Drive Thru Simulator Review (PC)

Red Axe Games is no stranger to turning generic chore core work into genuinely enjoyable business simulation games. Take Car for Sale, for example. In what should’ve been a rather monotonous experience and workplace environment, I was surprised to learn that, despite there being a slew of technical bugs and the odd game-breaking connectivity issue on launch, that the journey itself wasn’t half bad, with a lot of interesting features and interchangeable components for me to experiment with. And that sort of gave me hope for the studio’s next project—a game that, while of a complete different trade, was to replicate a lot of those same basic features in a culinary setting. Drive Thru Simulator rolled up to the window, and I was eager to take a bite.

On paper, you could argue that Drive Thru Simulator is the exact same as, well, just about any other husk of a business simulation game that you might find at the bottom of the dime-a-dozen barrel. Aside from its title swap, there isn’t a huge difference between this and a lot of alternate worlds. Like those that came before it, it primarily involves stocking pantries, serving guests, and making small changes to the basic infrastructure of the building to help enhance its appliances and other facilities. You can earn cash, unlock upgrades, and—you guessed it—pour your blood, sweat and tears into satisfying customers in exchange for bite-sized rewards. You can’t fault Red Axe Games for their ability to instill realism there, to be fair.

So, is Drive Thru Simulator worth the investment, or is it a job that you would be far better off scratching from the curriculum vitae? Let’s get behind the counter and talk about it.

Order Up

If you’ve ever so much as nibbled at the asphalt of a local burger joint drive thru, then you’ll no doubt have seen the staff who operate the windows—the folk who work their fingers to the bone upholding that same daunting script. It’s rare that you’ll see them with a smile smeared from ear to ear — and I don’t blame them. I don’t blame them, mainly due to the fact that, company benefits cast aside, they have one of the most mentally taxing jobs in the culinary industry. The food isn’t the problem; burger joints are famous for their efficient mass production and spectacular turnaround times. Oh, it’s the people, and the endless orders that plague their systems. Until recently, I couldn’t relate. But now, having endured a few shifts in Drive Thru Simulator, I can sort of feel their pain.

I jest, in ways. Truth be told, Drive Thru Simulator isn’t massively taxing, though it does require a few things — a patient mindset, being the most important. Like in any rags to riches story that involves frequent upgrades, bite-sized paychecks, and incredibly slow and dull progression hooks, the game asks not that you witness the golden era of a thriving business, but rather, that you start from the beginning, and watch the gradual transformation of its humble roots as it works its way through the traditional hoops. And it doesn’t come as too much of a surprise here, but the milestones here aren’t overly common, which means, if you lack the patience to wait for the results, then you’ll probably struggle to spectate the journey. But that’s a chore core game in a nutshell, I guess.

Flipping for (Pocket) Change

The good news is, Drive Thru Simulator doesn’t task you with laying the groundwork for an entire restaurant. Here, you spend your days installing the usual appliances in your kitchen, scrubbing the floors, and alternating between various fast food items on the menu, which includes preparing and serving a small assortment of burgers, fries, pizzas, hot beverages, and cold drinks. As you fulfill these orders, you earn cash to invest in other avenues—skill trees, fresh produce, maintenance upgrades, and a variety of tools that allow you the opportunity to increase your income and reputation. And that’s really all this game is about: bagging orders to earn cash, and using your cash to boost the store’s reputation. Nothing we haven’t already seen a million times before, but you know — if the slipper fits, yada yada yada.

As this is the Prologue that we’re reviewing, there is still quite a bit to touch on—pieces that, at least at the time of writing, we can’t comment on due to the fact that they’re hidden behind the full release. However, for what it does have in its current version—an introductory passage and an engaging loop of progression hooks—there’s just enough to give you a clear idea of how it will look in its final form. There isn’t a storyline, per se, so I wouldn’t expect anything to slip out of the woodwork on that front. But there is, on the other hand, a familiar stepping stone system that, while still largely predictable, contains all of those usual tropes that any avid business simulation fan would want to spend a few hours traversing.

Verdict

If you’re one for splurging time on things that provide little to absolutely zero benefit whatsoever, then realistically speaking, you should find a lot to twiddle your thumbs over here. The bitter truth here, though, is that, although the game itself does offer an oddly satisfying sense of achievement with each passing milestone, it isn’t massively different from your bog-standard chore core simulation game. But again, if you enjoy games that make a decent attempt at rekindling otherwise dull and repetitive jobs, then you’ve every reason to give Drive Thru Simulator the same attention.

As I mentioned earlier, Drive Thru Simulator still has a few doors to pass through before it reaches that final phase. As for whether or not that full release will be a meal ticket to something much, much greater is another question. I’m convinced, though, that if the devs can bring everything that has previously been mentioned on its roadmap to the table, then it’ll be a genuine contender in its chosen space. And while it’s unlikely to turn every head in the room, it will, on the other hand, appeal to those with an unshakable desire to scrub the floors of anything with a checkout kiosk and a broom. If that’s the sort of things that does it for you, then the Prologue alone ought to be enough to scratch that itch.