Video Game Review - Bus Simulator 21 Next Stop: Official School Bus Extension

Rob reviews Bus Simulator 21 Next Stop: Official School Bus Extension…

When it comes to simulations of every-day life, gamers have quite the choice. From being a house flipper, pilot, or even a Snowcat driver, there’s plenty of games that attempt to give you a slice of that average Joe experience. For developers Stillalive Studios, their attention has been focused on the role of the humble bus driver. In Bus Simulator 21 you’ll take to the streets in an attempt to build a profitable business, while tackling all the trials and tribulations of public transport. While the base game already has a wealth of content, the developers have expanded it with a range of downloadable content. 

The latest content expands the experience further and introduces schools to your chosen city. As the one-stop company for bus journeys it’s up to you to shuttle the cities children to and from school. While this DLC doesn’t shake things up too much, it’s a superb distraction from the base games activities. 

There’s not an overall great deal of things I can say about the School Bus Extension DLC that’s any different from the main game. Everything plays the same, and aside from three additional school buses it’s the same overall experience. While I’m based in the UK and have zero understanding of said buses, each features plenty of functions that’ll no doubt be familiar to those who’ve journeyed on them. It’s these small details - such as the arm that pops out when the bus is stopping - that helps to build the atmosphere, and makes the game more immersive.

Overall, if you’re a fan of the base game and want to spend more time “on the buses” the School Bus Extension is a great add on. There’s enough variation to give a new experience while fitting in with the soft narrative that drive the base game. 

A code was kindly provided by the publisher for this review. 

Bus Simulator 21 Next Stop: Official School Bus Extension is available now and can be purchased via the Xbox Store.

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