Bus Simulator 21

 Xbox One
Metascore
69

Mixed or average reviews - based on 6 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 6
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 6
  3. Negative: 0 out of 6
  1. Xbox Tavern
    Sep 20, 2021
    79
    Overall, if you want to experience all the highs in the life of a bus company without any real punishments to worry about then Bus Simulator 21 is the game for you. It’s a surprisingly engaging experience when it all runs smoothly and there’s definitely fun to be had here as you begin connecting routes and districts together. It must be said the multiplayer experience isn’t fantastic right now thanks to consistent connection issues, although should they not be present at any point the experience would certainly be enjoyable, but this isn’t a game that requires friends to enjoy and whilst there are some questionable occasions that arise, the general experience brings a believable and enjoyable life in the life of a bus company.
  2. Generación Xbox
    Sep 26, 2021
    77
    The experience of driving a big bus never gets old, and this Bus Simulator 21 enhances the experience with tons of groovy features.
  3. SomosXbox
    Oct 3, 2021
    70
    Bus Simulator 2021 is a game that invites us to travel, relax and enjoy the life of a driver at all times. Just buckle up, put your foot on the gas and conquer the routes with a wide variety of buses.
  5. XboxAddict
    Sep 27, 2021
    70
    Bus Simulator 21 is a slight improvement from its previous outing, adding new and welcome features like a whole new map and bus types, but still feels like it’s lacking a lot of polish. Surely simulator fans will overlook its shortcomings and enjoy creating and driving their routes but it’s a bit of a harder sell for casual bus drivers.
  6. TheXboxHub
    Sep 13, 2021
    70
    It’s rough around the edges for sure, and it’s not going to be for everyone, but if you’re willing to suspend yourself into its limitations and challenges then you might discover something rewarding with Bus Simulator 2.
  7. Screen Rant
    Sep 16, 2021
    50
    Where Bus Simulator 21 excels is in providing a relaxing and strangely soothing experience, much like the Euro Truck Simulator series. Slowly driving around a city and picking up passengers can be more calming than expected, even with all the distractions and extra elements that have to be managed. Of course, that’s only when the game actually works properly and doesn’t suffer from any of the performance and technical issues. Until they are fixed with a patch, Bus Simulator 21 might be more of a headache than it is worth, but it will likely prove oddly therapeutic for some, which means even in its buggy state it still may merit a play depending on what a user is looking for.
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  1. Xboxygen
    Sep 27, 2021
    We enjoyed Bus Simulator in 2019, and our pleasure remains intact in 2021. It uses the same recipe but adds some welcome new ingredients. Managing your routes can be complicated at times due to menus that aren't always ergonomic, but it nonetheless remains fun to set them up to increase one's profits as much as possible. The driving experience is still pleasant and you quickly get hooked on roaming through the new town of Angel Shores and the good ol' Seaside Valley.

User Reviews

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User Score
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No user score yet- Awaiting 3 more ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 0 out of 1
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 1
  3. Negative: 0 out of 1
  1. Xbox_Alive
    Sep 13, 2021
    7
    Bus Simulator 21 like its predecessor straddles the line between authentic public transport management and entertainment. While this vehicularBus Simulator 21 like its predecessor straddles the line between authentic public transport management and entertainment. While this vehicular sim spans across two maps, the all-new American-inspired Angel Shores and an updated version of European backdrop Seaside Valley it demands you engage in all of the iron grit of bus driving. Such as selling tickets and extending wheelchair ramps, it also likes to emphasize the inane chatter of the patrons you’ll be hauling. Everyone around has an opinion on what’s going on. While the comments can be a bit much, we appreciate that the game doesn’t take itself too seriously. Unfortunately the developer should have taken Bus Simulator’s user interface a bit more seriously. You’ll spend almost as much time in menus (or more) as you do behind the wheel, plotting out routes that link each map’s key destinations. But while the addition of route balancing and peak times adds depth to the strategy, it’s still overwhelming and hard to keep track of which was an issue experienced with the original release as well. In fact, despite the gentle introductory missions, we’d argue it’s worse here. Once you wrap your head around everything, there’s an appeal to the action. You’re encouraged to drive routes accurately yourself, as this will improve how your AI employees operate them when you’re working somewhere else. There’s always a good balance between strategy and gameplay, with thirty some different licensed buses available at launch and online co-op options for up to four players. The new map, with its districts, is a fun place to explore, although visually this is not a beautiful game to look at, with even cockpit elements blurry and presented in lower resolution then should be. The appeal here is building up a public transport empire, and you’ll be surprised at how quickly the time passes as you begin to expand routes and increase your fleet. It’s an acquired taste, for sure, but impressive how a game designed to replicate a real-life job can be so oddly relaxing when you’re behind the wheel. While some of us enjoyed the game more than others the price point is fair enough and you know what you’re getting into before it all starts. So if you’re a fan of the sim genre driven games you’ll be right at home. There are worse offerings for sure in this genre maybe some of us just had our expectations set a little higher on this new release. It’s not the worst but it could be better. So if you’re looking for a new experience in your sim collection head over to the Xbox digital games store and “all aboard” this Bus Simulator 21 experience!… Full Review »