A longtime PretendRaceCars.net reader sent this in today; a picture he’d taken a few weeks ago during a university lecture where one of his fellow students was deep into a session of Euro Truck Simulator 2 and didn’t want to stop.

As North Americans, myself and Chris don’t really understand the obsession behind this game. Both of us own our own vehicles, so if we want to go on a road trip some where or run a remedial errand, we grab our keys and walk outside. We seem to be in the minority, however, as SteamCharts shows that Euro Truck Sim 2 is blowing away the combined active player count of Project CARS, DiRT Rally, and Assetto Corsa.

My theory is that due to Europe’s fantastic public transit services, and the fact that very few Europeans own their own vehicle compared to North Americans, ETS2 provides the freedom and exploration they otherwise don’t usually get with subways, trains, buses, and cabs. Others have stated that it’s perfect for a rainy day or as a way to unwind after dealing with stress in the real world, but doubling the active player count of every other major racing title combined on a daily basis?

So we need your help! Tell us, in the comments, what makes this game so addicting – neither of us get it!