Gas Station Simulator is becoming a hit game on Steam
Steam has long played host to a wide range of titles that appeal to all kinds of different audiences. It’s a place where AAA first-person shooters rub shoulders with niche indie simulation games. Drago Entertainment’s gas station simulator definitely falls into the latter category.
Operating a gas station in the desert may not seem like the most exciting launch for a successful game. However, Gas Station Simulator offers exactly that experience and it seems to be doing quite well on Steam. The game launched on September 15 and quickly reached an initial peak of 5,619 concurrent players before skyrocketing to a new height of 7,380 at the time of writing. Now, that doesn’t seem like much compared to the 140,000+ players who recently launched into Amazon’s New World Beta on opening day. However, it is an impressive launch for a standalone simulation game without a real marketing push.
Gas Station Simulator opens with players buying the run-down “Dust Bowl” gas station in the desert. Your job is to fix it and turn the abandoned shack into a thriving business. After cleaning and repairing the building and putting everything into operation, the players settle into the task of helping customers and expanding their business. This includes offering new services and purchasing upgrades for your tool store and convenience store. But they’re not all flashy business decisions, as the game also simulates the more mundane aspects of running a gas station. This includes everything from replenishing fuel and merchandise to sweeping at the end of the day.
Gas Station Simulator is the second full release from Drago Entertainment, the first being Treasure Hunter Simulator of 2018. The oldest game sent players to exotic locations in search of ancient artifacts. Based on Steam reviews, it’s an excellent game for people who enjoy real-life metal detecting, but it didn’t seem to offer the kind of simulation experience that many gamers were looking for. However, Gas Station Simulator doesn’t seem to have that problem, as it received a “Very Positive” user review rating on Steam. The developers also seem to have found their niche, with upcoming titles like Road Diner Simulator and Food Truck Simulator, among others.
As for Gas Station Simulator, the game has a free demo and prologue for players to try before buying. The prologue, Gas Station Simulator: Early Days, focuses on the repair and reopening of the abandoned Dust Bowl gas station. Meanwhile, the demo is moving forward to allow players to experience the daily activities of running a fully functional Dust Bowl. The full game is also 10% off until September 22, giving prospective players another incentive to try it out.
