Choo-Choo Charles

92%
Game Brain Score Based on 9,911 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Choo-Choo Charles Game Cover
Choo Choo Charles never takes itself seriously, but there's a fun game at its core with simple yet effective mechanics.
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In "Choo-Choo Charles," players navigate an open world, collecting resources and completing missions while avoiding a creepy, spider-like locomotive named Charles. The game features a day-night cycle and dynamic weather, adding to the eerie atmosphere. Your main goal is to upgrade your own train and take down Charles in a final showdown.

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

92%
Audience ScoreBased on 9,911 reviews
story612 positive mentions
grinding71 negative mentions
  • story2,213 mentions

    The story of "Choo-Choo Charles" is generally described as simple and straightforward, often revolving around fetch quests that lack depth and variety. While some players appreciated the unique premise and humor, many criticized the brevity of the game, with most completing it in under three hours, including side missions. The narrative is considered engaging enough to keep players interested, but it leaves much to be desired in terms of character development and plot complexity, leading to a consensus that the game could benefit from additional content and more intricate storytelling.

    • “The story was interesting, and the gameplay was easy to pick up and surprisingly entertaining.”
    • “The story is fun and entertaining and there is rarely a dull moment.”
    • “The story was great for the game.”
    • “The story is very barebones and left to imagination.”
    • “The quests are all fetch quests wandering back and forth across an uninteresting open world.”
    • “The side missions are very simple (except for the ghost mission).”
  • gameplay971 mentions

    The gameplay of "Choo-Choo Charles" is characterized by a unique train-based mechanic that combines exploration, combat, and resource management, providing a fun yet simplistic experience. However, many players find the stealth mechanics lacking, often leading to frustration during encounters with NPCs, as they rely heavily on basic actions like peeking rather than more developed stealth options. Overall, while the game offers an engaging atmosphere and enjoyable core mechanics, its short playtime of around 2-4 hours and repetitive quest structure have led to mixed feelings about its value for the price.

    • “Great atmosphere, gameplay, and characters.”
    • “The gameplay is simple but fun, and even if it is not really a horror game, the atmosphere was creepy enough.”
    • “The gameplay loop for Choo Choo Charles is very simple, but it keeps you engaged throughout the game.”
    • “The gameplay is mediocre with the fetch quests being simple and mindless and no real challenge to be found anywhere.”
    • “Extremely repetitive and boring gameplay loop.”
    • “The stealth mechanics are horrendous; you're way better off aggroing guards' attention and then drawing them back to your train to shoot them than you are trying to sneak.”
  • graphics570 mentions

    The graphics of "Choo-Choo Charles" have received mixed reviews, with many players praising the unique art style and atmospheric visuals that enhance the horror experience. While some found the graphics to be impressive for an indie title, others noted issues with optimization, leading to lag and performance problems even on lower settings. Overall, the game is seen as visually appealing, though it may not meet the standards of high-end AAA titles.

    • “The graphics are insanely beautiful for such a unique game, with great atmosphere and colors that help it. Sounds are good as well; thunders do have a good effect on the vibe of the zone and danger.”
    • “The graphics are really good, gameplay is compact and simple, the horror aspect is pretty low, but when you hear Charles in the distance with his horn coming at you, it gets scary.”
    • “This game is amazing, for the fact it was made by such a small team. I cannot fault it at all; I would buy any addition to this game as I think the concept is amazing, not only that but the graphical elements are fantastic and overall is a 10/10.”
    • “Mouths don't move, story is weird, graphics are that one art style that tries to be realistic but fails with everything looking like free assets.”
    • “The visuals are trash and the game runs poorly.”
    • “I think the story is cool and it's a fun game, but I felt like for a twenty dollar game, it wasn't what I was expecting considering it was a short story and the graphics weren't all that.”
  • atmosphere295 mentions

    The atmosphere of "Choo-Choo Charles" is widely praised for its eerie and immersive qualities, effectively creating a sense of tension and paranoia throughout the gameplay. Players appreciate the combination of haunting sound design, atmospheric visuals, and the constant threat posed by the titular spider train, which keeps them on edge. While some critiques mention the game's simplicity and occasional lack of depth, the overall consensus is that the atmospheric elements significantly enhance the horror experience, making it a standout feature of the game.

    • “The eerie and anxious atmosphere, combined with enemies that can spot and kill you on sight, keeps you on edge.”
    • “The atmosphere is fantastic, no music in non-combat situations was a good choice, really creeps me out.”
    • “The atmosphere creates an underlying feeling of dread no matter what you do, with certain elements of its design utilizing train sounds to both pull you into the action and simultaneously put you on the edge of your seat.”
    • “There's a more tedious atmosphere than there is one of horror; the track system will have you doing loops unless you fully optimize your route, leveling your train is entirely lackluster, your weapons are far from balanced making only one of them actually useful, and above all the content for price really isn't balanced fairly.”
    • “The survival horror atmosphere quickly dissipates when you learn that there are no sneak attacks or ambushes from Charles, as he always announces his presence, and that you are completely safe from him inside all buildings.”
    • “The atmosphere is tense, but the gameplay gets dull after the first 15 minutes, and the enemies, whether Charles when you have no upgrades or the stealth parts, are simply not polished enough.”
  • humor236 mentions

    The humor in "Choo-Choo Charles" is a standout feature, blending absurdity and self-awareness to create a uniquely entertaining experience. Players appreciate the quirky characters, particularly the memorable "pickle lady," and the intentionally janky animations, such as NPCs lacking moving mouths, which add to the comedic charm. While some found the humor hit-or-miss, the overall consensus is that the game successfully balances its horror elements with a lighthearted, meme-inspired approach, making it a fun and engaging title.

    • “The game masterfully mixes horror and humor, maintaining tension while also delivering laughs.”
    • “The characters have some funny quips, and the dialogue for the NPCs was funny, making the world fun to explore.”
    • “Charles is both horrifying and hilarious in equal measures, keeping you on edge with how random he is and fast, but also made me chuckle when he bounced my player character around like a beach ball.”
    • “The plot has too many holes to even be considered anything but comedic, and it's really just not funny at all.”
    • “It's pretty clear some aspects of this game are meant to be satire and the game doesn't take itself seriously. I don't like calling things unfunny, but there weren't any actual attempts at jokes in the game; everything felt like the developer was trying to be as absurdist as possible.”
  • music159 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its ability to enhance the atmosphere and build tension, effectively contributing to the horror experience. Reviewers note that the soundtrack, while minimal, is well-composed and complements the game's eerie setting, with specific tracks heightening the sense of dread when the antagonist, Charles, is nearby. Overall, the sound design, including ambient sounds and music cues, plays a crucial role in creating an engaging and anxiety-inducing gameplay experience.

    • “The soundtrack is great; I liked every song I heard, and it really enhances the experience.”
    • “The music and atmosphere are probably the best things about this game.”
    • “The music sets the mood well, and the sound effects are on point.”
    • “The music was simple and not too much outside of the box and rather was consistent with the same theme.”
    • “Music, while repetitive, is great at creating an eerie atmosphere which will keep you constantly on edge throughout the whole play-through.”
    • “Also the few times I did see Charles it wasn't super terrifying as you can tell he's coming when the music changes and you hear him in the distance.”
  • replayability131 mentions

    The game's replayability is a contentious topic among players, with many noting its short playtime of around 2-5 hours and a general lack of substantial replay value. While some players find enjoyment in speedrunning or completing challenges, others criticize the repetitive gameplay and linear story, suggesting that the game would benefit from additional content or modes to enhance replayability. Overall, opinions vary widely, with some players enjoying the experience enough to return, while others feel it lacks the depth needed for multiple playthroughs.

    • “The game also doesn't take that long to beat, but it is definitely super fun and has replayability value.”
    • “Replayability of this delectable installation of Choo Choo Charles will keep you on the edge of your seat and coming back again and again.”
    • “Amazing and fresh gameplay with tons of replay value.”
    • “Overall a competently made horror game but not much replay value.”
    • “This game is very fun but short and has no replay value.”
    • “The game is quite expensive for the length of the game (I have beaten it and done all the side content I just need to collect all the paint and I will be 100% done with less than 2 hours (with no replay value)).”
  • optimization100 mentions

    The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant performance issues such as stuttering, frame drops, and crashes, particularly on higher settings. While some users noted that the game runs smoothly on lower-end systems and praised its visuals, others expressed frustration over the lack of optimization, especially given the game's reliance on Unreal Engine. Overall, while there are instances of good performance, the consensus leans towards the need for further optimization to enhance the gaming experience.

    • “The game runs smoothly, visually fantastic, has a constant ominous feel that keeps you on your toes, and fighting Charles is an adrenaline rush that can be found in games like Ultrakill and Doom Eternal.”
    • “The game is well optimized and runs smoothly for the most part, even during the intense scenes of the game.”
    • “For a single developer game, it runs smoothly while looking pretty damn great.”
    • “The game is extremely badly optimized; I don't have an amazing computer but can run things like RDR2 on high settings with FSR.”
    • “I like the game and all, but my only real problem is that it's not CPU and GPU optimized. This game isn't really demanding, but for some reason, it takes up like 90% of my CPU and 98% of my GPU, making my computer scream sometimes.”
    • “Abysmal frame rates reek of zero thought of optimization.”
  • grinding99 mentions

    Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, with many missions described as simplistic fetch quests that lack engagement. Stealth sections and encounters with enemies often feel cumbersome, leading to a gameplay experience that can become monotonous. While some players appreciate the atmosphere and design, the general consensus is that the grinding detracts from the overall enjoyment of the game.

    • “The game's pacing felt good as well, not grindy at all and it was fun to explore.”
    • “Collecting all the paints wasn't too tedious like other games' collectibles.”
    • “Not too grindy, with a great ambiance all around.”
    • “The characters are well voiced, but the missions they send you on are super simplistic and tedious.”
    • “There's a more tedious atmosphere than there is one of horror; the track system will have you doing loops unless you fully optimize your route. Leveling your train is entirely lackluster, your weapons are far from balanced, making only one of them actually useful, and above all, the content for the price really isn't balanced fairly.”
    • “The quests are just tedious and boring; all you do is go do something for someone and all you get are scraps, no accessories, no new weapons (except the flamethrower and the rocket launcher which are the only things you can get other than scraps).”
  • stability84 mentions

    Overall, the game's stability is generally praised, with many players reporting minimal to no bugs or glitches during their playthroughs. While some users noted occasional minor visual issues and a few gameplay mechanics that felt buggy, the majority found the game to run smoothly, even on older systems, and appreciated its polished experience compared to other recent titles. A few players did encounter significant bugs, but these were not widespread, leading to a largely positive reception regarding stability.

    • “It's also remarkably a bug-free game that runs super well with no slowdown.”
    • “If I have any praise to give, it's that it's a very polished indie game, no glitches or performance issues at all.”
    • “It's polished, (mostly) bug-free and runs really well.”
    • “Way too many glitches; I keep glitching out of my train in the end and I teleported 1045 meters away from my train. The game is way too small and not worth 20 bucks.”
    • “The game is also extremely buggy when doing missions because it either forgets to give you a key to something or just doesn't even mention it.”
    • “The game seems to be okay for a game that was made by one person, but I keep seeing glitches and have tried multiple times to proceed with the game. No matter what I do, I keep getting soft locked in the first cave and can't do anything about it.”
  • emotional27 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game elicits a range of feelings, from tension and unease while navigating the island to a deeper investment in the protagonist's journey and the colorful cast of characters. While some players felt that certain narrative elements, like the early death of a character, diminished emotional impact, others praised the game's ability to create a sense of vulnerability and nostalgia. Overall, the blend of humor, horror, and heartfelt moments contributes to a unique emotional experience that resonates with players.

    • “As I unraveled the mysteries of the train and its haunted history, I found myself becoming emotionally invested in the protagonist's plight.”
    • “The emotional stakes of the intro sequence set the tone and weight for the rest of the story effectively, and that leads us to the colorful cast of the rest of the islanders - almost all of them have an interesting personality and place in the world, but between the solid worldbuilding and backstory of the overall game, there are individual highlights and amazing humor, such as the legendary pickle lady.”
    • “Truly a heartfelt moment in the entire game; me and John Smith cried a lot that night.”
    • “You play for 2 1/2 hours for some semi-interesting gameplay with an extremely weak and boring story.”
  • character development13 mentions

    Character development in the game has received mixed reviews, with some praising the character designs, particularly that of the protagonist Charles, for their detail and creativity. However, many players feel that the overall character development is lacking, citing a lack of depth in the story and environment, which diminishes the potential for richer character exploration. While the visuals and art style are often highlighted as outstanding, the brevity of the game leaves players wanting more in terms of narrative and character growth.

    • “The game's brevity left me yearning for more exploration and deeper character development.”
    • “This game is incredible; even though it's about 3.7 hours long, it was still a very well put together game. The character design is phenomenal, especially Charles; the amount of detail put into this game is unreal.”
    • “I highly recommend this game. It's an amazing game for only $20.00, worth the money with an amazing fear factor, great storyline, and fabulous character design and dialogue.”
    • “The character designs are boring (seriously dev, you can't take the time to even add a simple mouth movement when they're talking?), the island is boring... just everything other than Charles is boring and I can't see making a game and charging $20 for it banking on the main protagonist's design.”
    • “- Character designs were awful, it didn't fit with the environment or the atmosphere that we were in at all.”
    • “Barely a story, no environment building, character development... plus all the upgrades for weapons and armor seem to be cosmetic.”
  • monetization7 mentions

    The monetization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the absence of intrusive ads and microtransactions, viewing the $20 price as a fair way to support a small development team. However, others criticize it as a potential cash grab, citing concerns over the game's length, lack of substantial updates, and the timing of merchandise announcements shortly after release. Overall, opinions vary on whether the pricing reflects the game's value or if it falls short of expectations.

    • “Genuinely was looking forward to the game, but now it feels like an out of season Halloween cash grab that would have popped up for free five years ago.”
    • “It's a simple cash grab game.”
    • “$20 sort of a cash grab in my opinion, more of a one and done game.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

58% average critic score

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Play time

4hMedian play time
4hAverage play time
3-5hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 153 analyzed playthroughs

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