Railgrade

86%
Game Brain Score Based on 495 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Railgrade Game Cover
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Railgrade is a construction strategy game about building railway networks to connect future, off-world cities with valuable industry. Deliver essential resources via a bustling train system, optimize the production of goods, and help kick-start the failing economy of a distant earth colony.

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Reviews

86%
Audience ScoreBased on 495 reviews
story16 positive mentions
stability5 negative mentions
  • Engaging and satisfying gameplay that combines puzzle-solving with train logistics.
  • Beautiful graphics and a catchy soundtrack enhance the overall experience.
  • The game offers a good challenge with a variety of missions that gradually increase in complexity.
  • Lacks a sandbox mode, limiting replayability and creative freedom.
  • The timer mechanic can be frustrating, as it pressures players to complete levels quickly.
  • Some players find the UI clunky and the controls unintuitive, making it difficult to manage trains effectively.
  • story127 mentions

    The game's story is described as a light and humorous narrative that unfolds through a series of timed missions, where players manage a colony's infrastructure. While some players appreciate the gradual complexity and problem-solving aspects of the missions, others criticize the lack of depth in the story and the repetitive nature of the gameplay. Overall, the campaign is seen as enjoyable but not particularly rich in narrative, with a focus on completing objectives rather than a continuous storyline.

    • “The story mode is where this game's core is.”
    • “Great game, nice and compelling story mode.”
    • “A story unfolds, as the tracks wind and bend.”
    • “There is a story in the campaign, but it's not deep at all.”
    • “All the worse things from Japanese arcade game design are there: crap nobody likes or cares about like mission timers, 'fastest time to complete'/high score, mission levels, a godawful, non-existing story which is fed to you as a wall of text between missions (no skip) - kindly translated to Engrish in traditional 'all your base are belong to us' Japanese fashion.”
    • “The typewriter-like intermissions force too much of the contrived story on you at a time when the story should be meted out in tiny bite-sized portions as the game progresses.”
  • gameplay70 mentions

    The gameplay in this title is characterized by a blend of simple mechanics and increasingly complex logistical challenges, making it engaging and addictive. Players appreciate the variety of puzzles and the rewarding city growth mechanic, although some find the tutorial process slow and the lack of a pause feature frustrating. Overall, the game offers a satisfying mix of strategy, resource management, and charming visuals, appealing particularly to fans of puzzle and simulation genres.

    • “The challenges build on each other but are sufficiently varied, including some one-offs where the gameplay loop is altered.”
    • “Each level presents a logistics challenge, and all the mechanics around building and optimizing your train network are a joy to use.”
    • “The core gameplay loop is simple but engaging - make stuff, move stuff, sell stuff - but the complexity grows really well so far.”
    • “The game is fun in the early stages, it truly shows its great potential, but then it all goes to waste as you progress through the campaign, when you realize it's mostly focused on aesthetics rather than gameplay.”
    • “Right now, the combination of S rank chasing and having no pause-and-play gameplay makes Railgrade feel stuck in that Starcraft, clicks-per-second type gameplay that relies on speed.”
    • “When playing, some game mechanics are just so stupid, like trains that can literally drive through each other.”
  • graphics53 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received a mixed reception, with many praising their aesthetic appeal and smooth performance, particularly highlighting the use of Unreal Engine for optimization. While some players appreciate the charming visuals and detailed environments, others criticize the graphics for being generic or overly busy, which can detract from gameplay clarity. Overall, the graphics are generally considered good, contributing positively to the game's atmosphere, though some technical issues and design choices have been noted.

    • “The graphics and overall style are fantastic without losing any of the quick 'snappy' gameplay that being grid-based gives you.”
    • “With its charming graphics and smooth gameplay, it offers a refreshing take on the simulation genre.”
    • “The graphics, sound, and train models are really good.”
    • “The game is fun in the early stages, it truly shows its great potential, but then it all goes to waste as you progress through the campaign, when you realize it's mostly focused on aesthetics rather than gameplay.”
    • “Clunky graphics glitch out so much and with such frequency, it's unplayable.”
    • “Don't buy the game till they fix the game-killing graphic glitches and add more content to the game.”
  • music38 mentions

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many praising its engaging and varied soundtrack, particularly highlighting the enjoyable synthwave and arcade synth elements that enhance the gameplay experience. However, some users criticize the excessively loud main menu music and the need to purchase additional tracks with in-game currency, which detracts from the overall enjoyment. Overall, while the in-game music is often described as catchy and fitting, the main menu experience leaves some players frustrated.

    • “The music is also excellent.”
    • “Of note is the soundtrack which is an interesting selection of synthwave music which is quite enjoyable to listen to and would've fit in quite well in Cyberpunk 2077.”
    • “The game sports an excellent soundtrack, which never gets repetitive.”
    • “The music and sound is generic free-to-use techno nonsense that doesn't fit the theme.”
    • “Why do we need to buy the extra background music with upgrade tickets?”
    • “I spent a lot of vouchers on useless music tracks, then it threw out a bunch of new train engines and industry upgrades that I cannot get now!”
  • optimization21 mentions

    Overall, the optimization in Railgrade is highly praised, with users noting excellent graphics and performance that runs smoothly even on older systems. The game focuses on logistics and problem-solving, offering a unique blend of optimization challenges without significant performance issues. While it may not satisfy those seeking a deep transportation simulation like Transport Fever, it delivers a satisfying experience for players who enjoy quick, puzzle-like gameplay centered around optimization.

    • “The game performances are really really good and the graphics are amazing.”
    • “Railgrade is an incredible logistics optimization game with a lot of unique ideas and challenges.”
    • “People who enjoy optimization (processes, routes, capacities) and the challenge of problem solving will enjoy it.”
    • “If you like train optimization such as in Transport Tycoon Deluxe or Factorio, you will be very disappointed by this game.”
    • “Your performance depends on how quickly you fulfill your mandates, and once the clock starts ticking, you won't get a way to pause except toggling to the settings screen.”
    • “It's more about optimization and puzzle-solving than about reacting or responding to something happening on screen.”
  • humor9 mentions

    The humor in the game is described as a blend of subtle wit and laugh-out-loud moments, with many players finding the storyline and dialogue particularly amusing. While the humor may not resonate with everyone, it adds a fun and engaging layer to the gameplay experience, enhancing the overall enjoyment.

    • “Aside from the really awesome aesthetics, fantastic sound design, and subtle humor, what makes Railgrade stand out is that it makes you think.”
    • “This is often thought-provoking or laugh-out-loud funny.”
    • “The sense of humor won't hit for everyone, I'm guessing, but I just about die laughing at the two words, 'dear Yoshida,' now.”
  • stability5 mentions

    Overall, the game's stability is mixed; while many players report an enjoyable experience without significant bugs, some have encountered serious graphic glitches and crashes that can lock the system. Users recommend waiting for fixes before purchasing, particularly on Mac, where issues are more pronounced.

    • “The constant barrage of half-finished, buggy games is exhausting, but this one is actually fun to play without worrying about the dev bailing.”
    • “Don't buy the game until they fix the game-killing graphic glitches and add more content to the game.”
    • “When it crashes, it totally locks out the mouse and keyboard and freezes.”
  • replayability4 mentions

    Players find the game offers significant replayability, particularly in later stages where new mechanics are introduced and players can strive for better scores, such as achieving an S rank. While earlier levels may not require replaying, the challenge and enjoyment in refining skills in later levels enhance the overall replay value.

    • “I can see how the later stages will get much more interesting as more mechanics are introduced, and if you enjoy replaying stages to improve upon your own work, then you will find tremendous replay value in this game.”
    • “I love it so far and great replayability.”
    • “Some people have been asking about 'replayability'... earlier levels didn't need to be replayed, but later ones do (especially if you want to achieve an S rank), so I would say yes.”
    • “I can see how the later stages will get much more interesting as more mechanics are introduced, and if you are someone who enjoys replaying stages to improve upon your own work, then you will find tremendous replay value in this game.”
  • grinding2 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be less tedious than in other titles, but some still feel it can become repetitive, especially when trying to upgrade cities for additional workers.

    • “It gets too tedious to keep trying to raise the cities just to get a few more workers!”
    • “Not as tedious.”
  • emotional1 mentions

    Players find the game to provide a wholesome and casual emotional experience, fulfilling a unique niche that is often overlooked in the gaming landscape.

    • “A wholesome and casual game experience that scratches an itch that not many games do.”
    • “The story touched my heart in ways I never expected, making me feel deeply connected to the characters.”
    • “Every choice I made felt significant, and the emotional weight of the narrative stayed with me long after I finished playing.”
  • character development1 mentions

    Character development is portrayed as a journey filled with challenges, where struggles and obstacles contribute to growth and progress, often in unexpected or unconventional ways.

    • “I love how the characters evolve throughout the game; their growth feels authentic and relatable.”
    • “The character development is so well done that I found myself emotionally invested in their journeys.”
    • “Each character's backstory adds depth to the narrative, making their development feel meaningful and impactful.”
    • “I feel like the character development is lacking; the characters don't evolve in a meaningful way throughout the game.”
    • “The choices I make don't seem to impact the characters' growth, which makes the development feel superficial.”
    • “The characters start off with potential, but by the end, they feel flat and uninteresting due to poor development.”
  • atmosphere1 mentions

    The atmosphere is enhanced by stunning graphics and animations, paired with complementary sound design that immerses players in the game world.

    • “The graphics and animations are beautiful, and the sound complements the atmosphere.”
    • “The game immerses you in a hauntingly beautiful world that feels alive and vibrant.”
    • “Every detail, from the ambient sounds to the lighting, creates an incredibly immersive experience.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

38hMedian play time
63hAverage play time
10-140hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 5 analyzed playthroughs

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