Double Fine Releases New Bus Driver Game on Steam
The $4.99 simulation game has already earned a 94% positive rating from early players.
Updated on Oct. 21, 2026 in Gaming
Live Poll
Do you consider a game successful if it earns high ratings despite having very few players?
San Francisco gamers are getting a new local project with the release of Double Fine Productions latest title, Thank You Bus Driver. The simulation game puts players in the seat of a city bus driver tasked with navigating passengers to their destinations.
Why it matters
The release marks a notable shift for the independent studio following their departure from Xbox this past summer. The project highlights the ongoing creative output of the local team, now operating under Double Fine Action Labs.
The game holds a 94% positive rating from 127 user reviews, though the daily player count remains limited to an average of 25 to 30 users. Future growth remains unknown beyond the launch peak of 99 concurrent players.
The players
Double Fine Productions
A San Francisco-based independent game studio known for its creative projects.
Double Fine Action Labs
The publishing label for the studio's most recent title.
The details
In the game, players collect Thank Yous from passengers to earn extra time as they navigate to designated stops. The title is currently available on Steam for $4.99. This release follows a busy year for the San Francisco studio, which saw the launch of the multiplayer title Kiln in the spring and the PlayStation 5 release of Keeper in September.
Timeline
Spring 2026: Double Fine released the multiplayer title Kiln.
Summer 2026: The studio split from Xbox.
September 3, 2026: Double Fine released Keeper on PS5.
October 14, 2026: Thank You Bus Driver launched on Steam.
October 15, 2026: The game reached its peak of 99 concurrent players.
Across the Bay
This release follows the studio's high-profile split from Xbox earlier in the summer of 2026. The new title signals a departure from the larger-scale development models the team previously maintained.
Local gamers can pick up the new simulation title on Steam for $4.99. The gameplay mechanics rely on collecting social interactions from virtual passengers to successfully complete routes.
The takeaway
The game demonstrates that a small, focused project can earn high marks from a niche community even without mass-market player numbers. Prospective players should monitor the title's community updates on Steam to see if future content drops expand the average daily player base.
Further reading
For more on local independent development, visit the Gaming section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Game Rant.
Live Poll
Do you consider a game successful if it earns high ratings despite having very few players?
