Early Access Review
An early access review of Truck World: Australia covering driving feel, hands-on jobs, map limits, content gaps, controls, and who should buy it now.
The Short Verdict: Great Trucking, Limited Game
Truck World: Australia is finally playable in early access, and the big question is whether the driving is strong enough to excuse the missing content. This Truck World: Australia review focuses on what you can actually do now: fuel the rig, hook a trailer, plan multi-drop loads, and decide whether the current build respects your time. If you want a polished truck sim with a full career, this Truck World: Australia review will help you separate the promising core from the parts that are not ready.
The current build plays like a focused early-access slice rather than a finished career game. The core driving and hands-on interactions are the draw; the progression layer is the reason to wait. That makes the purchase decision unusually simple: buy for the moment-to-moment trucking, not for the long-term goals.
| Area | Current State | What It Means for You |
|---|---|---|
| Driving feel | Weighty and rewarding with smooth inputs, but not a finished simulation | Enjoy the act of driving, not final-tier physics |
| Hands-on jobs | Fueling, trailer hookup, loading, strapping, and washing are interactive | The routine feels more truck-like than menu-driven sims |
| Map | Australian Outback setting with a small road network and a few towns | Expect long straight runs and limited route variety |
| Content | One truck, limited trailers, no customization, and no road trains yet | You will run out of meaningful goals quickly |
| Progression | Story missions stop; base building and licenses are locked or grayed out | Money has little long-term use in the current build |
Hands-On Trucking: Where the Game Shines
The early-access build leans into the parts of trucking that many sims skip: fueling, trailer hookup, and load securing are physical tasks you perform outside the cab. You pull into a servo, insert the nozzle, fill the truck with diesel, return the nozzle, and pay at the register. It is a small routine, but it does a lot of work for immersion.
Trailer work is similarly hands-on. You align the fifth wheel, connect the air lines and 24V supply, and raise the trailer legs. When cargo is involved, manual loading lets you move and rotate materials while watching the weight distribution readout. A poorly loaded trailer is noticeable on the road, even though there is no load-shifting mechanic. You can also walk alongside the trailer and tighten each strap.
| Task | What You Do | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Fueling | Park at the servo, insert the nozzle, fill with diesel, return it, and pay inside | Adds a believable pre-job routine |
| Trailer hookup | Align the fifth wheel, connect air lines and 24V supply, raise the legs | Rewards accurate positioning |
| Manual loading | Move and rotate cargo; watch the weight distribution screen | Poor loading changes how the truck drives |
| Load securing | Walk along the trailer and tighten each strap | Makes cargo prep feel physical |
| Rest | Take a short break or sleep at base, truck stops, or a motel | Manages the fatigue system |
| Truck wash | Use the wash station when the rig is dirty | Keeps the truck presentable without a menu shortcut |
Multi-Drop Planning Is the Best Feature
The planning loop is the strongest systems idea in the build. You can accept up to three jobs at once, check which towns need what, pick up materials locally, and then head into the Outback to reduce empty miles and maximize profit. The weight screen matters because a badly balanced load is noticeable once you are moving.
This is the part of the game that feels most promising. Instead of accepting one job and following a marker, you build a route. You decide whether a short local pickup is worth the detour, whether a heavier load belongs near the front or rear, and when to stop for fatigue. It is simple, but it creates the kind of planning that truck-sim fans usually have to imagine for themselves.
| Planning Step | Action | Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Read the job board | Check each job’s pickup and drop-off points before accepting | Avoids a route that sends you backward |
| 2. Group pickups | Collect nearby loads before heading out | Cuts empty running |
| 3. Balance the trailer | Use the loading screen’s weight distribution readout | Reduces poor handling from bad placement |
| 4. Chain drops | Deliver in a sensible order rather than doubling back | Saves time and unnecessary miles |
| 5. Check fatigue | Plan sleep or breaks around the 24-hour cycle | Keeps the driver fresh |
Driving Feel: The Core of This Truck World: Australia Review
A fair Truck World: Australia review has to start with the driving, because that is where the build is strongest. The truck has a sense of mass, road-surface changes are noticeable, and the manual gearbox includes a splitter option. Mirrors and seat position are adjustable. If you have a wheel, spend time tuning it before your first long haul rather than discovering problems mid-delivery.
Wheel support includes Moza, Thrustmaster, Logitech, Fanatec, and other brands. The game also supports a clutch, manual shifting, a Jake brake, an engine retarder, and a diff lock. Automatic shifting has sensible gear logic if you prefer not to manage a clutch. The important caveat is that this is still early access: performance and force-feedback behavior can vary by hardware and build.
| Setup | What to Know | Practical Move |
|---|---|---|
| Wheel | Major brands are supported, but force feedback and axis behavior may need tuning | Calibrate before a long job and test on a straight road |
| Manual gearbox | Clutch, splitter, and range-style shifting are available | Match the transmission setup to your shifter |
| Controller | Look axes may feel inverted at first | Choose the Xbox pre-configuration in the controller wizard before manually inverting axes |
| Performance | Frame pacing can be uneven in early access | Lower settings or wait for patches if stutters break immersion |
Map, Story, and Progression Limits
For this Truck World: Australia review, the map is a deliberate design choice rather than a bug. The Outback setting is accurate to that part of Australia, but it is sparse: long straight roads, small villages with a single junction, and only a handful of routes. Port Lincoln and Port Augusta provide the larger stops. Half-built roads with barriers show where future areas may open, but they are inaccessible for now.
The opening story is stronger than the later loop. You start with an old Mack truck, fuel it at a servo, haul an agricultural trailer, and eventually return to headquarters. A cutscene sets up your first office, and you build a trailer shed so you can own trailers. After that, the story dries up. The current build has one usable truck, limited trailer variety, no customization, and no road trains.
| Feature | Current Status | Player Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Main story | Opening missions only; stops after early progression | No long campaign to follow yet |
| Trucks | One usable truck in the current build | Little fleet planning or variety |
| Trailers | Limited variety; trailer ownership via the trailer shed | You can store trailers but not chase specialization |
| Base building | A few structures and a fence; garage and facilities unavailable | Headquarters feels starter-sized |
| Licenses and road trains | Grayed out or unavailable | Multi-trailer road trains are not playable yet |
| Truck customization | Not available | No visual or performance builds |
| Random jobs | Generated indefinitely | Keeps you driving, but money has little to buy |
| Maintenance | Service, oil, filter, and basic upkeep only | Truck ownership is shallow for now |
Who Should Buy It: A Truck World: Australia Review Verdict
This Truck World: Australia review lands on a split recommendation. The driving, manual loading, and multi-drop planning are already enjoyable enough for a specific type of player. The missing career layer is not a small gap, though. If you need goals, unlocks, and a reason to keep earning money, the current build will frustrate you.
| Player Type | Recommendation | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Hardcore truck-sim fan with a wheel | Consider it | The hands-on loop and route planning are already enjoyable |
| ATS/ETS player who needs polish and a full career | Wait | Content, progression, and performance are still early access |
| Player excited for road trains, licenses, or base building | Wait | Those systems are not implemented yet |
| Curious player who wants a short demo-like experience | Buy on sale or try through a supported store | The opening hours are strong, but the loop runs dry |
Practical Tips Before You Start
- Finish the opening story missions first. They introduce fueling, trailer hookup, manual loading, and the trailer shed.
- Use manual loading to keep weight distribution sensible. A badly placed load is noticeable once you drive.
- Test your wheel or controller on a short run before accepting a multi-drop route.
- Sleep at your base, a truck stop, or a motel when you need full energy. A roadside break only gives a small boost.
- Treat locked licenses, garage facilities, and road trains as future content, not current goals.
- Do not grind random jobs for money once the story stops. There is little to spend it on in this build.
- Use this Truck World: Australia review as a buying check, not a full-game verdict. The project has room to grow.
FAQ
Is Truck World: Australia only in early access?
Yes. It is sold as a Game Preview on Xbox and PC through the Microsoft Store and Epic Games, with a Steam release planned for later. The build is playable, but it is not the finished article.
Does the game have a story?
The current build has opening story missions that teach fueling, trailer work, and base setup. The story then stops, so there is no complete campaign to follow yet.
Can you use a steering wheel and manual gearbox?
Yes. Major wheel brands are supported, and the game includes clutch, manual shifting, splitter options, adjustable mirrors, and seat positioning. Controller users may need to adjust axis inversion or use the Xbox preset.
Is Truck World: Australia worth buying now?
This Truck World: Australia review recommends it only for players who value the driving and hands-on jobs enough to tolerate missing content. If you want a full career, road trains, customization, or smooth performance, wait for further updates.