I've spent the last few days hauling lumber, coal and sometimes peas across Europe. You may openly mock me, I know I would have.
I recently picked up Euro Truck Simulator 2 on Steam. I also have to admit picking up Farming Simulator 2013. The former piqued my interest a bit for other reasons, but the latter I actually know I openly mocked. “A simulation about farming? Whoop-dee-doo!”
I never thought I would buy them, especially the farming one, but both are very good games for just zoning out. During the last few weeks I've had some long, stressful days at work due to a large project. Then I get to come home, which has been great, but there is really no time to relax with two young kids. Once they finally fall asleep, I just want to zone out. Driving a big rig down scenic European roads is quite soothing as is plowing a virtual field.
Honestly, though, I've always had a interest in logistics, or the shipping and organizing of goods. I don't know why, but it fascinates me. Euro Truck Simulator 2 fills this interest a bit. It allows you to run your own trucking company all across Europe. You start with no trucks, so you have to make your first money by driving for other owners. I have only played a bit so I'm still driving for others. I agree that it can get slightly boring just driving on the roads, but they've done a wonderful job at keeping it interesting.
They allow you to use your virtual radio either with MP3s or a fully-stocked list of streaming radio stations, mostly from Europe. So, you can rock out to Pantera, like I did last night, while listening to Radio Metal France and hauling a load of forklifts to Leipzig during a thunderstorm. They also did an amazing job designing the winding roads of Europe which covers all the way from Great Britain to Poland. Obviously, it's not to scale, but the drives feel fulfilling. The scenery is beautiful and the environment feels real.
Sometimes you find more fun in games you didn't expect if you venture out of your comfort zone once in awhile. There are more games out there besides Skyrim and Call of Duty.
