The Long Drive

Hungarian indie game developer Genesz made The Long Drive, a one-of-a-kind open-world driving simulation game. On September 25, 2019, the game came out on Steam as an Early Access game. Its unique gameplay style and barren, enigmatic atmosphere soon drew in the survival-exploration community. The Long Drive is different from other racing games since it takes you on a lonely drive over a huge desert. The destination is not as important as the journey itself and the bizarre objects that are waiting for you to find them.

How To Play The Long Drive - Drive, Survive And Explore In The Wild World

The gameplay of The Long Drive revolves around driving across a vast desert with the sole goal: of keeping moving. Players will start with an old vehicle – be it a car, van, or bus – and have to check it, repair it, refuel it, change tires, and even replace the engine if necessary.

Along the way, you will encounter abandoned houses, empty gas stations, and random items – all of which can be picked up and used. It is important to manage resources properly, avoiding running out of gas, coolant or lubricant in the middle of the vast desert. In particular, the game has a day and night mechanism, rearview mirrors, realistic collision physics, and unexpected events – from wild rabbit attacks to mysterious phenomena that make the trip even more thrilling.

Game modes In The Long Drive – Every Choice, Every Experience

Free Mode – Free driving but never boring

If you love absolute freedom, this is the mode for you. No map, no limits, just your car and the endless road. In Free Mode, you can:

• Reach high speeds to break through digital gates – challenging your control and reflex skills.
• Overcome the tracks within the time limit – requiring calculation and optimization of the journey.
• Find and repair broken car parts – an important part of surviving in the desert.

Complete these challenges, and you will receive rewards to upgrade your car, unlock accessories or continue your journey further.

Level Mode – Overcome each land, conquer the world

This is the mode for those who like to progress by level. You will pass 5 large levels in turn, each level corresponding to a different country. In each country:

• Small lands are marked by A, B, C, D ..., each area is a separate challenge.
• After completing all areas in a level, you will unlock the next country with increasing difficulty.
• Each level requires you to drive accurately, manage resources well and handle situations flexibly.

Level Mode brings a systematic adventure experience, where each journey is a new story and the feeling of "leveling up" is extremely satisfying.

Controls - Simple but requires skill

Despite its slow gameplay, The Long Drive still requires you to master your car with basic but very important operations. Here are the main controls in the game:

• W / Up arrow: Forward
• S / Down arrow: Back up or brake
• A / Left arrow: Turn left
• D / Right arrow: Turn right
• F: Honk the horn: Sometimes helps you "scare" some strange creatures or entertain yourself in the middle of the road
• R: Reset the car: Used when the car flips over, gets stuck, or cannot continue moving

Tips For Playing The Long Drive – "Bloody" Experience From The Gaming Community

The Long Drive not only requires driving skills but also survival tactics and smart resource management. Here are some useful tips from veteran drivers and the gaming community:

• Always prepare enough fuel and spare parts: Before you leave for a long trip, make sure to check the oil, coolant, and gas tank. Also, include as many spare parts as you can, such as tires, spark plugs, and pistons. Don't become stuck in the desert only because you don't have a small piece.
• Control the car gently, avoid strong collisions: Strong crashes can easily damage the brake system or wheels, making it hard to fix, especially when the automobile is broken or overweight.
• Use the horn (F key) when detecting animals or strange objects: Many players share that the horn helps "chase" wild rabbits or avoid unexpected events.
• Use reset (R key) at the right time: When the car is overturned or stuck, do not try to escape by yourself, but reset to avoid wasting time and damaging more parts.
• Explore abandoned areas carefully: Houses or gas stations along the road often contain a lot of fuel and valuable items, so do not miss the opportunity to "hunt" for resources here.
• Practice controlling in Free Mode before entering Level Mode: Getting familiar with the feeling of driving and vehicle physics will help you overcome the challenges of the level more easily.

The Long Drive offers players a challenging and engaging driving experience, combining survival skills and exploring the vast world. By applying these useful tips, you will easily overcome difficult roads, master the car and enjoy every moment of your endless journey.