Euro Truck Simulator 2: A Deep Dive into the Truck Simulator Genre

Now if you would have told me, even a month ago, that I would be engrossed in Euro Truck Simulator 2 (ETS2), I wouldn’t have believed you. My purchase history reveals ETS2 was one of my first Steam acquisitions, almost exactly 10 years ago. It was on sale (naturally), and held the coveted “must-own” status with Overwhelmingly Positive reviews. A year prior, a serious car accident left me with significant driving anxiety. Playing ETS2, even with a controller on a laptop, provided a surprisingly cathartic experience. My playtime was relatively short-lived, likely lured away by other enticing Steam titles. Hero Siege, purchased the same week, remains one of my most played games to this day.

Meeting the Squad three years later led to occasional ETS2 resumptions, once or twice a year. It’s SuperToast’s primary game, streamed on our Twitch channel nearly every Thursday since 2017. We occasionally join in for some chaotic fun, usually involving numerous crashes.

Last Christmas, while home for the holidays, Blades and I unearthed his old racing wheel setup, connected it to a PS3, and indulged in hours of Gran Turismo 3. My first racing wheel experience was transformative. Upon returning home, I immediately ordered a wheel and stand, immersing myself in Assetto Corsa and Automobilista for several months. As is often the case, my enthusiasm waned, leaving my wheel dormant beside my desk.

Last month, discovering my neighborhood’s absence on MissionChief sparked my contributions to OpenStreetMap. OpenStreetMap, akin to Wikipedia for maps, allows anyone to contribute or edit, aiming to provide open spatial data globally. This ignited my interest in cartography, map creation, and geography.

ETS2 seamlessly blends these passions. The experience is significantly enhanced with a racing wheel, though my lack of a gear shifter confines me to paddle shifting like a race car driver. My current obsession with the game shouldn’t be surprising. Recent Decembers have witnessed my return to Elite: Dangerous, often dubbed “Space Trucking”. While spaceship piloting exudes excitement, truck driving initially seems less captivating. However, ETS2 proves incredibly relaxing and an ideal podcast companion. The immersive nature of the Euro Truck Simulator 2 Truck Simulator experience truly shines with a wheel and provides a unique and engaging way to explore virtual European landscapes.