Forza Horizon Is No Longer the King of Video Game Road Trips
American Truck Simulator's new Road Trip DLC transforms the series into a virtual road-trip experience by adding cars, tourist boards, and itineraries across real-world destinations.
The Forza Horizon series offers visually stunning virtual road trips but compresses real-world distances into condensed, theme-park-like maps. While the destinations are recognizable, the lack of a true sense of travel between locations diminishes immersion. The Test Drive Unlimited games provided more accurate recreations of Oahu and Ibiza, yet their limited terrain variety restricted long-haul adventure potential.
SCS Software’s Euro Truck Simulator 2 and American Truck Simulator feature expansive, continent-spanning maps scaled at roughly 1:20, allowing for cross-country journeys with realistic time progression and in-game needs like fuel and rest. However, these games traditionally focus on trucking logistics rather than scenic exploration, lacking the romance of a true road trip.
American Truck Simulator’s new Road Trip DLC introduces cars and tourism features, including seven Tourist Boards across 21 states. Players can unlock itineraries to visit landmarks like Lake Tahoe, Yosemite National Park, and the Golden Gate Bridge, with realistic rendering and a sense of genuine travel between destinations.
The DLC includes select Ford models such as the F-150, Bronco, 1967 Mustang Fastback, and 1998 Crown Victoria, with a Dodge and Ram pack planned. Players must earn in-game currency through trucking jobs to fund trips, adding a layer of realism and progression to the road-trip experience.