Euro Truck Simulator 2 — Review & Guide

What is ETS2

Euro Truck Simulator 2 is a long-haul trucking simulator set across a steadily expanding map of Europe. You play an independent driver who takes delivery contracts, drives real routes between cities, and gradually builds a haulage company. The premise sounds mundane, but it's the foundation for one of gaming's most absorbing slow-burns: the appeal isn't the destination, it's the drive itself — the motorways at dusk, the quiet back roads, the satisfying rhythm of a long run completed cleanly.

Gameplay

The core loop is deceptively deep. You accept jobs, manage fuel and driver fatigue, obey traffic laws and speed limits, and navigate tight depots to deliver your trailer undamaged. Early on you drive for other companies; before long you're buying your own trucks, customising them, taking out loans, hiring drivers and growing a fleet that earns money while you sleep. The driving model is detailed enough to feel real — gear changes, trailer weight and braking distances all matter — without ever becoming a chore. It's genuinely relaxing, and that meditative quality is exactly why so many players sink hundreds of hours into it.

DLC maps

A huge part of ETS2's longevity is its library of map-expansion DLC. SCS has steadily added countries and regions — France, Italy, the Baltic states, the Iberian peninsula, the Nordic countries and beyond — each a substantial, lovingly crafted slice of Europe with new cities, roads and landmarks. These expansions form the backbone of the game's near-endless replayability: there's always another region to haul through, and the base map keeps growing year after year. Most long-term players build up a sizeable collection of map DLC over time, and it's the single best way to keep the game fresh.

Mods

On top of the official content sits one of the richest modding scenes in all of PC gaming. The community has produced new trucks, total map overhauls, realistic traffic and physics tweaks, graphical enhancements and complete conversions. Whether you want photorealistic visuals, real-world truck brands, or maps of regions SCS hasn't covered, there's almost certainly a mod for it. This deep, active modding ecosystem is a major reason ETS2 has stayed relevant and popular for well over a decade.

Pros & cons

Pros: deeply relaxing, absorbing gameplay; an enormous and ever-growing library of map DLC; one of the richest modding scenes in PC gaming; a remarkably gentle learning curve; outstanding value for the hours it offers; runs well on modest hardware.

Cons: deliberately slow-paced, so it won't suit players chasing adrenaline; the base map really benefits from a few DLC expansions to feel complete; the core loop is repetitive by design, which is the appeal for fans but not for everyone.

Who it's for

ETS2 is for anyone who finds driving relaxing, who enjoys slow, steady long-term progression, or who wants a low-stress game to unwind with at the end of the day. It's also superb for newcomers to simulators, thanks to its forgiving on-ramp. Players who need fast, competitive action should look elsewhere — but for the right person, few games are as quietly rewarding.

Getting started tips

Begin by driving for established companies to earn money and experience before taking out a loan for your first truck. Turn on the route advisor and obey speed limits and traffic laws to avoid fines, and take it slow through depots — delivering your trailer undamaged is worth more than shaving minutes off the clock. Once you've got a steady income, start collecting the map DLC regions you most want to explore.

Verdict

Euro Truck Simulator 2 is a superb, calming sim with near-infinite replayability and a remarkably welcoming on-ramp for newcomers. It's deliberately slow-paced — adrenaline seekers should look elsewhere — but for anyone who finds driving relaxing, or who enjoys long-term progression, it's essential and astonishing value given how much content the base game and its DLC offer.

Our score: 9/10. One of the best and most replayable sims on PC. See its US counterpart American Truck Simulator, play free browser truck games, or browse the reviews hub.