There seems to be no end to “Simulator” games these days and it’s often difficult to differentiate the good from the bad. What I enjoy about the genre is that most of the experiences that attempt to simulate something are original and unique. It’s a nice casual stray away from the intensity of a campaign adventure or being repeatedly gunned down online. Construction Simulator is currently available for Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Playstation 4|5 and Windows PC and boasts a whole feast of content for individuals who love to get their hands dirty and build. Developers weltenbauer.Software Entwicklung GmbH isn’t new to this type of simulation game and has had several stabs at previous versions. Will this bigger and better version excel and is it worth donning the hard hat for?

Introduction

I wasn’t quite ready for how much gameplay was on offer with Construction Simulator when I took on this review and I was surprised at the logistical quality of the overall package. When I say surprised, I mean this is a great way. We are treated here to not one, but two maps to play through with a vast catalogue of machinery to work with from world-famous brands across the globe. Now I’ve never been lucky enough to delve into previous versions of the franchise, but I’d imagine with the 70+ different types of kit on offer, they have built on titles of the past and gone the extra mile this time around.

The first of the two maps and the one I spent the most time on was a USA-inspired map named Sunny Haven. The second is German based and known as Friedenberg. What reigned me in almost immediately is the fact you aren’t just plonked on these new worlds and just told to build stuff. There are some storytelling elements with a real sense of investing in local communities which I really enjoyed. You will feel a real sense of progress as you work through the various milestones and contracts that you’ll be offered when you start your building life.

Gameplay

I started off my first session on the USA-themed map where you’re introduced to the game world after a pretty horrific storm which has left a cascade of damage across the town. Think of this first little section as a tutorial as such, you’ll be helping tidy up bits and pieces in the area that have succumbed to the wrath of the weather. Repairing train tracks, burst pipes, clearing debris and more. Whilst you’re told what to do at the start of the game, it won’t be long until you’re sent on your way to be your very own boss and get cracking on with earning the big bucks.

Keep Your Eye On Your Wallet!

Once you start your own business you’ll be responsible for taking on your own contracts and fulfilling them. The game promises over 90 individual jobs across the two maps and I’d hazard a guess that I only got through maybe half of these in some mammoth sessions. Often you’ll be sent to obtain the machinery required for the job first alongside any building materials that need to be purchased.

You need to be mindful of cash flow which is always situated in the HUD in the bottom right-hand corner and finances can be sifted through in depth in the menus. You’ll need to allow for machinery rental although you can purchase this when you have enough in the bank. I liked the fact the developers left it so that you can drive to each location to ferry around fetching the goods before arriving at the site, or you can fast-travel in a snap across several locations.

Fully Licenced Vehicles Galore

You don’t need to work in construction to recognise some of the brands on offer in Construction Simulator. Licenced vehicles from Cat, Man, Scania, Bobcat and more are all available for hire or purchase to utilise within your business. Every haulage vehicle is driveable on the main roads whereas other machinery such as compactors you can fast travel straight to site with. The handling on the roads felt reasonably solid with some vehicles feeling a little stiffer than others to navigate around tight bends. You can choose to have traffic violations on or off, so if you want the experience to be super realistic and you are happy to sit at a red light then you can absolutely do this. Run a red light with the option switched on and you’ll receive fines and penalties.

A Slight Challenge, Yet Simplistic

The real take home for me was how there is some problem-solving to be done, but nothing was overly complex or difficult. When you arrive at jobs, you’re guided in the right direction and told what actions to take to get the job done. Some simulator titles often throw commands at you with little to no context with poor mechanics and dreadful control mechanics. Construction Simulator is the total opposite and you never feel stuck with what to do next and nothing gets lost in translation. The various screens within the menus that show all of the aspects of how your business is going along with deep stat tracking and more are pleasing.

Whilst operating machinery and functioning across a building site requires precision and perfection when it comes to movements, everything feels natural with a controller. It took me several hours to wrap my head around how to become fluid with everything, but I actually welcomed this and it made me want to learn everything in detail rather than it becoming easy and stale in an instant.

Graphics

I was very pleased with the visual presentation in Construction Simulator. I have played some truly dreadful games in the past in the genre which are ridden with visual and game-breaking bugs alongside dated aesthetics. You’ll be pleased I didn’t experience any of that here and the design team have done an exceptional job given the logistical nature of fine-tuning all the machinery to operate as fluidly as they do with so many different intrinsic delicate moments to cater for. It was a nice surprise that the two maps on offer were fairly large in size with some nods to encourage you to explore the area a bit as well as get hands-on.

Whilst I’m normally quite critical of games of this nature feeling quite empty when it comes to cars driving around, pedestrians and other factors. Construction Simulator has made some strides to make the worlds feel like there is a little bit going on. There are other road users to bear in mind, some people wandering casually and even boats gliding across the open waters that you’ll come across. Blend this with some fairly decent detail in the surroundings and some lovely lighting effects between day and night changes and actually, I don’t think I’ve seen a simulator game come close to the same level of quality in the visual department.

Audio

There is plenty of voiced dialogue throughout your time with Construction Simulator which was truly something I wasn’t expecting, most games of this calibre is usually written narrative which you have to read yourself. This is a welcome addition and made the game feel instantly more immersive and interactive. If I had to criticise anything it would be the soundtrack, it didn’t seem to suit the atmosphere of the game and added very little.  Sound effects are perfect with all vehicles and machinery echoing what they would sound like in real life with those all familiar beeps when reversing. Overall when it comes to the game’s graphical and audio quality, it’s top-notch for a game with so much to offer.

In Conclusion

I found it incredibly difficult when to stop playing and start writing about Construction Simulator. It is truly one of those games where hours will feel like minutes and before you know it, it’s 4 am in the morning and you should have been in bed a long time ago. Whilst some of the controls are difficult to master with some of the machinery, it is fine-tuned and it feels natural when you’re operating every aspect of your vehicle. Whether it is operating a crane, hauling a heavy load from one side of town to the other or flattening the terrain with a compactor, the mechanics of everything here are absolutely nailed on.

Construction Simulator proudly sits at the top of the pile when it comes to games with simulator in the name. Whilst the visuals don’t light the world on fire if you stack it against your favourite triple-A title, it is one of the beautifully designed simulator games I have played when it came to the graphics. If you have a big interest in or work in the construction field then you’ll absolutely want to give this one your time and effort. I absolutely adored playing this one and I still have hundreds of hours of gameplay to work through if I want to see and do absolutely everything the game has to offer. For someone who isn’t construction minded in the slightest and struggles to even paint a wall without making a mess, the fact I loved it speaks volumes.