Mashinky

About

Mashinky is a single player and multiplayer strategy game. It was developed by Jan Zelený and was released on October 6, 2018. It received positive reviews from players.

"Mashinky is a strategy game that challenges players to build their own transport empire on a procedurally generated map. With realistic graphics, isometric construction mode, and boardgame-like rules, players must lay tracks, research and buy new vehicles, manage routes, and compete against economic rules to transport passengers and cargo. The game offers multiplayer and single-player modes,including co-op and PvP, and is compatible with community mods through Steam Workshop."

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85%

Audience ScoreBased on 2,062 reviews

graphics214 positive mentions

stability52 negative mentions

Mashinky offers a unique token-based economy that encourages players to engage with various industries rather than just focusing on cash.
The game features beautiful graphics and a dual-view system that allows players to switch between a construction mode and a scenic view, enhancing the overall experience.
The developer is responsive to community feedback and regularly updates the game, showing a commitment to improving and expanding the gameplay.

The signaling system can be confusing and often leads to trains getting stuck or colliding, which can be frustrating for players.
The game currently lacks sufficient content, with only a few eras available, leading to a sense of repetitiveness and limited replayability.
There are performance issues, especially when many trains are in operation, causing crashes and lag that detract from the gaming experience.

graphics
432 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
49%
1%
The graphics in the game have received largely positive feedback, with many players praising the beautiful visuals and the dual graphic modes that allow for both a realistic view and a simplified building interface. While some users noted occasional performance issues and a lack of detail at lower levels, the overall aesthetic is described as charming and engaging, reminiscent of classic transport tycoon games but with modern enhancements. However, a few critiques mention that the graphics can be demanding on hardware and that certain elements, like the absence of animated characters, detract from the immersive experience.
- “The graphics are beautiful, from a satellite-like view all the way down to a first-person view.”
- “Stunning graphics (incredible zoom) and very detailed play-through are just some of the reasons why I love it.”
- “The visuals are stunning and love the 3D look of the world and the ability to go from that into build mode.”
- “Graphics are not staggering when you get down to the driving/walking level.”
- “Graphics are pretty, but 95% of the time you are in ugly/building mode so you don't get to see them.”
- “The landscape and trains are nice to look at, but the biggest missing piece graphically is that there are no people, no birds, no animals, nothing but deserted houses, streets and stations with ghostly echoes of past activities, and zombie trains driving themselves across a green but lifeless world.”
gameplay
326 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
69%
1%
The gameplay of Mashinky is characterized by a blend of simplicity and complexity, drawing inspiration from classic titles like Transport Tycoon while introducing unique mechanics such as resource tokens and town growth systems. Players appreciate the engaging and addictive nature of the gameplay, which allows for customization and strategic planning, although some have noted a steep learning curve and occasional performance issues. Overall, the game offers a rewarding experience with a charming aesthetic, making it a promising addition to the transport simulation genre, despite being in early access.
- “Gameplay can be modified by various settings: use only one depot, trains don't 'magically' reverse at stations, eras through research and/or date, etc. Add different map sizes and settings; the replayability is very good.”
- “The progression feels very rewarding and the gameplay is challenging while not overly difficult.”
- “Mashinky successfully pairs that same level of simplicity with the beauty of modern graphics while giving the gameplay new elements that add more interesting challenges.”
- “And at this stage, the entire gameplay collapses.”
- “Gameplay is rather repetitive.”
- “Maybe it's because I am used to the train fever and transport fever game mechanics, but getting trains to go where you want and to use the track you want is a freaking nightmare in this game.”
story
138 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
10%
86%
4%
The game's story aspect is largely underdeveloped, with players noting a lack of cohesive narrative and engaging missions, often reduced to simple fetch tasks that feel repetitive and uninspired. While there are numerous quests available, many players find them lackluster and disconnected from the gameplay, leading to a sense of tedium rather than motivation. As an early access title, the game is seen as a framework for future development, with potential for improvement in storytelling and mission design.
- “Within no time you have a beautiful world resembling a model railway where you can imagine for hours, with the addition of puzzles and quests presented in a board game manner.”
- “It's great fun making tracks and moving passengers around, progressing through the different quests and challenges and watching my fleet grow.”
- “As you build up your network of stations, depots, etc., you get quests to complete specific tasks and unlock new locomotives, carriages, extensions for buildings and progress through different technological ages.”
- “While this is early access and will likely change in the future, at present players who want a game that has a clear story and a robust quest/objective system should stay clear.”
- “More importantly, do not buy this if you want a story, you want the game to explain things to you, you want any kind of visual or audio bells and whistles, you want track laying that enables you to build complex, fun, visually impressive rail networks, or if you want a game that you spend more time playing than tinkering with or fighting with - because this one will be much the opposite.”
- “No story mode, only sandbox with simple fetch quests.”
music
136 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
66%
6%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating its charming jazz and blues soundtrack that enhances the overall experience. However, some users noted that the music can become repetitive over time, and there are concerns about the lack of variety and control options for the soundtrack. Overall, while the music is generally well-received for its nostalgic feel, players have expressed a desire for more tracks and customization options.
- “It's very charming in ways only an indie game could be, and perhaps has accomplished the 'modern TTD' look, feel, and sound (particularly in the great music) better than any other game in this genre both out or upcoming on the market.”
- “The in-game music is relaxing and sets the tone for the game world.”
- “This game is very relaxing with no pressures to build quickly against competition, the soundtrack is really nice the hours just fly by even though it feels like minutes of playtime.”
- “Music gets annoying pretty quickly.”
- “It gets pretty repetitive, and for some reason, the game has two copies of each song in the folder, so each song plays twice for a total of 20 minutes of repetition per each song.”
- “In a list of over 100 songs it can be rather tiresome if you have to click previous to listen to a track.”
optimization
72 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
69%
14%
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players noting significant performance issues, including low frame rates and high GPU usage even during minimal activity. While some aspects, like the simulation of numerous vehicles, run smoothly, the overall experience is hampered by poor multicore performance and demanding graphical requirements, making it less accessible on lower-end PCs. As the game is still in early access, there is hope for future improvements, but current optimization remains a major concern for many users.
- “However, the actual simulation, building, and rendering of hundreds of vehicles runs smoothly.”
- “A great puzzle game about trains where new resources are scarce and optimization is a must.”
- “If you like your optimized setup as it is, then you can just let it run for a while, and you can marvel at how efficiently and nicely it works.”
- “And terrible optimization - FPS drops to 5-10 in realistic camera mode.”
- “The game is currently pretty unoptimized especially since the game's graphics aren't really good.”
- “It seems to be very unoptimized as it runs very sluggishly on my computer.”
stability
56 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
7%
93%
The game is experiencing significant stability issues typical of early access titles, with frequent bugs, glitches, and crashes reported by users. While some players have noted that it runs well on certain platforms and shows potential, many express frustration over the game's performance, particularly in multiplayer mode and during complex operations. Overall, while there are minor bugs that may be addressed in future updates, the game remains largely unfinished and unstable as of October 2023.
- “Great immersion for an early access game, and new releases seem to be relatively bug-free.”
- “This also runs great on the Steam Deck for those who have one.”
- “But it is still very unfinished and buggy, although the full version was promised for 2022.”
- “Yes, it's buggy and frequently freezes up, forcing a full log out or reboot, but it has a lot of potential to be a replacement for one of my all-time favorites, Chris Sawyer's Locomotion.”
- “The game is also buggy -- trucks cannot find routes (even though there is one), trains crash on valid signals when you have too many, and the internal bug report crashes when you try to report something.”
replayability
32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
66%
9%
The game's replayability is a mixed bag; while it currently offers a solid experience with procedurally generated maps and various tweaking options, many players feel it lacks depth and content at this stage. However, as an early access title, it shows potential for high replay value, especially with future updates and additional content. Overall, players appreciate the immersive design and the ability to replay under different conditions, but they anticipate that replayability will significantly improve with more features.
- “The workshop elevates from a replayable game to a game that you actively want to play again under different restrictions and conditions.”
- “Great experience, the game has a huge replayability factor thanks to procedurally generated maps, so when you reach the final available era (so far) and master the balance of train routes and cargo delivery, you can just hop on the next map and start over.”
- “Even with the current features, the game already shows massive amounts of replayability and countless hours of happy, meticulous sculpting of a railway empire.”
- “As a result, the replayability is rather low at the moment.”
- “It is a good game, I think it will be really good, it just has no replayability at the moment.”
- “The replay value is limited right now, but will explode with additions of new content.”
grinding
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players have mixed feelings about the grinding aspect of the game, with many finding it tedious and reminiscent of a never-ending to-do list. While some appreciate the challenge and puzzle elements, others feel that the micromanagement and track-laying mechanics can become frustratingly slow and require excessive trial and error. Overall, enjoyment of the grinding largely depends on individual tolerance for repetitive tasks.
- “I understand this might be a lot of fun for another player, but for me it just feels tedious and the game feels like some never-ending to-do list at work in futile hope to finally have some fun.”
- “Here, just laying any track from point A to point B involves tedious leveling of the ground, as the track laying system constantly complains about the slightest slope hitting the path of the track at the wrong angle.”
- “It gets really tedious micromanagement exercise pretty soon.”
humor
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is praised for its humor, providing an entertaining experience with over 20 hours of engaging and funny gameplay, even in its alpha state. Players express excitement for future content, highlighting the game's ability to deliver laughs while maintaining a relatively bug-free experience.
- “An overall funny and entertaining experience; I personally can't wait for new content to be released.”
- “The game is funny already.”
- “It is a big alpha, but it still offers about 20+ hours of deep, funny gameplay, mostly without critical bugs.”
emotional
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is consistently described as "wholesome," evoking strong feelings of positivity and warmth among players. Its emotional impact is highlighted as one of its standout features, contributing to an overall uplifting experience.
- “A downright wholesome game.”
- “This is just about the most wholesome game ever.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
50%
Users appreciate the game's atmosphere, often enjoying the experience of riding along with their trains or trucks and immersing themselves in the bustling network they've built. The absence of passengers or creatures does not detract from their enjoyment, indicating that the environment itself is engaging and satisfying.
- “The atmosphere in the game is incredibly immersive, making every ride feel like a journey through a living, breathing world.”
- “The attention to detail in the environment creates a captivating atmosphere that draws you in and makes you feel part of the world.”
- “I often find myself riding along with one of my trains or trucks, just soaking up the atmosphere of the busy network that I've created. At the moment, there are no passengers or creatures; I'm not sure if those are planned, but I don't really miss them.”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization strategy has been criticized as unprofessional, with users perceiving it as a cash grab rather than a genuine effort to develop the game.
- “This is unprofessional, and smells like he just wants to cash grab instead of actually developing the game.”