When My First Long Delivery Was Unforgettable
During my first launch of the Euro Truck Simulator 2 (ETS2) game, to be honest, I was ready to spend around 20 or 30 minutes playing it and switch to some other game. But the thing is, I found myself playing for almost three hours, delivering cargo from Berlin to Amsterdam and without paying attention to the time spent on the mission.
There were no action moments, explosions, or races there. Just me, a truck, open roads, different weather conditions, and success in performing the mission without any damage to the cargo delivered.
This experience made me completely change my perception of simulation games.
And after dozens of hours of driving, trucks' upgrades, development of my transport business, and even some expensive driving mistakes, I can boldly say that Euro Truck Simulator 2 is one of the best truck simulation games ever developed.
And if you are thinking if this game is worth buying in 2026, this review will answer your question.
What Is Euro Truck Simulator 2?
Euro Truck Simulator 2 is a truck driving simulation game developed by SCS Software. In this game, the player becomes a truck driver transporting goods from one city to another in different European countries according to traffic laws, taking care of fuel and driving in all kinds of weather conditions and on different road types. Upon completing the delivery, the player receives money which will be used to purchase a new truck, upgrade the current vehicle, develop more garages and create one's own transport company. The game play of this game does not imply any action and adrenaline but rather provides the player with the possibility of immersion in a quiet game atmosphere with highly detailed trucks, great landscapes and realistic driving mechanics.
Story
ETS2 differs from other games in the absence of a predefined Story.
Your life in the game becomes the Story.
You become a freelance truck driver with very few funds. At first, you use the trucks that belong to various companies and get small delivery orders.
As you fulfill your tasks, you earn money and gain experience.
In time you can:
purchase your truck,
open your own garage,
hire AI drivers,
expand into multiple cities,
create your transport company in Europe.
The process is quite satisfying due to the fact that each upgrade depends on your own efforts.
First Impressions
The interface of the game looks simple enough, but once you start driving, it all changes completely.
What I liked first about the game was its tranquil atmosphere.
There is no need to hurry in the game. Instead, the player is expected to be patient.
You will need to:
look through mirrors,
observe the speed limit,
turn on the indicators,
park carefully,
save fuel,
respect the traffic rules.
It may even feel relaxing.
If you have had a stressful day, then ETS2 may help you relax.
Game play
This is what sets apart Euro Truck Simulator 2 from other games.
The basic game play loop consists of:
Accepting the delivery job.
Traveling to the loading location.
Loading the cargo.
Delivering the cargo.
Making money.
Growing your business.
Although it may seem monotonous, every delivery will be unique in its own way.
Roads may vary.
Weather will vary.
Traffic may vary.
Distance of deliveries will vary.
Some of them will take no more than 10 minutes.
Others will take over two hours in real life.
Driving Physics
Trucks have inertia.
They need to have inertia.
Acceleration is not immediate.
Braking requires foresight.
Sharp turns require caution.
If you drive at excessive speed, your trailer may turn inappropriately.
Once, I made the mistake of treating this vehicle like it's a sports car.
And of course, it ended up badly.
I overturned my trailer at the motorway exit and paid for the repairs.
After that, I started slowing down before making sharp turns.
Customization of the Truck
Another one of my favorite features is truck customization.
Almost anything can be customized.
Some examples include:
Painting jobs
Cabs
Engines
Gearboxes
Wheels
Lamps
Steering wheels
Bull bars
Interior decorating
Driver seats
Mirrors
In the end, your truck becomes something more unique than a standard car.
Graphics
Even after all those years, ETS2 still looks good.
The graphics are not photorealistic but the environments look quite realistic.
Some great things about the graphics:
Sunsets
Rain effects
Foggy days
Motorways
Cities of Europe
Rural roads
Passes in mountains
Forests
Driving through the Alps at sunrise is one of the most memorable moments I ever experienced in a simulation game.
Sound Effects
Sound effects should be valued much more.
Each truck produces different sounds from the engine.
The sound of rain falling on the windshield sounds realistic.
Different types of roads produce different tyre sounds.
The traffic creates additional realism.
Using headphones greatly increases immersion.
Weather System
Weather is not cosmetic.
Heavy rain decreases visibility.
Rainy roads make driving difficult.
Driving at night needs more focus.
Fog makes driving on the motorways quite challenging.
The varying weather makes long drives quite fun.
Map Size
The base game already covers many European countries.
However, through the use of DLC expansions, the map size becomes huge.
The map features travels across countries such as:
Germany
France
Italy
Spain
Poland
Austria
Switzerland
Belgium
Netherlands
Czech Republic
Hungary
Norway
Sweden
Finland
Portugal
Romania
Turkey
Baltic Countries
It is amazing how big the scale is.
Even after tens of hours, there are roads that I have not yet driven on.
Company Management
Driving is not everything about the game.
Finally, you will manage your logistics company.
This entails:
Buying garages
Employing drivers
Buying trucks
Maintaining trucks
Handling the profit
Seeing the growth of your company from a single truck to an international transport firm feels amazing.
Multiplayer Mode
Convoy Mode enables players to drive with friends.
No racing but rather teamwork involved.
You are able to:
Perform same deliveries
Travel together in convoy mode
Travel across various cities
Support each other while making deliveries
It is very interesting talking with friends while driving through Europe.
Modding
It is one of the reasons why ETS2 is still popular.
The modding community here is absolutely amazing.
Among popular mods there are:
Real company logos
Improved weather
New trucks
Trailer models
Sound improvement
Graphics improvement
Traffic mods
Realistic physics
Extended maps
A couple of good mods can change the entire game.
Controls
ETS2 provides plenty of control options.
You are able to use:
Keyboard
Mouse
Xbox controller
PlayStation controller
Racing wheel
Gear shift
VR headset
If you have racing wheel such as Logitech G29 or Thrustmaster line, then experience will be way better.
Performance
The game is excellently optimised.
Most middle-tier gaming PC will do just fine.
I played the game without any problems on medium and high settings.
But of course, loading too many mods will require more powerful hardware.
What I Love About This Game
There are a lot of aspects that make players return to this game.
Some of the main points include:
Relaxed game play
Enormous map
Good driving physics
Variety of trucks
Realistic weather conditions
Deep company management
Amazing mod support
Regular updates by the developers
Multiplayer convoy mode
Progression over time
Where It Could Be Improved
There's no such thing as a perfect game.
Here are some points where improvements are possible:
Some old cities seem dated compared to the areas from the latest DLC.
Sometimes, the traffic from the AI acts strange.
Long-distance delivery missions may become repetitive if you play for too many hours without breaks.
Loading time becomes higher when there are a lot of mods used.
Advice for Beginners
When I was just starting, there were a number of things that I did which held me back in the process.
Here are some advice that I received:
1. Do Not Spend Money Immediately
Accumulate your money before purchasing a costly truck.
It will make the expansion of your business much easier.
2. Stick to Traffic Regulations
Driving through red lights and speeding is costly in terms of fines.
Safe driving will actually earn you more money in the long run.
3. Master Manual Parking
Although at first it may seem complicated,
after a few deliveries it becomes easy and gives you extra experience points.
4. Skill Points
Making wise investments in skills regarding long distance delivery from the start gives access to profitable missions.
5. Take Your Time
ETS2 is not a racing game.
This is what makes it enjoyable.
Whose Game Is Euro Truck Simulator 2?
This game will be right up your alley if you appreciate:
Simulation games
Calm and relaxed game play
Open world driving
Vehicle customization
Business management
Exploration
Long play sessions
If you are into just action games and fast paced shooter games, at first this game may seem too slow for you.
But many players, including myself, came to appreciate that slow pace.
Is Euro Truck Simulator 2 worth playing?
Absolutely, yes.
Although the game is quite old, it still gets regular updates and receives new features such as new maps, new trucks, and improved game play, making it relevant at present. The ability to relax, realistic vehicle physics, the opportunity to build a business, and active modding community provide the game with a very high replay value.
No matter whether you simply want to relax and have fun, explore Europe, or start developing your own transport company from scratch, there is definitely something interesting for you in Euro Truck Simulator 2.
If you would like to play a game where patience matters more than speed, ETS2 is surely one of the best PC simulators that you could ever get.
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