Road Kings Brings Realistic Action To Trucking Simulators - Gamescom 2025

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Admittedly, I have mixed feelings about trucking games. I do enjoy and find them calming, but I also find myself getting bored after an extended period of just driving. I still have fun while playing, but it’s not enough to hold my attention. When the trailer for Road Kings first aired, I thought this would be another similar-feeling title. Then, the natural disasters and massive downpour showed up, and that got my attention. This game ended up being my first appointment at Gamescom, so I got to experience it firsthand, and it may be the game that convinces me to buy a $600 steering wheel set so I can immerse myself in trucking.

As soon as I sat down and put my hands on the wheel, the game threw me smack into a raging storm. Cars were flying around, rain was pouring on the windshield, and I had to navigate collapsed bridges partially submerged under water. It was hectic, but it gave a very clear example as to how this game would be very different than others like it. From there, I would skip forward and start my own career, getting a little teaser for customization and the process of taking on a job and getting to it.

Going into this appointment, I wanted to see what made this game feel different than other trucking simulators, and I got my answer. Road Kings is a technical, long-haul trucking simulator that has you going across a large distance to earn money and upgrade your truck. It's very realistic, and involves being careful, following the laws of the road, and taking the time to make sure we complete our jobs without fail. These aspects feel like other similar titles, like Euro Truck Simulator, but apart from driving, we have many differences that make it feel more engaging in a realistic sense.

At its core, Road Kings is a story about what truckers really have to go through in their jobs. The game has a story, which can be discovered as we play. There are two types of story events. There are the bigger ones, which push the entire story forward, and smaller ones. The smaller ones are procedurally generated, and can pop up randomly, while the larger ones are more impactful. These larger story events will aso contain those natural disasters to navigate. You can choose not to follow the story and just truck along and take jobs, though these natural disasters won't happen otherwise (there is still dynamic weather like light rain).

Gameplay wise, a lot is different when it comes to taking jobs. To get new jobs, you have to accept the job, then drive to a location to pick it up. Depending on the trailer you have attached, you can take different types of material to deliver. Then, you have to bring it to the corresponding location, while managing your time effectively to take mandated breaks. On top of that, you have to act somewhat quickly. If you take too long, one of your competitors could come in and take the job out from under you. So, while you don't have to rush, taking too long could lead to losing a job.

This effectively turns the game into somewhat of a time-management strategy game. You can only drive for certain periods of time, taking required stops, and you have to keep moving or you may miss the job altogether. You can skirt this a little bit and keep going through these breaks, but if you get caught by the cops, it may end up costing you in fines.

This all works together to create a compelling game that actually feels more realistic and engaging when it comes to what truckers actually have to face. Difficult weather conditions, job competition, and a changing landscape that make it harder to do their jobs. It highlights the worries that plague those doing this job, and it's intereting to have an experience that makes us face these challenges. In a way, it feels educational, but at the same time, I appreciate a game like this having more of a challenge and action.

There is no word on Steam Deck support just yet, but Focus Entertainment has been great about making sure their games have support, so I am going to stay optimistic. Road Kings hooked me in with the changes they are bringing, and I think I will have to go out and buy the $600 steering wheel kit so I can have the full experience at home.

Road Kings can be wishlised on Steam now and is slated for a 2026 release.

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