# Hard Truck Apocalypse > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Hard_Truck_Apocalypse > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Hard_Truck_Apocalypse.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hard_Truck_Apocalypse > Source revision: 1349375392 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) 2005 video game 2005 video game Hard Truck: Apocalypse Developer Targem Games Publishers EU: Nival Interactive NA: CDV Software WW: Buka Entertainment (Steam) Series Hard Truck Engine m3d engine Platform Windows Release EU: December 8, 2005 NA: June 19, 2006[1] Genres Vehicular combat, business simulation, post-apocalyptic science fiction Mode Single-player ***Hard Truck: Apocalypse***, known in Europe as ***Ex Machina***,[2] is a [vehicular combat](/source/Vehicular_combat_game) [post-apocalyptic](/source/Post-apocalyptic_fiction) [science fiction](/source/Science_fiction) [video game](/source/Video_game) developed by [Russian](/source/Russia) [game developer](/source/Video_game_developer) [Targem Games](/source/Targem_Games). It is part of the *[Hard Truck](/source/Hard_Truck)* series. It is a *[Privateer](/source/Privateer_(computer_game))*-like game based around vehicles instead of spaceships, set in a post-apocalyptic [Europe](/source/Europe). The player controls an armored truck and roams between settlements trading with locals, completing quests and fighting numerous enemies to upgrade the truck and acquire better weapons to progress through the main storyline. ## Plot Hard Truck Apocalypse is set in post-apocalyptic Europe, in which the main character sets out on a quest to avenge his father who was killed by raiders. The end of the world was brought about by nuclear war, as an effect of the radiation everyone wears masks. Throughout the game the player will choose which factions to oppose and which to support as he seeks to avenge his father's death. The player will travel across European countries in a variety of trucks whom he can upgrade with various parts and performance enhancing devices as well as many types of standard firearm weapons to high tech plasma, energy and explosive weapons. The game also features several factions some of whom the player will be forced to support or oppose. Vagabonds - Raider faction. Adventurers - A group of self interest adventurers who seek excitement and treasure. Felix's gang - A small gang of raiders who the main character wrongly accused of murdering his father. North path traders - A trading faction. Technicians - Group of people who highly value any and all technology. Explorers - People who explore the post apocalyptic world for lost technology and locations. Children of Iron - Are a group of fanatics who worship technology and build their settlements from iron. A complete opposite from the Druids. Druids - A faction devoted to the worship of nature. Steel Giants - Raider faction. Farmer's Union - A union the main character's father was a part of. Nomads - Raider faction. Free Traders Alliance - A trading faction. Brigade - A faction who are centered around their trucks. Commonwealth of Independent Towns - The enemy of Crimson dawn with whom they are in war with. Crimson Dawn - The Enemy of Commonwealth of Independent Towns lead by a charismatic and tyrannical leader. Oracle's Disciples- A faction that serves the oracle. [3][4] ## Gameplay Gameplay revolves around destroying enemies to get loot, selling it, and getting upgrades for truck or buying new vehicles. The game has four difficulties: Rookie, Experienced, Professional and Master.[5] There are many viable options for weapons, gadgets, vehicle parts, etc. The more the players upgrade own vehicle, the more expensive it gets, causing better and stronger enemies to spawn. Enemies will also damage the player's vehicle, and the players must repair it. There is an alternate storyline for added play-throughs. There are main quests (marked with orange), and side quests (marked with magenta), which the players can get from [NPCs](/source/Non-player_character) in settlements to earn more cash. There is a trading system in the game, where the player can buy goods from one settlement and sell it to another, or loot enemies to get goods. Different settlements will have different prices for buying and selling. ### Format The players earn coins by trading, selling loot and performing jobs for NPCs. They can buy various weapons and gadgets, and can buy better vehicles. The players can use these purchases to defend against attacks from raiders. ## Reception Reception Aggregate score Aggregator Score Metacritic 45/100[6] Review scores Publication Score Computer Games Magazine 2.5/5[7] Eurogamer 4/10[8] GameSpot 4.4/10[9] GameStar 60%[10] GameZone 4.5/10[11] IGN 4/10[12] PC Gamer (US) 54%[13] X-Play 2/5[14] The A.V. Club C−[15] The game received "generally unfavorable reviews" according to the [review aggregation](/source/Review_aggregator) website [Metacritic](/source/Metacritic),[6] receiving an average of 45 out of 100 over 11 critical reviews. ## Add-ons ### *Hard Truck Apocalypse: Rise of the Clans* (*Ex Machina: meridian 113*) *Rise of the Clans* is the official standalone expansion to *Hard Truck Apocalypse*, also developed by Targem Games. It takes place in a post-apocalyptic version of North America. The player controls a vagrant who is searching for the mythical city of [Edmonton](/source/Edmonton). The game reuses a lot of material from *Hard Truck Apocalypse*; most of the vehicles, weapons, and enemies are the same, but there are four brand new zones and a whole new storyline. ## *Crossout* The universe of *Hard Truck Apocalypse* expanded with its spiritual heir, post-apocalyptic [free-to-play](/source/Free-to-play) [MMO](/source/Massively_multiplayer_online_game)-action game *[Crossout](/source/Crossout)*, also developed by Targem Games in cooperation with [Gaijin Entertainment](/source/Gaijin_Entertainment). *Crossout* is set in 2047 after a mysterious viral epidemic known as the 'Crossout' which has laid waste to most of the population on Earth. The road warriors that survived must now battle for precious resources using deadly vehicles crafted from millions of possible permutations (body shape, armor, weapons, support systems and cosmetic enhancements).[16] *Crossout* is available on PC via [Steam](/source/Steam_(service)), [PlayStation 4](/source/PlayStation_4) and [Xbox One](/source/Xbox_One). ## References 1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Hard Trucks Got Themselves a Convoy"](https://www.ign.com/articles/2006/06/19/hard-trucks-got-themselves-a-convoy). *[IGN](/source/IGN)*. [Ziff Davis](/source/Ziff_Davis). June 19, 2006. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20220628230554/https://www.ign.com/articles/2006/06/19/hard-trucks-got-themselves-a-convoy) from the original on June 28, 2022. Retrieved June 28, 2022. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Hard Truck Apocalypse / Ex Machina on Steam"](https://store.steampowered.com/app/285500/Hard_Truck_Apocalypse__Ex_Machina/). *store.steampowered.com*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20220922155822/https://store.steampowered.com/app/285500/Hard_Truck_Apocalypse__Ex_Machina/) from the original on 2022-09-22. Retrieved 2022-09-22. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Hard Truck: Apocalypse (Game)"](https://www.giantbomb.com/hard-truck-apocalypse/3030-22923/). *Giant Bomb*. Retrieved 2025-09-18. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Hard truck Apocalypse | RPG Jeuxvidéo ⚔️"](https://www.rpgjeuxvideo.com/test/hard-truck-apocalypse/) (in French). 2006-07-16. Retrieved 2025-09-18. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Alesta (2024-12-04). [*Hard Truck: Apocalypse (2005) FULL GAME No Commentary*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=byiQTpEyzuk). Retrieved 2025-09-18 – via YouTube. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-MC_6-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-MC_6-1) ["Hard Truck: Apocalypse for PC Reviews"](https://www.metacritic.com/game/hard-truck-apocalypse/critic-reviews/?platform=pc). *[Metacritic](/source/Metacritic)*. [Red Ventures](/source/Red_Ventures). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20170714133359/http://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/hard-truck-apocalypse) from the original on July 14, 2017. Retrieved August 3, 2017. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** "Review: Hard Truck Apocalypse". *[Computer Games Magazine](/source/Computer_Games_Magazine)*. No. 191. [theGlobe.com](/source/TheGlobe.com). October 2006. p. 68. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Allen, Darren (July 7, 2006). ["Hard Truck: Apocalypse"](https://www.eurogamer.net/ss-hardtruckapoc-pc). *[Eurogamer](/source/Eurogamer)*. [Gamer Network](/source/Gamer_Network). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20220628232056/https://www.eurogamer.net/ss-hardtruckapoc-pc) from the original on June 28, 2022. Retrieved June 28, 2022. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Mueller, Greg (July 5, 2006). ["Hard Truck: Apocalypse Review"](https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/hard-truck-apocalypse-review/1900-6153535/). *[GameSpot](/source/GameSpot)*. Red Ventures. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20220628230555/https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/hard-truck-apocalypse-review/1900-6153535/) from the original on June 28, 2022. Retrieved June 28, 2022. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** "Hard Truck Apocalypse". *[GameStar](/source/GameStar)* (in German). Webedia. February 2007. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** Hopper, Steven (July 14, 2006). ["Hard Truck: Apocalypse - PC - Review"](https://www.gamezone.com/reviews/hard-truck-apocalypse-pc-review/). *GameZone*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20081231173629/http://pc.gamezone.com/gzreviews/r21185.htm) from the original on December 31, 2008. Retrieved June 28, 2022. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** McNamara, Tom (July 18, 2006). ["Hard Truck Apocalypse"](https://www.ign.com/articles/2006/07/18/hard-truck-apocalypse). *IGN*. Ziff Davis. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20220628230200/https://www.ign.com/articles/2006/07/18/hard-truck-apocalypse) from the original on June 28, 2022. Retrieved June 28, 2022. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** "Hard Truck Apocalypse". *[PC Gamer](/source/PC_Gamer)*. Vol. 13, no. 10. October 2006. p. 108. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** Stevens, Tim (August 29, 2006). ["Hard Truck: Apocalypse"](https://web.archive.org/web/20081122002316/http://www.g4tv.com/xplay/reviews/1232/Hard_Truck_Apocalypse.html). *[X-Play](/source/X-Play)*. [G4TV](/source/G4_(American_TV_network)). Archived from [the original](http://www.g4tv.com/xplay/reviews/1232/Hard_Truck_Apocalypse.html) on November 22, 2008. Retrieved June 28, 2022. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** Dahlen, Chris (August 2, 2006). ["Hard Truck: Apocalypse"](https://www.avclub.com/hard-truck-apocalypse-1798209606). *[The A.V. Club](/source/The_A.V._Club)*. [G/O Media](/source/G%2FO_Media). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20060811013739/http://www.avclub.com/content/node/51241) from the original on August 11, 2006. Retrieved June 28, 2022. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** ["Get early access on PlayStation today!"](https://crossout.net/en/news/165/current/). *Crossout*. May 16, 2017. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20170523204006/http://crossout.net/en/news/165/current/) from the original on May 23, 2017. Retrieved May 25, 2017. ## External links - [Official website](http://eng.targem.ru/features/hard_truck_apocalypse)[*[dead link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Link_rot)*] - [*Hard Truck Apocalypse: Rise of the Clans* official website](https://web.archive.org/web/20101106100840/http://eng.targem.ru/features/hard_truck_apocalypse_rise_clans) - [Steam game page](https://store.steampowered.com/app/285500/) - [*Hard Truck Apocalypse*](https://www.mobygames.com/game//windows/hard-truck-apocalypse) at [MobyGames](/source/MobyGames) --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Hard Truck Apocalypse](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hard_Truck_Apocalypse) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hard_Truck_Apocalypse?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.