Feeling a mix of excitement and pressure as I set up my first bus route in City Bus Manager, I realize how much I want to get it just right for the city’s public transportation users—probably because this city is my home. Thanks to OpenStreetMap (OSM) data, the game’s maps are loaded with familiar streets and landmarks, making the experience feel personal and authentic. These are my neighbors, who, like me, rely on efficient transit. My goal is to create a service that truly meets their needs—even if only in a simulation.
City Bus Manager is part of a growing group of management simulation games leveraging OSM’s community-driven data to turn the entire world into their playground. Other titles include Global Farmer, NIMBY Rails, and Logistical: Earth. In these games, players build farms, railways, and delivery networks across real-world landscapes, using actual data about fields, towns, and infrastructure to inform their decisions.
When the idea of integrating OSM was first discussed at PeDePe, the studio behind City Bus Manager, co-founder Niklas Polster admits they weren’t sure it was even possible. But once they secured the license, access to a vast database of streets, buildings, and bus stops opened up new gameplay possibilities. These real-world elements don’t just set the scene—they also influence how the game plays. For instance, passenger behavior is simulated based on real-world activity patterns: schools generate morning rush-hour traffic, while nightlife spots attract more riders in the evenings and on weekends.
Interestingly, players tend to connect with their local areas. Watching YouTube playthroughs, it’s common to hear gamers start by exploring their own city or town. That personal touch seems hardwired into human nature, says Thorsten Feldmann, CEO of Thera Bytes, the developer behind Global Farmer. At Gamescom 2024, every visitor at their booth wanted to input their postal code and see their own house in the game, highlighting just how strong this connection is.
There’s a unique thrill in reimagining familiar places—transforming a well-known park or historic site into a thriving farm or transportation hub. Using iconic locations like Buckingham Palace as starting points can make the experience even more immersive. “Creating stories around these famous landmarks can be more impactful than purely fictional environments,” Feldmann explains. Being able to control a place you see every day, or one that’s instantly recognizable, adds a layer of emotional engagement. For example, turning a royal garden into farmland to help combat childhood poverty might not solve the world’s problems, but it’s a powerful way to make a statement.
Many players have even shared stories about how playing City Bus Manager sparked an interest in public transportation careers. Given ongoing debates about the quality and management of local transit—especially as some regions consider re-nationalizing privatized services—these games tap into real-world issues. Even if it’s just pixels, players care about doing it right. Polster notes that their Discord community is full of transit enthusiasts, and some players have been inspired to pursue careers in public transport thanks to the game.
Of course, using OSM data isn’t without its challenges. Since it’s a volunteer-run project, the data can sometimes be incomplete or contain errors. PeDePe developers regularly identify and fix these issues manually, but they also encourage players to contribute directly by editing OSM. Many gamers take this opportunity to improve data accuracy in their local areas, which benefits everyone—players, developers, and the broader community.
A particular hurdle is that OSM tends to have more detailed information about roads than about field boundaries or other land uses. This creates “grey areas” where gameplay limitations emerge because the data doesn’t fully cover certain regions. To address this, the developers created a map editor that allows players to overlay satellite imagery from other sources and fill in missing details. However, this means that those who prefer not to create their own maps are limited to areas with existing data or user-generated content.
While management sims aim for realism, OSM offers a useful, though imperfect, tool for creating believable environments. It allows players to control and experiment within familiar spaces, fostering a deeper connection. But it’s important to remember that not every aspect of real-world complexity can be perfectly replicated. As Feldmann points out, dealing with these limitations can sometimes be frustrating. Still, the reward comes from successfully bridging the virtual and real worlds—finding solutions that feel authentic and meaningful.
Ultimately, both developers and players are drawn to the idea of blending real-world familiarity with simulation. When it works, it’s incredibly rewarding—creating a sense of achievement rooted in genuine places and stories. Whether it’s managing a city’s bus routes or building a farm near iconic landmarks, these games offer a captivating way to explore and connect with the world around us.
