Bus Simulator 27 Review: Build Your Own Public Transport Empire in Felicia Bay

Bus simulation games are no longer limited to simply getting behind the wheel and transporting passengers from one stop to another. Modern simulation titles increasingly combine realistic driving with route planning, fleet management, business development and even cooperative gameplay. Bus Simulator 27 takes this formula further, delivering what is presented as the biggest and most ambitious entry in the series so far.

Developed by Simteract and published by astragon Entertainment, Bus Simulator 27 takes players to Felicia Bay, a fictional southern European region inspired by the Iberian Peninsula. Here, players are not simply bus drivers. They are also responsible for building and managing their own public transportation company while helping restore the region's transport network.

Bus Simulator 27 was officially released on September 8, 2026, for PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. Players who pre-ordered the Year 1 Edition received five days of early access beginning September 3.

Welcome to Felicia Bay

One of the defining elements of Bus Simulator 27 is its open-world environment. Felicia Bay is designed as a fictional southern European paradise inspired by the Iberian Peninsula, combining lively cities, rural areas, coastal roads and mountainous landscapes.

The region includes two major cities and more than 20 districts. Mequina stretches along the coast, while Alcaztelar is surrounded by mountain ranges. This geographical variety creates different types of driving environments and gives players more freedom when creating their transportation network.

Players can drive through busy urban streets, narrow roads, coastal highways and mountain routes before connecting cities and villages through long-distance services.

The result is a world that feels much larger than a traditional city-based bus simulator.

The Biggest Bus Fleet in the Series

The vehicle lineup is one of Bus Simulator 27's biggest selling points.

The main game includes more than 45 officially licensed buses from 13 renowned manufacturers. Confirmed brands include Solaris, Mercedes-Benz, MAN, IVECO BUS, Scania and Volvo.

The fleet offers significant variety. Players can drive traditional diesel buses, CNG buses, electric buses and hydrogen-powered vehicles. There are also articulated buses, double-deckers and buses of different sizes, allowing players to select vehicles according to the requirements of individual routes.

Perhaps the biggest addition is the introduction of licensed coach buses and long-distance journeys for the first time in the series.

Models such as the Mercedes-Benz Tourismo, Scania Irizar i8 and MAN Lion's Coach bring a completely different dimension to the game, allowing players to operate longer routes between cities and rural areas.

More Than Just Driving a Bus

Driving is only one part of the Bus Simulator 27 experience. Players are also expected to build and manage their own public transportation company.

The game allows players to create routes, design detailed timetables, assign buses to lines and hire bus drivers. As the company grows, fleet and employee management become increasingly important.

The Route Creator is particularly important because it gives players control over their transportation network. Instead of simply following predefined routes, players can decide which areas should be connected, which buses should operate on each line and when services should run.

This management layer gives Bus Simulator 27 considerably more depth than a conventional driving simulator.

Story, Career and Sandbox Modes

Bus Simulator 27 offers three main game modes: Story, Career and Sandbox.

Story mode provides a more structured experience focused on rebuilding public transportation in Felicia Bay. Career mode puts more emphasis on progression, company management and expanding your operation.

Sandbox mode is designed for players who prefer freedom. Instead of following a structured progression, players can focus on building their ideal transportation network and experimenting with the game's buses, routes and management systems.

Together, these modes provide different ways to experience Felicia Bay, whether you prefer guided progression or complete creative freedom.

Passengers Become Part of the Experience

Passengers in Bus Simulator 27 are more than simple NPCs waiting at bus stops.

Various in-bus events can occur during journeys, giving players additional situations to deal with while driving. Players can also step outside their normal driver role and experience Felicia Bay in different ways.

You can play as an inspector, travel as a passenger or leave the bus and explore the world on foot. The open world also contains points of interest and hidden collectibles for players to discover.

These systems help make the world feel more interactive and give players reasons to explore beyond simply completing routes.

Traffic, Accidents and Dynamic Situations

Traffic plays an important role in any realistic bus simulator, and Bus Simulator 27 aims to make the road environment more dynamic.

Players may encounter heavy traffic, accidents and other events while completing their routes. This means that successful driving is not simply about following the road correctly. Players must also pay attention to surrounding traffic and changing situations.

Long-distance routes make this even more noticeable, as players move from busy city centers to rural roads, coastal highways and mountain passes.

Four-Player Multiplayer and Full Crossplay

Bus Simulator 27 also places considerable emphasis on cooperative gameplay.

The game supports cooperative multiplayer for up to four players, with full crossplay across supported platforms. This means PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S players can work together in the same transportation company.

Players can operate the same route together or manage separate lines. While one player drives, another can focus on routes, vehicles or employees. Players can even join another player's bus and help with tasks such as checking passenger tickets.

For friends who enjoy simulation games together, this can turn what is normally a solitary experience into a cooperative business-management challenge.

Customization, Mods and Peripherals

Bus Simulator 27 also offers customization options for its vehicles, allowing players to adjust their buses and create a fleet that reflects their preferences.

On PC, the game supports mod.io, allowing the community to expand the experience with additional modifications and user-created content. The game also supports popular steering wheels and gamepads.

For simulation enthusiasts, steering wheel support is particularly important because a dedicated wheel can make driving large vehicles feel significantly more immersive.

PC System Requirements

Bus Simulator 27 requires a 64-bit version of Windows 11 and DirectX 12.

The minimum configuration includes an Intel Core i3-12100 or AMD Ryzen 5 2600X processor, 16 GB of RAM and an NVIDIA GTX 1060 or AMD Radeon RX 580 graphics card.

The recommended configuration is an Intel Core i3-14100KF or AMD Ryzen 5 9600X processor, 32 GB of RAM and an NVIDIA RTX 2080 Ti or AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT. The game requires approximately 20 GB of storage.

The game also received NVIDIA DLSS and AMD FSR support during development, giving compatible systems additional options for balancing image quality and performance.

Who Is Bus Simulator 27 For?

Bus Simulator 27 is designed for players who enjoy much more than simply driving a bus.

If you enjoy realistic vehicle handling, route planning, fleet management and business progression, the game offers plenty of systems to explore. The addition of licensed coach buses and long-distance routes also significantly expands the scale of the experience compared with a traditional urban bus simulator.

The four-player cooperative mode and crossplay support make it particularly interesting for groups of friends who want to build and manage a transportation company together.