Screenshots & trailers
What players say
Why the number is what it is: aspect mentions counted across 420 sampled Steam reviews (400 positive / 20 negative), recent and most-helpful. Plain keyword counting, fully reproducible; nothing here is written by a machine.
What positive reviews talk about
- Visuals & art4% mention it
What negative reviews complain about
- Bugs & crashes35% mention it
- Music & audio15% mention it
Satisfaction by hours played
Same score, different games: see how sentiment holds up the longer people play.
Under 5h
95%
38 reviews
5-15h
97%
91 reviews
15-40h
98%
92 reviews
40-100h
96%
89 reviews
100h+
92%
110 reviews
Review sentiment over time
Weekly positive-review rate (green) and review volume (bars). Dashed lines mark significant patches; the amber line is the start of the current scoring window. Hover the dots to see what drove a dip or a jump.
How this score was computed
The VGC Score is a weighted blend on a press-comparable 0-100 quality scale. Steam approval rates are first calibrated (95% positive on Steam ≈ 89.5 quality, since Steam approval skews high). Press and tracked creator reviews each count ~2x a player review and share one cap against player evidence (creator buy/skip calls pool into an approval rate, calibrated like Steam approval); all-time sentiment is capped and halved (it's context, not verdict); reviews of the current build carry the most weight when a fresh patch anchors the window; and a 'typical game' prior keeps small samples from pegging the scale. Because press reviews and Metacritic user aggregates describe the launch build, their weight decays as the game ages (3-year half-life after a 1-year grace). That's how a game that launched rough can outgrow its old reception once updates win players over. Reviews under 2h playtime (the refund window), non-Steam activations, and free copies are downweighted.
| Component | Positive | Quality (0-100) | Weight (pseudo-reviews) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Press reviews (OpenCritic) | – | 78 | 6 |
| Creator reviews (1 tracked) | – | 70 | 0 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 97% | 92 | 1292 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | 79 | 23 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 96% | 91 | 3000 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: since the last significant patch (Jun 16, 2026) · 300 reviews sampled · 3988 total reviews in window · weighted 241.8 up / 10.2 down · computed 1h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (36)
Individual verdicts from outlets we track: scored reviews first, most trusted outlets first among them. The small badge is each outlet's trust score: how well its scoring history aligns with players.
- 70
“Since 2013, hacks have inflicted upon the world such dross as Grass Simulator, Tea Party Simulator, and Yohjo Simulator. In comparison, American Truck Simulator remains an authentic and gratifying production, one of the few simulators out there still worthy of positive attention.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Few games attempt to channel the myths of the open road, the feeling of going nowhere in particular much too fast.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Even if you're not the fan of the 18 wheelers, do yourself a favor and try this game. Nothing can replicate that peculiar feeling of driving across the States at 4AM while your radio is tuned to "Road to hell".”
read full review ↗ - 85
“American Truck Simulator marks the beginning of a long adventure on American roads that was worth the wait. The game expands on the gameplay mechanics known from the developer's previous games and adds tons of new things that create a unique trucking experience. Right now it's simply the best game with big trucks. ”
read full review ↗ - 80
“SCS Software's series has its grand homecoming, and a slim initial release doesn't quite hold back its measured majesty.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“If you bought ETS2 as a bit of a lark, like I did, and were thoroughly sucked in by it, as I was, then you should absolutely get American Truck Simulator.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“American Truck Simulator may seem a little bare right now, with just two states and three trucks, so it’s hard to recommend to newcomers over the sublime Euro Truck Simulator 2. That said, those that enjoyed hauling in Europe will no doubt find enjoyment on the other side of the pond, with new cargo awaiting them and new cities to explore.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“A great start, but American Truck Simulator will really begin to take shape when more states and trucks are added.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“American Truck Simulator is a great game for listening to podcasts while driving around a virtual simulacrum of Nevada and California. It has some flaws, but the overall presentation was fantastic and very enjoyable.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“What’s here I wholeheartedly admit is fantastic, but we find ourselves in a Street Fighter V-esque situation where we’re waiting for the full package. The budget pricing for American Truck Simulator goes a long way to assuaging these fears, and there’s still potential for dozens of hours of gameplaying for aspiring truckers.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Excellent successor of Euro Truck Simulator holds to proven concept and adds a few nice features but currently it suffers from an acute shortage of content. [Issue # 261]”
- 65
“A fine delivery of the simulated life of an American truck driver and the logistics of the job.”
read full review ↗
The Jimquisition
Slant Magazine
PLAY Zine
GRYOnline.pl
Eurogamer
Rocket Chainsaw
TheSixthAxis
PC Gamer
TechRaptor
Game Debate…and 24 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- 1.61 Update: Improved Material System UpdateAug 28, 2026
- ETS2 & ATS: 1.61 Experimental BetaJun 25, 2026
- American Truck Simulator: 1.60 Update ReleaseJun 16, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- 1.60 Update: Kenworth TourAmerica Paint JobsJun 9, 2026
- American Truck Simulator: 1.60 Update Open BetaJun 2, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- ATS 1.60: Players' Company Paint JobsJun 1, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- 1.60 Update: Expanded Rest MechanicMay 30, 2026
- 1.60 Update: Improved Material SystemMay 28, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- 1.60 Update: Game RadioMay 27, 2026
- Star Nation 2026 UpdateMay 24, 2026
- 1.60 Update: Job Details WidgetMay 23, 2026
- American Truck Simulator: 1.59 Update ReleaseMay 5, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- American Truck Simulator: 1.59 Update Open BetaApr 14, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- 1.59 Update: Tow to RoadApr 4, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- American Truck Simulator: 1.58 Update ReleaseFeb 10, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- American Truck Simulator: 1.58 Update Open BetaJan 27, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- 1.58 Update: UI & UX ChangesJan 26, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- 1.58 Update: Physics & Collisions ChangesJan 25, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- American Truck Simulator: 1.58 Update - New Truck GaragesJan 24, 2026significant · resets scoring window