In this guide, we explore games that capture the essence of the road-trip genre, with a particular focus on the captivating world of The Long Drive – a first-person survival game in which you are put behind the wheel of a dilapidated car and set off on an adventure through procedurally generated environments.
Whether you’re drawn to randomly generated terrains, the freedom of exploration, or the emotional journey that accompanies a solitary drive, these games promise to fuel your sense of adventure.
The Magic Formula
The Long Drive stands out for its minimalist design, atmospheric ambiance, and the sense of isolation it evokes. The game combines the thrill of exploration with the challenge of maintaining your vehicle, altogether creating a unique and immersive experience.
1. Randomly generated terrains
Experience the thrill of uncharted territories with ever-changing landscapes that keep the sense of exploration fresh and unpredictable.
2. Freedom of exploration
Roam vast open worlds and enjoy the freedom to choose your path, discover hidden gems, and immerse yourself in the beauty of virtual landscapes.
3. Emotional journey
Engage with games that offer not just a physical journey but also an emotional one, weaving stories that resonate and linger long after the adventure ends.
4. Game mechanics
Delve into games that go beyond exploration by incorporating survival elements like vehicle maintenance, resource management, and strategic decision-making.
Games You’ll Love If You Like The Long Drive
These games offer a diverse range of experiences, from the meticulous car maintenance in ‘Jalopy’ to the limitless exploration of ‘No Man’s Sky,’ providing players with unique adventures that resonate with the spirit of ‘The Long Drive.’
Whether you crave survival challenges, emotional narratives, or open-world exploration, each of these titles has something unique to offer. Happy adventuring!
| Game | Release | Genre | Developer | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Motor Town Behind The Wheel | 2021-12-18 | Driving | P3 Games |
 | My Garage | 2021-08-10 | Simulator | Viking Game Studio |
 | Bus World | 2023-09-14 | Simulator | KishMish Games |
 | Jalopy | 2016-04-22 | Adventure | Minskworks |
 | My Summer Car | 2016-10-24 | Indie | Amistech Games |
 | Forza Horizon 4 | 2021-03-09 | Racing | Playground Games |
 | Mad Max | 2015-09-01 | Adventure | Avalanche Studios |
 | Alaskan Road Truckers | 2023-10-18 | Driving Simulation | Road Studio S.A. |
 | Mudrunner Snowrunner | 2020-04-28 | Driving Simulator | Saber Interactive |
 | No Mans Sky | 2016-08-12 | Adventure | Hello Games |
 | Don't Starve Together | 2016-04-21 | Economy | Klei Entertainment |
Jalopy
| Release date: | 2016-04-22 |
| Genre: | Adventure |
| Developer: | Minskworks |
In the game players embark on a road-trip adventure through the landscapes of the former Eastern Bloc.
As you are a mechanic, you not only navigate the roads but also maintain and upgrade your Laika 601 Deluxe car, making strategic decisions along the way to make sure it keeps on running smoothly.
Explore procedurally generated environments full of diverse landscapes, cities, and other points of interest during your journey. You will need to adapt to the changing value of goods in different regions in order to successfully navigate through economic challenges as you trade items with other travelers. Get ready to experience the joy of discovery while discovering hidden items, abandoned buildings, and stories that add depth to your road-trip adventure
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No Man's Sky
| Release date: | 2016-08-12 |
| Genre: | Adventure |
| Developer: | Hello Games |
An ambitious space exploration title where players traverse a boundless procedurally generated universe. From planet-hopping to space trading, the game offers an immersive experience of exploration and survival.
Embark on a truly limitless exploration adventure to discover procedurally generated planets with their own unique flora, fauna, and terrains.
What is more, you can establish your bases there by constructing shelters, farms, and technology hubs in order to aid your survival and exploration.
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Rust
| Release date: | 2013-12-11 |
| Genre: | Adventure |
| Developer: | Facepunch Studios |
In this brutal open-world survival game you wake up on a mysterious island, stripped of resources and left to fend for yourself. Rust skillfully combines elements of survival, crafting, and player interaction in a challenging multiplayer environment.
Engage with other players in a dynamic multiplayer environment, forming alliances or facing off in intense PvP encounters all while you do your best to collect resources, hunt for food, and manage your character’s health, hunger, and radiation exposure.
Experience a living, breathing world with day-night cycles, weather patterns, and dangerous wildlife that pose constant threats.
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Life Is Strange
| Release date: | 2015-01-29 |
| Genre: | Adventure |
| Developer: | DONTNOD Entertainment |
A narrative-driven adventure game that unfolds in an episodic format. Players control Max Caulfield, a photography student with the ability to rewind time, and navigate through a story filled with moral choices, friendship, and supernatural mysteries.
Max’s unique ability to rewind time will allow you to alter past choices and explore different narrative paths.
Make impactful decisions that shape the story and your relationships to create a highly personalized narrative experience. In the meantime, you can also enjoy a captivating soundtrack which perfectly complements the emotional depth and ambiance of the game’s storytelling.
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Don't Starve
| Release date: | 2016-04-21 |
| Genre: | Economy |
| Developer: | Klei Entertainment |
A dark and whimsical survival game set in a mysterious and challenging world. Players control Wilson, a scientist trapped in a surreal wilderness, where the goal is to survive and uncover the secrets of the environment.
Manage your character’s hunger, sanity, and health, all while crafting tools and structures to endure the harsh and ever-changing environment. Embrace the challenging nature of the game, where death is permanent, and each playthrough offers a unique survival experience. In diverse biomes filled with secrets, you will encounter a variety of quirky and dangerous creatures, each with distinct behaviors.
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Embarking on an adventure resembling ‘The Long Drive’ opens the door to a realm of diverse and captivating experiences. Whether you’re drawn to the open road, the challenge of survival, or the emotional depth of storytelling, these games are sure to provide you with a range of adventures to fuel your sense of exploration and discovery.
As you hit the virtual road, may each journey be as unforgettable as the last. Safe travels!