Experience the open road like never before with American Truck Simulator, the acclaimed sequel to Euro Truck Simulator 2. Boasting a massive player base and a wealth of incredible mods, ATS offers endless possibilities. But with thousands of mods available, choosing the right ones can be overwhelming. This guide highlights ten top mods to significantly enhance your ATS gameplay. Remember, compatibility may vary, so enable and disable mods individually as needed within the game.
TruckersMP: Multiplayer Mayhem
While American Truck Simulator now features a built-in multiplayer mode, TruckersMP offers a superior experience. This popular mod allows up to 63 players to convoy simultaneously, featuring multiple servers and active moderation to ensure fair play. Outshining even ATS's Convoy mode in several aspects, TruckersMP delivers a truly immersive shared trucking experience.
Realistic Truck Wear: A More Authentic Challenge
ATS allows truck purchases, but on the road, you're stuck with your current rig. This mod refines the damage system for a more realistic and balanced approach. Instead of immediate tire replacements, retreading becomes an option, but increased insurance costs incentivize safe driving. The Steam Workshop discussions, including insights from real-world truckers, are also worth exploring.
Sound Fixes Pack: Immersive Audio Enhancements
Also available for Euro Truck Simulator 2, this mod significantly improves the game's audio. Subtle yet impactful changes, like enhanced wind sounds with open windows and realistic reverb under bridges, create a richer soundscape. The addition of five new air horns is a welcome bonus.
Real Companies, Gas Stations and Billboards: A Touch of Reality
Injecting realism into ATS, this mod adds numerous real-world brands like Walmart, UPS, and Shell. These familiar landmarks enhance the game's authenticity, offering a refreshing change of pace from the generic in-game businesses.
Realistic Truck Physics: Enhanced Handling
This mod focuses on improving vehicle suspension and other physics aspects, creating a more lifelike driving experience without drastically increasing difficulty. The enhancements will particularly appeal to players seeking a more realistic simulation. A similar mod is also available for ETS2.
Ludicrously Long Trailers: A Hilarious Challenge (Single-Player Only)
For those seeking a unique challenge (and perhaps some comedic streaming moments), this mod introduces absurdly long trailer combinations. While incredibly difficult to maneuver, the sheer ridiculousness is undeniably entertaining. Note that this mod is single-player only.
Realistic Brutal Graphics and Weather: Enhanced Visuals
Despite the name, this mod doesn't transform ATS into a post-apocalyptic wasteland. Instead, it enhances the weather system with improved visuals, including dynamic skyboxes and realistic fog effects, without demanding high-end hardware.
Slow Traffic Vehicles: The Unexpected Delays of Real Life
Adding a layer of realism, this mod introduces slow-moving vehicles like tractors and garbage trucks, replicating the frustrating (but sometimes amusing) delays encountered on real roads. The challenge of overtaking adds a new dimension to gameplay.
Optimus Prime: Transform Your Trucking Experience
Transformers fans rejoice! This mod offers eight different Optimus Prime paint jobs, including his G1 and movie appearances. While requiring the purchase of a compatible Freightliner FLB truck, the result is a truly iconic and memorable addition to your fleet.
More Realistic Fines: A Riskier Approach
This mod alters the game's penalty system, making minor infractions less punishing. While speeding and running red lights remain risky (and potentially disastrous), the consequences are less immediate, adding a layer of strategic decision-making to your driving.
These ten mods offer a diverse range of enhancements for American Truck Simulator. For those exploring European routes, similar top mods are available for Euro Truck Simulator 2.
