Photo of the party bus Pacing and Party BussesĪll that being said, the progression at which you can unlock upgrades suits the nature of the gameplay very well. But even then, they quickly lost their appeal and faded away into the repetition of the day to day. The only thing that would get me excited was an upgrade in which I could add a new venue or new decor to my gas station. While there is a variety of things to do, the repetition slowly took its toll and I got bored. However, as the days passed the tasks began to loose their luster. For an hour, with focus and dedication, I cleaned up every single piece of trash, tore wooden boards from my windows, and made sure everything was spotless. Once the tutorial is over, and the Dust Bowl is open to the public, these tasks become your day-to-day life. But through a series of email communications, you learn how to complete several key tasks such as cleaning, painting, collecting garbage, pumping gas, and stocking your shelves. He congratulates you and warns you there is a lot of work ahead. Upon arriving, you receive a call from your uncle. Photo of the gas pumping minigame Gameplay: A Bit Dustyįrom the beginning, Gas Station Simulator cleverly uses the minor story arch between your character and their uncle to tutorialize the tasks at hand. The point of the game is to complete tasks, and any heady storyline would not only be jarring, but would also detract from the point of the game–to restore your gas station in the middle of nowhere! This is a simulator game and the lack of story is actually a good thing. And when you can’t repay him in time (a scripted failure), your uncle ensures you pay one way or another. Through a series of communications with your uncle, you learn how to take care of the gas station, begin restoring it, and how to reopen it to the public. You sell your car to purchase a dilapidated gas station in the middle of no where. In fact, most of it takes place in the first hour or so of gameplay. This single phrase captures the whole essence of this game–a simulator game in which you must complete a variety of tasks and restorations to get your new gas station up and running. “Buy and restore a gas station in the middle of nowhere,” reads the caption on the launch screen while a gentle guitar melody plays in the background. 3) Graphics & Sound: Basic but Ambient Story: Welcome to the Dust Bowl

Gas station simulator on steam