Euro Truck Simulator 2 Is More Popular Than Ever and Perhaps it's Time to Install it Again

Euro Truck Simulator 2 is having a moment. Again. Thirteen years after release, it just broke its all time concurrent player record on Steam, hitting over 72 thousand truckers cruising across digital Europe at the exact same time. And if that sounds wild to you, trust me, I used to be right there with you.

Because here is my confession. I once downloaded this game as a joke. I genuinely thought I was going to make a funny little video about a mind numbingly boring game. I imagined myself narrating over the world's slowest highway gameplay, making jokes about driving at the legal speed limit. I opened the game ready to laugh.

And then I blinked and suddenly it was 3 AM, I was deep in Germany hauling 22 tons of apples to Stuttgart, and I cared about the delivery window with my whole soul. Within a week, I had bought a steering wheel and pedals. I do not regret a single second.

This game taught me one of life's most important lessons. Never judge a game before you try it. Especially one with trucks.

So why the sudden spike? Two new DLCs dropped on the same day. Nordic Horizons, which gives you a full scenic road trip through northern Scandinavia, and Forest Machinery, which adds an entire buffet of forestry equipment to haul across the continent. Wood chippers. Mulchers. Extremely heavy things that are a nightmare to turn with. Perfection.

Euro Truck Simulator 2 has always been known for its realism. Researchers have used it to study driver fatigue. But the real appeal is that it is wildly, unexpectedly relaxing. It's the video game equivalent of going on a long, quiet drive with good music and no responsibilities. Zen on wheels.

So yes, thirteen years later, this cozy trucking empire is still thriving. And honestly, I'm not surprised at all.

By the way - It's 75% off at the moment so, for 5$, perhaps it's time to try it for yourself