 21 September 2021.
External links edit
- Official website (in English and German)