driving games with less game and more driving
May 6, 2023 9:27 AM Subscribe
Looking for a driving simulator game that simulates actual North American driving, in all its dullness and terror, for Switch, iOS, or PC. I would like to brush up.
I have a license, but I also have a phobia and avoid driving since I sold my car. I used to drive on weekdays like most Americans, which I loathed, but the most comfortable I felt was when I could think of it as a video game. Not a racing game, of course -- just navigating, like in Life Force and other autoscrollers where you have to keep moving carefully. So I think it would help me to have a game where I could practice.
I thought of Desert Bus, but there's just a bus and a desert. On Switch, I found Car Driving School Simulator, but that one handled so poorly that I couldn't learn how to steer. (I don't have a steering wheel controller, at least not right now.) Any suggestions? One that's out of left field but feels like driving would be interesting too --
I have a license, but I also have a phobia and avoid driving since I sold my car. I used to drive on weekdays like most Americans, which I loathed, but the most comfortable I felt was when I could think of it as a video game. Not a racing game, of course -- just navigating, like in Life Force and other autoscrollers where you have to keep moving carefully. So I think it would help me to have a game where I could practice.
I thought of Desert Bus, but there's just a bus and a desert. On Switch, I found Car Driving School Simulator, but that one handled so poorly that I couldn't learn how to steer. (I don't have a steering wheel controller, at least not right now.) Any suggestions? One that's out of left field but feels like driving would be interesting too --
You might like slow roads - it's browser-based and it's meant to be fairly calm/meditative.
posted by O9scar at 10:06 AM on May 6, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by O9scar at 10:06 AM on May 6, 2023 [1 favorite]
Forsake Horizon 4 is set in the British countryside, but you can drive endlessly
posted by Maecenas at 10:34 AM on May 6, 2023
posted by Maecenas at 10:34 AM on May 6, 2023
I think American Truck Simulator would fit the bill, since it does simulate traffic violations. Even GTA V might work, if you try to play very conservatively. I find the keyboard controls work best for both.
posted by credulous at 1:14 PM on May 6, 2023
posted by credulous at 1:14 PM on May 6, 2023
Big fan of the American driving experience in BeamNG. Although it also includes ultra realistic crash physics, it’s good for a lazy drive around a California or Nevada level.
posted by johngoren at 1:50 PM on May 6, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by johngoren at 1:50 PM on May 6, 2023 [1 favorite]
Instead of regular GTA, maybe GTA RP on your PC? I haven't played it, and only know about it from seeing TikToks by people role playing as cops in the game, pulling over speeding cars.
posted by fabius at 5:11 AM on May 7, 2023
posted by fabius at 5:11 AM on May 7, 2023
Response by poster: Thanks for all of these, guys! I have downloaded a demo for American Truck Simulator to start with. So far it's really interesting. I always wondered how you were supposed to get a trailer to change direction. In fact I'm still wondering! But it's fun to play with --
posted by Countess Elena at 7:16 AM on May 7, 2023
posted by Countess Elena at 7:16 AM on May 7, 2023
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Ian Scuffling at 9:50 AM on May 6, 2023 [5 favorites]