It's time you tried American Truck Simulator (or Euro Truck Simulator 2), and I'm not kidding — they're better than you think

MOZA TSW Truck Wheel with Euro Truck Simulator 2 on PC
I never would have pictured myself as a virtual trucking fanatic, but somehow, here we are. (Image credit: Ben Wilson | Windows Central)

Sim games are getting more mainstream, and I'm happy to see it. Euro Truck Simulator 2 is one of the most (surprisingly) addictive games I've played in recent memory, and Amazon Prime Day sales are making it easier for me to recommend, alongside its American Truck Simulator sibling. It's a PC-only title for now, but Xbox and PlayStation releases have been teased for a while.

So, if you wanted to drive a virtual truck around a representation of your home state or your favorite European country, what exactly do you need to get started? Well, you can play either game with a mouse and keyboard, but any kind of controller makes it a better experience. Here's what I recommend for a basic steering wheel setup, with optional extras and higher-end alternatives.

The absolute basics: A wheel and pedals

Thrustmaster TMX Racing Wheel with pedals
Pedals included
Save 31% ($40)
Thrustmaster TMX Racing Wheel with pedals: was $129.99 now $89.99 at Amazon


Thrustmaster already made an entry-level wheel (T128), but its TMX regularly undercuts it with deals like this. This comes with an accelerator and brake pedal, and enough buttons to handle common truck controls.

💲 Price check: $129.99 at Best Buy | $119.99 at Walmart | $129.99 at Newegg

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Logitech  G29 Driving Force Wheel and Pedals
PC/PS4/PS5
Save 40% ($119.51)
Logitech G29 Driving Force Wheel and Pedals: was $299.99 now $180.48 at Amazon


You'll rarely see coverage of racing wheels without the G29 mentioned, and it's for a good reason. Logitech makes great wheels, and while this one is built for PlayStation, it's totally compatible with trucking on Windows.

💲 Price check: $189.98 at Best Buy | $229.99 at Walmart | $189.98 at Newegg

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Optional: A realistic truck-style setup

MOZA Trucking Bundle (R5 Direct Drive Base, TSW Truck Wheel, SR-P Lite Pedals, Wheel Clamp)
Maximum immersion
Save 6% ($30)
MOZA Trucking Bundle (R5 Direct Drive Base, TSW Truck Wheel, SR-P Lite Pedals, Wheel Clamp): was $499.99 now $469.99 at Amazon


Now we're talking. If you don't need to hear my pitch on truck simulators because you're already in the know, then MOZA's bundle of its TSW truck wheel, direct drive base, desk clamp, and pedals is the ultimate option.

Windows Central review: ⭐⭐⭐⭐½

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Logitech G Driving Force Shifter
Manual shifting
Logitech G Driving Force Shifter: was $59.99 now $42.73 at Amazon


Most trucks in the game offer an automatic gearbox, but there's a real sense of satisfaction when you shift through gears yourself, even if this doesn't really cover the size of a real-world truck's gearbox. It's still fun.

👉 Also see: $42.73 at Best Buy
💲 Price check: $57.99 at Walmart | $59.99 at Newegg

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Critical: Steam keys for either game on PC

American Truck Simulator
Steam key
Save 61%
American Truck Simulator: was $21.89 now $8.59 at Loaded.com (formely CD Keys)


"Experience legendary American trucks and deliver various cargoes across sunny California, sandy Nevada, and the Grand Canyon State of Arizona"

✅ Steam Deck Verified

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Euro Truck Simulator 2
Steam key
Save 43%
Euro Truck Simulator 2: was $19.89 now $11.29 at Loaded.com (formely CD Keys)


"Travel across Europe as king of the road, a trucker who delivers important cargo across impressive distances! With dozens of cities to explore, your endurance, skill and speed will all be pushed to their limits."

✅ Steam Deck Verified

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Are Xbox steering wheels compatible with PC?

Yes, any peripheral made for the Xbox with a USB connection generally offers even more features on a Windows PC. Steering wheels are simply a set of analog and digital inputs translated to game functions with a driver from the manufacturer's website. Most games on Xbox consoles allow you to customize button functions on racing wheels, but a PC will offer even more personalization.

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Ben Wilson
Senior Editor

Ben is a Senior Editor of Windows Central, covering PC gaming hardware, software, and everything connected to it. He's built more custom desktops than he can count, and has hands-on experience with some of the most exciting components and accessories for Windows PC and Xbox. A lifelong obsession with Microsoft's technology has led to broad expertise in laptops and in the cutting-edge processors that are pushing the industry forward.

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