Pandemic Train
- October 18, 2023
- Trigger Labs
- 2h median play time
Get on Steam"Pandemic Train" is a survival game set in a post-apocalyptic wasteland, where you command a train crew in search of a plague cure. With roguelike and strategy elements, maintain the train's functionality while fending off dangers in this alternate 20th-century timeline. Your actions will determine the fate of humanity.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game has a unique concept and interesting atmosphere, with nice art and music.
- Movement and aiming mechanics are easy to grasp, making gameplay accessible.
- The auto-scavenge feature helps streamline resource collection, reducing tediousness.
- Gameplay is repetitive, with limited level design and lack of variety in missions.
- Combat mechanics are basic and unengaging, with poor enemy AI and hitbox issues.
- The game suffers from optimization problems, including frame rate stutters and bugs that can disrupt progress.
- gameplay64 mentions
- 19 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with many players expressing disappointment in its lack of depth and repetitiveness. While the initial concept of train management and exploration is intriguing, it ultimately feels underdeveloped, with combat mechanics described as tedious and level design lacking variety. Overall, the game struggles to maintain engagement, leading to a perception of shallow content and minimal replayability.
“What I like is the unique idea, the gameplay, the feel, and the music of the game.”
“There seemed to be some stealth, interesting exploration, and some potential with the roguelite mechanics.”
“The gameplay mechanics are solid, the graphics are average, the sound effects average, the music awesome, and overall I think for 17 dollars this game is a really good investment.”
“But it turns out the train is very anecdotal and there's not much to manage in it; you actually spend most of your time exploring limited maps with poor level design, terrible combat gameplay, preset looting locations scattered around, all while enduring very basic dialogues with cringe attempts at humor.”
“Honestly, a bit boring... I was here for the train part of the gameplay, only to end up realizing it's just a mini part of the gameplay, in between first-person shooting sessions. Worse, you can never add wagons to your train, so the potential is immensely wasted and the train gameplay is extremely basic. Even the shooting/fighting part on the ground gets boring quite quickly, as it ends up being a contest of rapid clicking. Very disappointed, because the concept could've been so much more.”
“The worst part is that the core gameplay just isn't good enough to keep the game going.”
- story44 mentions
- 18 % positive mentions
- 59 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The story has been described as bland and unengaging, with many players finding it repetitive and lacking depth. While some appreciate the personal quests for leaders, the overall narrative fails to provide a satisfying conclusion or meaningful character development, leading to a sense of frustration and disappointment. Despite its intriguing premise, the story ultimately feels like a vehicle for gameplay rather than a compelling experience in its own right.
“The story seems intriguing so far, I want to see how this plays out.”
“All in all, it's not a perfect game, but I still enjoy it and I'll definitely play more to see how the story unfolds itself.”
“I really like the story.”
“The story is not that great, and the fact you can't go back to visit a different region or city is kind of silly.”
“The story is bland, and the gameplay gets stale after just 3 'journeys'.”
“It feels like the story was built around making the content cheaper by making you play the same levels.”
- graphics12 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the unique art style and atmospheric design, while others criticize them as basic and reminiscent of N64-era visuals, rating them as low as 3/10. Overall, while the aesthetic is praised for its dark and grim tone, many feel that the graphics could benefit from additional polish and refinement.
“The aesthetic was nice and I was ready to dive in.”
“I added this to my wishlist 3+ years ago after reading a post on /r/thiswarofmine about this game because of the style and atmosphere it showed, and all of that didn't disappoint: the art style, music, atmosphere, etc. is lovely and met my expectations; it's a bit dark and grim, and I like that.”
“Graphics are good, the story is fine, and the gameplay is unique; it feels like you're playing two different games, a top-down shooter and a colony survival.”
“The gameplay, graphics, sound, and mechanics are alright, but every aspect of the game could use just a little more tender loving care and polish.”
“Graphics: 3/10 - very basic and akin to N64 graphics.”
“The graphics are average.”
- atmosphere10 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 30 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is characterized by a dark and grim aesthetic, often evoking a sense of gloom reminiscent of Eastern Europe. While many players appreciate the art style and music, contributing to an interesting and immersive experience, some feel that the overall execution is dull and unpolished. Despite these criticisms, the atmosphere has met the expectations of several long-time fans who were drawn to the game for its unique style.
“The game atmosphere is very interesting.”
“I added this to my wishlist 3+ years ago after reading a post on /r/thiswarofmine about this game because of the style and atmosphere it showed, and all of that didn't disappoint: the art style, music, and atmosphere are lovely and met my expectations; it's a bit dark and grim, and I like that.”
“Don't get me wrong, the gameplay isn't really similar; it's more of a general atmosphere of gloom, plus I'm guessing it's set somewhere in Eastern Europe.”
“Don't get me wrong, the gameplay isn't really similar; it's more of a general atmosphere of gloom. Plus, I'm guessing it's set somewhere in Eastern Europe?”
“The atmosphere is a bit dark and grim, which I like, but it feels overly oppressive at times.”
“While the art style and music are lovely, the overall atmosphere can be quite heavy and draining.”
- replayability6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game has been criticized for its lack of replayability, with many users stating it offers virtually none unless players are pursuing achievements. Overall, the consensus is that the absence of replay value significantly detracts from the game's appeal, leading some to seek refunds.
“While the gameplay itself is decent, the replayability is nonexistent.”
“As it is now though, I cannot recommend it simply because of the lack of replayability and will be requesting a refund.”
“With how little replay value it has, that being zero unless you want the achievements, no.”
- music6 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is consistently praised as "awesome," contributing significantly to its unique atmosphere and overall experience. Reviewers appreciate how the dark and grim tone of the music aligns with the game's style, enhancing the emotional depth and immersion. Overall, the music is highlighted as a standout feature that elevates the game's appeal.
“What I like is the unique idea, the gameplay, the feel, and the music of the game.”
“I added this to my wishlist 3+ years ago after reading a post on /r/thiswarofmine about this game because of the style and atmosphere it showed, and all of that didn't disappoint: the art style, music, atmosphere, etc. is lovely and met my expectations; it's a bit dark and grim, and I like that.”
“The gameplay mechanics are solid, the graphics are average, the sound effects are average, the music is awesome, and overall I think for 17 dollars this game is a really good investment.”
- grinding4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, particularly after repeated encounters with human enemies, which quickly lose their appeal. Additionally, the slow-paced design between map nodes, requiring long waits for actions to complete, further contributes to the frustration.
“The first area with human enemies is okay, until you've played it for the 7th time, and then it becomes just tedious.”
“The design in between map nodes is extremely tedious, requiring you to wait about 5 seconds for each member to complete an action.”
“The first area with human enemies is okay, but after the 7th playthrough, it turns into a tedious experience.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game is criticized for being poorly optimized, with users noting that the voiceovers are particularly rough, indicating a lack of polish in the overall audio experience.
“Poorly optimized; voiceovers are rough.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted by amusing character designs, particularly the character Ela, who bears a resemblance to Michael Jackson, eliciting laughter from players.
“On a side note that I thought was kind of funny, the character known as Ela looks like Michael Jackson.”
- stability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The game suffers from moderate bugs that affect overall stability, alongside issues such as repetitive missions and a limited building area for trains, which detracts from the overall experience.
“The game is moderately buggy, which significantly affects the overall experience.”
“The missions are mind-numbingly repetitive, making it hard to stay engaged.”
“The building area of your train is annoyingly small, limiting creativity and expansion.”
