Welcome to Emberville, a small yet diverse community defined by its rich cultural traits, incredible architectural skylines, and striking scenic outlooks, all of which symbolize the city's natural complexity. Following its natural development and maturity as a city, you are tasked with improving its public transit systems around its 7 districts. This guide will act as an efficient walkthrough, combining strategic route systems with complex perk upgrades to achieve an incredible platinum.
Game
Bus Bound Trophies
PS5
3/10 · Easy
40-50 Hours
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Trophy Roadmap
Use this roadmap to understand the main path through Bus Bound Trophies. Review the difficulty, estimated time, platform coverage, walkthrough notes, and trophy-specific tips before starting your next clean-up run.
Tap a section to jump or scroll through the detailed breakdowns below.
Enjoy Building Emberville Into a Public Transit Dependent Community! (10-15 hours)
Story:Welcome to Emberville, a multicultural community with 7 unique districts. The public council has begun funding public transit, making buses safe and a popular choice for every resident in Emberville, and it is up to you to start a business and run routes to improve the district while providing efficient transit. Throughout the natural maturity of your business, you will visit and master 7 districts, all while combating natural occurrences that can make the typical bus route difficult to drive, leaving it up to you to problem-solve and follow the rules of the road to keep your customers safe and happy. The seven districts alongside their trophies (In order):- The Tracks (The Tracks)- Ashtree (Ashtree)- Belvedere (Belvedere)- Wrights Crossing (Wrights Crossing)- The Strings (The Strings)- Windfall Oaks (Windfall Oaks)- New Heights (New Heights, Off to New Heights)Along your journey, you may also encounter closed bridges. These are achievable by mastering each district within the story (Transit Crossing).Map:
Clean Up Time! (2-5 hours)
Clean Up Time!:It is time to clean up any miscellaneous trophies that were not obtained during the story. Although many trophies pop naturally, some may not have been encountered on the first playthrough. This stage typically can last between 2 and 5 hours, depending on your playstyle and general focus on trophies in your previous playthrough. Below is a list of miscellaneous trophies, including bus, routes, and service trophies:- Bus Stop Empire (Unlock 30 buses)- Growing Fleet (Unlock 10 additionals buses)- That's Better (Drive a custom line)- Marketeer (Unlock 10 perks)- Back to the Start (Drive a custom line where the first bus stop is also the last bus stop)- Ping Pong (Drive a mirrored line where all bus stops are served twice, except the turnaround stop)- Five Thumbs Up (Serve a bus stop with a multiplier of x5)- Perfect (Achieve a perfect positioning at a bus stop)- Smooth Operator (Drive a line without receiving any negative reaction)- Picasso (Showcase your artistry by customizing a bus)- Big Drop (Collect 300 likes or more when serving a bus stop)- Such a Perfect Day ... (Complete 3 shifts on a single day without receiving any negative reaction)- Perfect Service (Get the additional rewards of 7 upgraded districts)- Scenic Route (Drive a line containing bus stops in 7 districts)Strategies and simple step-by-step guides can be found under each trophy description.
The Grind! (20-25 hours)
The Grind!:WARNING: Please obtain the following trophies while driving an active route, rather than in bus freemode, to reduce trophy tracking bugs. Although not commonly reported, the guide owner encountered a bug for "I Would Drive 500 Miles ..." while in freemode, where the trophy tracker froze for approximately 3 hours (100 miles). To fix this issue, drive normally in route mode until the game naturally unfreezes the tracker.The final grind is the typical platinum deal-breaker, as it features 2 heartbreaking trophies that can evidently ruin Bus Bound's platinum for many. This stage primarily focuses on both "I Would Drive 500 Miles ..." and "Hail to the Bus Driver", which have you driving a total of 500 miles and serving 10000 different passengers in one playthrough, respectively. By the time you reach this stage, you will most likely have 33%-50% on each trophy, meaning you are already halfway to the platinum. Although this stage may sound outrageous, there are a few strategies to shorten playtime. To visit strategies, please read each trophy's description:- I Would Drive 500 Miles ... (Travel 500 miles): Recommended method:Method 1: The short route (5-8 hours)This route consists of 2 stops and takes 30 seconds to complete, sometimes netting 30-40 passengers per run. Times may vary depending on in-game loading times.Route:- SAS University Campus- Dorms
- Hail to the Bus Driver (Transport 10000 passengers)Recommended method:Method 1: Driving around the city at full speed using a recommended preplanned route (5-10 hours)
Controls!
Controls!Bus Bound is an amazing game, but starting out, the controls may be a bit confusing. Below is an in-game list of controls you may encounter throughout this incredible platinum journey:Driving:
Driving
Bus Serving / Bus Features
Gameplay
Foward
Bus Stop Brake
Interact
Reverse
Open/Close Doors
Left Indicator
Steering
Toggle High Beam
Right Indicator
Toggle Speed Limiter
Toggle Camera Mode
Toggle Windshield Wipers
Cycle Retarder / Recuperation Strength
Horn
Lock Camera Rotation
Trophy Tips
Detailed notes for each trophy covered in this guide.
Maiden Voyage
Story
Finish your first drive - Essentially, complete the game's main tutorial while exploring Emberville and its dense yet diverse community. The tutorial starts after the initial intro and is short, lasting approximately 10 minutes. During this time, you will cover controls for your bus, including passenger pickup. Guide Recommendations:- Relax and learn the basic controls at your own pace- Learn how to perfectly position your bus when picking passengers for the "Perfect" trophy.- Learn how to approach different turns, as some may need to be turned with a wide approach.- Understand and make use of your retarder, your speed limiter, your horn, and other controls which can be found on the left-hand side of the player's screen.
Ashtree
Story
Upgrade Ashtree - After upgrading The Tracks, you will be introduced to the district of Ashtree, a small yet impressive student community with incredible architecture. Upon completion, a short celebratory tour will showcase your improvements to Ashtree.Upgrading a district is primarily sectioned into 3 sub-missions, which are completed by mastering different bus stops, simply by earning "likes" for each bus passenger. On the right-hand side of the screen, a multiplier can be found and increased depending on your current perks (check Marketeer for more information) and your bus mastery side effect, which can drastically increase total likes for each spot depending on how many passengers leave the bus during that stop. To easily complete this trophy, follow the goals and guidelines presented in the top right-hand of the screen during route building, which show how to upgrade the district. This trophy's progress can be directly tracked in-game and through PSN's trophy list as a percentage.Guide recommendations:- Take a look at the different stats that can be used to increase your like multiplier, which can be found on the screen before visiting the office.- Perfect your position and learn the rules of the road, which increase your like multiplier.- Have fun and take it slow; this game is meant to take time, and rushing can create disasters on the road and increase your time spent on sub-missions.
Belvedere
Story
Upgrade Belvedere - After upgrading Ashtree's district, you will be introduced to the district of Belvedere, a community focused on artistic media, presented in different methods, including social outlets. Upon completion, a short celebratory tour will showcase your improvements to Belvedere.Please view the trophy "Ashtree" for specific tips while conquering each sub-mission.
The Strings
Story
Upgrade The Strings - After upgrading Wright's Crossing district, you will be introduced to the district, The Springs, a musical community with incredible views. Upon completion, a short celebratory tour will showcase your improvements to The Springs.Please view the trophy "Ashtree" for specific tips while conquering each sub-mission.
The Tracks
Story
Upgrade The Tracks - Following completion of the tutorial, you will have full access to the Tracks district, a developing community with many workers using public transit. Upon completion, a short celebratory tour will showcase your improvements to The Tracks.Please view the trophy "Ashtree" for specific tips while conquering each sub-mission.
Wright's Crossing
Story
Upgrade Wright's Crossing - After upgrading Belvedere's district, you will obtain access to Wright's Crossing, a tourist attraction district featuring many different social events. Upon completion of the district, a short celebratory tour will showcase your improvements to the district of Wright's Crossing.Please view the trophy "Ashtree" for specific tips while conquering each sub-mission.
Windfall Oaks
Story
Upgrade Windfall Oaks - After upgrading The Strings' district, you will be introduced to the district of Windfall Oaks, a residential area. Upon completion, a short celebratory tour will showcase your improvements to Windfall Oaks.Please view the trophy "Ashtree" for specific tips while conquering each sub-mission.
Off to New Heights
Story
Unlock New Heights - Upon completion of Windfall Oak's district, the story will transition its focus onto the New Heights district, a main commuting center for office jobs and natural city life. This trophy is automatic, and you will receive it shortly after receiving the "Windfall Oaks" trophy.
New Heights
Story
Upgrade New Heights - Upon completion of the Windfall Oaks district, players will gain access to the New Heights District. Upon completion, a short celebratory tour will showcase your improvements to New Heights.Please view the trophy "Ashtree" for specific tips while conquering each sub-mission.
Transit Crossing
Story
Unlock 7 bridges - Unlocking bridges occurs naturally and is considered part of the story, as these bridges allow access to different districts. Each bridge is initially flagged as closed, and the requirement to open a bridge can be viewed directly by hovering the player's in-game cursor over the selected bridge. A total of 7 bridges can be unlocked naturally, and this trophy will pop after the completion of opening each bridge.
Note: Each red dot represents a bridge.
Bus Stop Empire
Story
Unlock 30 bus stops - This trophy is obtained during the game's main story, where the player will master different districts and different bus stops to obtain more bus stops.Please view the trophy "Ashtree" for specific tips while conquering each sub-mission, which will unlock different bus stops.
Growing Fleet
Story
Unlock 10 additional buses - Buses are unlocked by mastering different districts and bus stops, occurring naturally throughout the game's main story. Bus Bound offers a total of 17 unlockable buses, making this trophy easily obtainable.
That's Better
Story
Drive a custom line - Custom lines are essential for the successful completion of Bus Bound's platinum and are shortly introduced after the tutorial. This trophy can be stacked alongside the trophy "Back to the Start".Example:
Back to the Start
Stack
Back to The Start - This trophy can be stacked alongside the trophy "That's Better". This trophy can be unlocked by completing a custom bus route where the first bus stop is also the last. The in-game route creator indicates this based on bus stop selection.Example:
Marketeer
Unlock 10 perks - Perks are powerful upgrades/effects which can directly increase like ratings, like multipliers, and passenger totals. Perks are essential for the successful completion of later grinding stages, which include grindy trophies like " I would Drive 500 Miles ..." and "Hail to the Bus Driver ...". To view unlocking requirements for each perk, visit the office and click on stats. On this page, a list of perks alongside their effects is present.Stats Page:
Ping Pong
Drive a mirrored line where all bus stops are served twice, except the turnaround stop - To earn this trophy, drive a line that mirrors itself. Essentially, create a line with a, b, c, d, stops, then add c, b, a stops on top of the original spots.Example to better explain: - A: Panda St- B: Frontier Hub- C: Viaduct Drive- D: City Hall- C: Viaduct Drive- B: Frontier Hub- A: Panda St
Upon completion of this route, the trophy will pop.
Five Thumbs Up
Serve a bus stop with a multiplier of x5
Serve a bus stop with a multiplier of x5 - This trophy is obtained after serving a single bus stop with a 5x multiplier, which can be found at the bottom right of the screen. This bar is typically filled by driving normally, following traffic laws, and perfecting bus alignment at a stop (Visit "Perfect" for more information). This trophy can easily be obtained with any bus, and can also be obtained by overkill multipliers and perks, which can be found in the perks section when managing your bus company.Note: This image shows how big of a multiplier you can obtain, indicating this trophy will be obtained naturally.
Perfect
Achieve a perfect positioning at a bus stop
Achieve a perfect positioning at a bus stop - This trophy requires you to stop at a bus stop perfectly, or in other words, aligning the bus to the curb to remove any conflict passengers may receive when stepping off the bus. This trophy may take several attempts to pop, as aligning the bus to the curb is not properly explained in the game's main tutorial.To maximize success for this trophy, a few tips and tricks can be used, including:- Follow and align the bus with visual imprints found on the ground, i.e., bricks, tiles, etc.- For the front alignment, stop the bus right before the white line, allowing a little room for the front.- Keep a minimum distance of one in-game brick away from the curb; pictures are provided to help visualize when imprints found on the ground are not present.Perfect front alignment:
Perfect curb alignment:
Smooth Operator
Drive a line without receiving any negative reaction
Drive a line without receiving any negative reaction - This trophy is obtained by driving a line without getting any disapproval from passengers. These negative reactions occur if you do not follow local traffic laws, encounter collisions, or find yourself late for a bus stop. Although daunting at first, this trophy can be obtained on any route. Theoretically, this means that short routes may be used to limit possible discrepancies found on the road. A good short route found within this guide can be located in the "Hail to the Bus Driver …" trophy description.
Picasso
Showcase your artistry by customizing a bus
Showcase your artistry by customizing a bus - This trophy is obtained by entering the company garage and customizing a bus to your liking. You can customize a bus by changing its base paint, bottom layer, and top layer. Simply customizing one part and saving the livery will pop this trophy.
Big Drop
Collect 300 likes or more when serving a bus stop
RNG
Collect 300 likes or more when serving a bus stop - This trophy is obtained by serving a single bus stop while also obtaining 300 likes from passengers within that stop. This trophy can be obtained naturally, but is recommended to be obtained while following the "Hail to the Bus Driver …" short route. With this route, 300+ likes are easily obtainable if you drive a bus that can hold many passengers. Visit the "Hail to the Bus Driver ..." trophy description for more information on recommended buses. If you choose to obtain this trophy naturally, you may find that a large number of passengers for a single bus stop on a route occurs randomly. To boost these chances, strategic route-building combined with district and bus perks can be applied, but they typically do not help substantially.
Such a Perfect Day ...
Complete 3 shifts on a single day without receiving any negative reaction
Complete 3 shifts on a single day without receiving any negative reaction - Similar to "Smooth Operator", this trophy is obtained by completing a morning, day, and night route shift without receiving negative backlash from passengers. For more information, visit the "Smooth Operator" trophy description for route tips and general advice.
Perfect Service
Get the additional rewards of 7 upgraded districts
Grindy
Get the additional rewards of 7 upgraded districts- This trophy is obtained by upgrading each district bus stop to max level (star 1). Upgrading each bus stop in each district will unlock additional rewards, including different buses and powerful perks. This trophy can be tracked by visiting the perks page in the company office.
Scenic Route
Drive a line containing bus stops in 7 districts
Drive a line containing bus stops in 7 districts - This trophy is obtained by driving a bus route that has at least 1 bus stop from each district. This means that a minimum of 7 bus stops must be added, served, and completed for this trophy. Below is a step-by-step guide for immediate success:Route stops:- Hofer Gallery- Frontier Hub- The Rise- Belvedere Elementary- Ash Grove Road- W-EMB Live!- Central Shopping Street- River SideNote: This route includes 8 bus stops for in-game automatic direction efficiency purposes.
I Would Drive 500 Miles ...
Travel 500 miles
Grindy
Travel 500 miles - This trophy is obtained by driving a total of 500 miles, which can be tracked through PlayStation's trophy tracking. This is commonly the last trophy to be obtained before the platinum, and can take upwards of 10 hours depending on which method you use. Below shows 2 of the best strategies and methods to obtain this trophy, choose based on your playstyle:Note: Hours are based on the guide owner's personal time; expect to encounter different hours depending on in-game events.WARNING: Please obtain this trophy while driving an active route, rather than in bus freemode, to reduce trophy tracking bugs. Although not commonly reported, the guide owner encountered a bug for "I Would Drive 500 Miles ..." while in freemode, where the trophy tracker froze for approximately 3 hours (100 miles). To fix this issue, drive normally in route mode until the game naturally unfreezes the tracker.Method 1: Driving around the city at full speed using a recommended preplanned route (5-10 hours, heavily recommended).
Method 2: Glitching into the river and following the path (10-12 hours).At the bottom right of the map, you can enter a little forest between a highway shield, which will allow you to drive through a forest into the river. Once you reach the river, you can drive under the water.
Note: This method may be patched in the future, and takes slightly longer due to map issues and constant turning around.
Hail to the Bus Driver …
Transport 10000 passengers
Grindy
Transport 10000 passengers - This trophy is obtained by serving a total of 10000 individual passengers. It can be collected over unlimited routes, meaning it does not have to be completed in a single route. This trophy is typically the second-to-last trophy obtained before the platinum and can take approximately 5-10 hours, depending on how many passengers are obtained during the story. Below are 2 methods that maximize potential passengers per route:Note: Hours are based on the guide owner's personal time; expect to encounter different hours depending on in-game events.Method 1: The short route (5-8 hours, heavily recommended)This route consists of 2 stops and takes 30 seconds to complete, sometimes netting 30-40 passengers per run. Times may vary depending on in-game loading times.Route:- SAS University Campus- Dorms
Method 2: Morning, Afternoon, and Night routes. (5-10 hours)These routes are specifically designed to be combined with district perks to maximize passenger intake. Each route is created in a district, with perks designed to boost passenger numbers at different times of day. It is recommended to name the route so it is easy to locate. Below showcases the best routes:Morning (Windfall Oaks): approximately 100-140 passengers per run- Park and Ride- High Road- Fairview- Park and Ride- High Road- Fairview- Park and Ride- High Road- FairviewAfternoon (The Tracks): approximately 100-150 passengers per run- Frontier Hub- Viaduct Drive- Panda St- Frontier Hub- Viaduct Drive- Panda St- Frontier Hub- Viaduct Drive- Panda StNight (The Strings): 100-130 passengers per run- River Stage- Music Row- Hall of Fame- River Stage- Music Row- Hall of Fame- River Stage- Music Row- Hall of FameRecommended Buses:
Bus
Image
Xcelsior 60ft (62 passengers)
Electric 60ft (67 passengers)
Fuel Cell 60ft (67 passengers)
Platinum Driver
Collect all trophies
Collect all trophies - Obtained after collecting all trophies offered in the base game of Bus Bound!