It’s time you tried American Truck Simulator (or Euro Truck Simulator 2), and I’m not kidding — they’re better than you think

It’s time you tried American Truck Simulator (or Euro Truck Simulator 2), and I’m not kidding — they’re better than you think

Sim games are getting more mainstream, and I’m happy to see it. Euro Truck Simulator 2 is one of the most (surprisingly) addictive games I’ve played in recent memory, and Amazon Prime Day sales are making it easier for me to recommend, alongside its American Truck Simulator sibling. It’s a PC-only title for now, but Xbox and PlayStation releases have been teased for a while.

So, if you wanted to drive a virtual truck around a representation of your home state or your favorite European country, what exactly do you need to get started? Well, you can play either game with a mouse and keyboard, but any kind of controller makes it a better experience. Here’s what I recommend for a basic steering wheel setup, with optional extras and higher-end alternatives.

The absolute basics: A wheel and pedals

Thrustmaster already made an entry-level wheel (T128), but its TMX regularly undercuts it with deals like this. This comes with an accelerator and brake pedal, and enough buttons to handle common truck controls.

💲 Price check: $129.99 at Best Buy | $119.99 at Walmart | $129.99 at NeweggView Deal

You’ll rarely see coverage of racing wheels without the G29 mentioned, and it’s for a good reason. Logitech makes great wheels, and while this one is built for PlayStation, it’s totally compatible with trucking on Windows.

💲 Price check: $189.98 at Best Buy | $229.99 at Walmart | $189.98 at NeweggView Deal

Optional: A realistic truck-style setup

Now we’re talking. If you don’t need to hear my pitch on truck simulators because you’re already in the know, then MOZA’s bundle of its TSW truck wheel, direct drive base, desk clamp, and pedals is the ultimate option.

Windows Central review: ⭐⭐⭐⭐½View Deal

Most trucks in the game offer an automatic gearbox, but there’s a real sense of satisfaction when you shift through gears yourself, even if this doesn’t really cover the size of a real-world truck’s gearbox. It’s still fun.

👉 Also see: $42.73 at Best Buy
💲 Price check: $57.99 at Walmart | $59.99 at NeweggView Deal

Critical: Steam keys for either game on PC

“Experience legendary American trucks and deliver various cargoes across sunny California, sandy Nevada, and the Grand Canyon State of Arizona”

✅ Steam Deck VerifiedView Deal

“Travel across Europe as king of the road, a trucker who delivers important cargo across impressive distances! With dozens of cities to explore, your endurance, skill and speed will all be pushed to their limits.”

✅ Steam Deck VerifiedView Deal

Are Xbox steering wheels compatible with PC?

Yes, any peripheral made for the Xbox with a USB connection generally offers even more features on a Windows PC. Steering wheels are simply a set of analog and digital inputs translated to game functions with a driver from the manufacturer’s website. Most games on Xbox consoles allow you to customize button functions on racing wheels, but a PC will offer even more personalization.

When is Amazon Prime Day in 2026?

Do I need an Amazon Prime membership for Prime Day?

Are other retailers hosting competing sales?

Click to join us on r/WindowsCentral

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

Comments

No comments yet. Why don’t you start the discussion?

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *