Ready to conquer the open road in a big rig? American Truck Simulator, the acclaimed sequel to Euro Truck Simulator 2, offers an immersive trucking experience with a massive, dedicated fanbase and a thriving modding community. With thousands of mods available, choosing the right ones can be overwhelming. Here are ten top mods to significantly enhance your ATS gameplay. Note that compatibility may vary, and you can easily enable or disable individual mods within the game.
TruckersMP
While American Truck Simulator now features a built-in multiplayer mode, TruckersMP offers a more robust and mature online experience. This mod allows you to team up with up to 63 other players, offering multiple servers and a dedicated moderation team to ensure fair play. It surpasses ATS's Convoy mode in several aspects.
Realistic Truck Wear
American Truck Simulator's damage system gets a significant upgrade with this mod. Realistic Truck Wear enhances the realism of vehicle maintenance. Instead of complete tire replacements, you can now retread them multiple times. However, this increased realism also introduces higher insurance costs, incentivizing safe driving. The Steam Workshop discussions, including input from real-world truckers, are worth exploring even if you don't use the mod.
Sound Fixes Pack
This comprehensive audio overhaul, also available for Euro Truck Simulator 2, adds numerous sound tweaks and new audio elements. Experience subtle yet impactful improvements, such as more realistic wind sounds with open windows and enhanced reverb under bridges. The addition of five new air horns is a welcome bonus.
Real Companies, Gas Stations and Billboards
Adding a touch of real-world authenticity, this mod integrates various recognizable brands like Walmart, UPS, and Shell into the game's environment. It's a fun way to inject a dose of familiarity into your virtual trucking adventures.
Realistic Truck Physics
For a more realistic driving experience, Realistic Truck Physics focuses on improving vehicle suspension and other nuanced aspects of handling. While not designed to increase difficulty, this mod will appeal to players seeking a more authentic simulation.
Ludicrously Long Trailers
Prepare for a challenge (and perhaps some hilarious moments) with Ludicrously Long Trailers. This mod dramatically increases trailer length, resulting in a significantly more demanding driving experience. Note that this mod is not compatible with multiplayer.
Realistic Brutal Graphics and Weather
Don't let the name fool you; this mod doesn't introduce apocalyptic weather events. Instead, it enhances the visual quality of existing weather effects, adding new skyboxes and improving realism without requiring high-end hardware.
Slow Traffic Vehicles
Adding a layer of unpredictable realism, Slow Traffic Vehicles introduces slower-moving vehicles like tractors and combines to your routes. This can create challenging overtaking situations and adds variety to your journeys.
Optimus Prime
Transformers fans rejoice! This mod offers eight different Optimus Prime paint jobs for compatible trucks. Choose your favorite version of the iconic Autobot leader and hit the road in style.
More Realistic Fines
This mod adjusts the game's penalty system, making breaking traffic laws a riskier proposition. You might get away with minor infractions if not caught by cameras or police, adding a layer of strategic decision-making to your gameplay.
These ten mods offer a fantastic starting point for enhancing your American Truck Simulator experience. If you're also a fan of Euro Truck Simulator 2, be sure to check out the top mods for that game as well.
