Free simulation game for Android
Bus Simulator 2023 is a free simulation game for Android by developer Ovidiu Pop. As the title implies, it lets you drive a bus in different places around the world. Like other titles, including Coach Bus Simulator 2018 or City Bus Simulator 2016, it lets you customise your bus and carry passengers to their destinations.
There are several game modes and an open environment, so the action doesn’t feel claustrophobic. However, it’s worth emphasising that this is a simulator. Therefore, you get realistic features, such as traffic signs and regulations that must be adhered to.
Bus Simulator 2023 has stunning scenery and graphics, especially for an Android game. There are plenty of vehicles to choose from, and lots of upgrades and customisations. It manages to feel unique thanks to its campaign mode, and even passengers who react to your driving.
Great production values
There’s also a weather system, simulated traffic, many different environments, and even multiplayer. You can also use your phone’s gyroscope to drive or use the in-game steering buttons.
This game is fully 3D, and you can play from different perspectives, with good ambient lighting and day/night cycles.
Realistic settings
Since it’s a real-life simulation, there are loads of faithfully-recreated locations. They include cities in China, South America, Europe, the United States, and Dubai. Traffic, weather and other variables are localised, which makes for a very realistic driving situation. Even rush hour is present, with all the hurdles it presents for bus drivers.
However, it’s still a game, so if you get tired of realism, you can customise many settings to make it more appealing. These include using your favourite music when transporting passengers.
Surprisingly entertaining
Bus Simulator 2023’s premise might not look very enticing if you’re not into bus driving. However, it manages to strike a balance between realism and entertainment, providing hours of fun for anyone interested in driving simulations that don’t include running over pedestrians or stealing cars.
Even if the sheer amount of content seems unlimited, you still need to use in-game money to unlock some of it, and it can feel like a chore sometimes, especially when repeating the same routes. There are also some graphical glitches, but overall the game is polished enough, so thankfully, there aren’t many issues.