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Explore why Desert Bus stands out as the most useless and boring game in the world, testing players’ patience with its slow, repetitive gameplay.
Introduction to Desert Bus
For decades, countless games have hit the shelves. Some were simple, others more challenging. Gamers got hooked on some, while others bored them within minutes. But every once in a while, a truly pointless game emerges, playable only by the most desperate. One such game is Desert Bus (1995), released for Sega CD and Panasonic 3DO platforms.
Game Concept
The player takes control of an old bus. Your mission? Drive it from Tucson to Las Vegas. Right off the bat, it’s clear this will take an eternity. The distance is 360 miles, and the bus’s top speed is a sluggish 45 mph. That means even at top speed, the journey will last at least 8 hours.
Once you reach your destination, you earn a single point. Then, you have to make the return trip. Completing the return awards another point, and you head back to Las Vegas for the next point.
You can rack up a maximum of 99 points, but achieving this requires a staggering 792 hours (33 days) of real-time playing, all without breaks. And that’s assuming you don’t make a mistake that we’ll soon discuss.
Why Is the Game So Useless?
Now, here’s the juicy bit. If this game had been designed like “18 Wheels of Steel,” it might have been somewhat interesting. Unfortunately, it’s nothing like that.
The entire road from Tucson to Las Vegas is a straight line. So, for 8 hours, you just drive on a straight road with no other cars or obstacles. It’s empty and monotonous.
Cheating is out of the question since your bus constantly drifts to the right, forcing you to keep steering left to stay on the road.
The only “excitement” on this barren highway is a bug that hits your windshield twice per trip—once near the middle and once near the end. Other than that, your only option is honking the horn.
Oh, and there’s also a day-night cycle: day, evening, night, and morning. But even this little touch doesn’t save the game from boredom.
The Tow Truck Mechanic
You’d think it couldn’t get any worse for such a tedious game, right? Well, the developers found a way.
If you fail to steer correctly and drive off the road, your bus stalls. A tow truck is dispatched to rescue you. But don’t celebrate just yet—it won’t pull you back to the road instantly.
Instead, the tow truck hauls your bus back to the starting point in real-time.
Imagine this: you’ve already traveled 350 miles and have only minutes left to finish the route. Then, you slip off the road, and the tow truck drags you all the way back to the start, forcing you to wait over 7 hours before starting again.
This mechanic requires nerves of steel, no social life, motivation (like a bet for money), or perhaps some form of odd obsession to endure without smashing your console in frustration. Honestly, though, very few would wait for the tow truck to complete its journey.
The Most Boring Game Ever
The developers claimed the game was a test of endurance and determination. Yet, no one really appreciated the concept, and the game earned the title of worst simulator and the most boring game ever.
Interestingly, the game was never officially released. However, many have still experienced the “thrill” of pushing through Desert Bus.
I couldn’t even find decent images for this article, as everything looks basically the same—nothing changes in the game.
Desert Bus VR
Surprisingly, in 2007, an updated VR version of Desert Bus VR was launched. It underwent some significant changes, making the gameplay a slight bit more interesting.
For example, multiplayer was introduced: one player drives, while others act as passengers. Passengers can wave their arms and even throw whatever is handy at the driver. The driver can spray air freshener and open doors at stops.
Despite the game’s uselessness and monotony, many YouTubers have spent 8 hours playing a single route. I, for one, wouldn’t bother unless paid.
How much money would it take for you to complete the entire game (just one route)? Share your thoughts in the comments!
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“The entire road from Tucson to Las Vegas is a straight line… It’s empty and monotonous.”
– Desert Bus description
- What is Desert Bus about?
Desert Bus is a driving simulation game where players drive a bus from Tucson to Las Vegas on a monotonous, straight road, aiming to accumulate points by completing routes. - Why is Desert Bus considered boring?
The game involves 8 hours of non-stop driving on a straight, empty road with minimal interaction or challenges, making it extremely tedious. - What happens if you drive off the road?
The bus stalls, and a tow truck comes to tow it back to the starting point in real-time, forcing the player to wait for hours before continuing. - Is Desert Bus available in VR?
Yes, in 2007, a VR version was released with multiplayer features, making the experience slightly more engaging. - Can you cheat or speed up the game?
No, the bus constantly drifts right, so you must actively steer left to stay on the road, and the tow mechanism enforces real-time setbacks.
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