Double Fine Action Labs Announces Thank You Bus Driver for PC

Double Fine Action Labs has announced its first project, Thank You Bus Driver, introducing a chaotic public transportation experience to PC players. The newly established label focuses on smaller-scale projects featuring short development times. The game was recently showcased on the showfloor at PAX West, giving attendees an early look at its frantic gameplay loop.

Players assume the role of a bus driver whose main objective is picking up passengers and delivering them to their destinations before time runs out. The gameplay relies heavily on nerve-wracking multitasking. Drivers must navigate a small town while occasionally pulling out a physical paper map to check the city layout and their next destination. Because the map purposely obstructs the player's view, navigation requires memorization of the road ahead.

As passengers board the bus, drivers are informed of specific rules that must be obeyed, ranging from no phones to no sleeping and no stinking. When a passenger violates a rule, drivers can use a button to look backward and address the offender, typically with a slap to the face. Fare skippers and repeat offenders can even be picked up and thrown out of the back of the bus. Enforcing these rules is vital, as unsatisfactory passenger ratings reflect poorly on the driver's performance.

The visual presentation utilizes a whimsical black-and-white art style resembling a sketchbook, featuring anthropomorphic animal passengers. Additional obstacles, such as garbage trucks collecting bags along the side of the road, further complicate the driving challenge. Thank You Bus Driver is scheduled to release on PC on Wednesday, October 14.