Railway Islands

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Railway Islands is a minimalist puzzle game where you manage a railway line to deliver resources to islanders. With 50 islands across four environments, players must create a safe path and deliver resources while enjoying satisfying sound effects. Using only the mouse, players will encounter unique puzzles for a relaxing experience.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

96%

Audience ScoreBased on 208 reviews

graphics12 positive mentions

grinding6 negative mentions

Fun and relaxing puzzle game that gradually increases in difficulty without becoming frustrating.
Offers a variety of puzzles with a satisfying gameplay loop, enhanced by a level editor and Steam Workshop support.
Charming art style and pleasant music create a calming atmosphere, making it a great choice for casual gaming.

Inconsistent difficulty levels can lead to frustration, with some puzzles being overly simple while others are excessively complex.
Technical issues such as visual glitches at higher speeds and a lack of intuitive controls can detract from the experience.
Limited content with only 50 main puzzles, leading to a desire for more levels or additional gameplay modes.

graphics
26 mentions
46 % positive mentions
42 % neutral mentions
12 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are characterized by a charming and vibrant art style, often described as cute and low-poly, which contributes to a relaxing atmosphere. While some players find the aesthetic appealing, others consider it somewhat childish and cluttered; however, most agree that it is well-executed for the price. Overall, the visuals, combined with soothing music, create a pleasant and enjoyable experience, despite minor issues with animations.
- “The art style is fantastic and lovely.”
- “The well-managed difficulty curve, sleek graphics, and relaxing music all contribute to a very fun and peaceful, yet challenging, experience.”
- “Relaxing music and minimalist low-poly art style make for a very chilled and pleasant experience; for the price, it's extremely worth it.”
- “I don't like the childish and cluttered graphic style, but for the price, it's absolutely fine.”
- “Graphic is pretty simple, the animations need some tuning (the train looks unstable when you go double speed).”
- “The graphics are cute and playing the game is relaxing, at least for the first half of the game.”
music
24 mentions
50 % positive mentions
38 % neutral mentions
13 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players finding it relaxing and enjoyable, enhancing the overall experience, while others criticize it as repetitive and unengaging. Many appreciate the ambient soundtracks, particularly the seasonal variations, which contribute to a peaceful atmosphere, though some suggest playing with alternative music for a better experience. Overall, the music is described as a blend of soothing and mediocre, with a few standout moments.
- “The season element gives variety, the soundtracks are very relaxing (I love the winter one) and the overall aesthetic is cute.”
- “Relaxing music and minimalist low-poly art style make for a very chilled and pleasant experience; for the price, it's extremely worth it.”
- “On top of that, the music is quite poor, a very short melancholy clip on loop that feels neither relaxing nor engaging.”
- “On the audio side, the game has unremarkable sound effects and fairly decent and suitably subtle ambient music.”
- “There is only you, conducting a train on a single track that carries you away with its plangent music on a harmonious peaceful ride that you silently wish would carry you on and away forever and ever.”
gameplay
24 mentions
25 % positive mentions
63 % neutral mentions
13 % negative mentions
The gameplay is described as mechanically solid and enjoyable, featuring a straightforward puzzle system that involves swapping and rotating hexagonal tiles to create routes. While the game offers a fun and relaxing experience with a good difficulty curve, it lacks innovative mechanics and is marred by some minor bugs and interface issues. Overall, players appreciate the game's polished execution and calming atmosphere, making it a worthwhile casual puzzle experience.
- “There are some fun mechanics here that, as you learn, will help you solve the puzzles while also getting very challenging.”
- “Superb little game with excellent gameplay and a good difficulty curve.”
- “What a sensational game! I'm surprised how polished the game is and how fun it can be. A simple idea, with shift and spin mechanics, brought a real challenge, and that combined with the beautiful setting made for a great experience!”
- “Mechanically solid as the game may be, you should expect quite a bit of unity jank (weird settings, overlapping menus, occasional bugs).”
- “There's not really any innovative gameplay to be found here, but what you get is well worth the price.”
- “All game mechanics are also introduced quite early on and there isn't anything new left for later.”
grinding
6 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game manageable, as it avoids excessive tedium and allows for 100% achievement completion without prolonged effort. While the initial levels are engaging and well-designed, some users note that certain challenges, particularly predictive counting, can become tedious as the game progresses. Overall, the game strikes a balance between challenge and enjoyment, minimizing the grind typically associated with similar titles.
- “But halfway through the levels, the user is burdened with a tedious 'challenge' of predictive counting -- where will this junction arrow be when the train makes its third pass through the second loop?”
- “The risk with these kinds of games is that they might get increasingly tedious after the first levels.”
- “The user is burdened with a tedious 'challenge' of predictive counting.”
stability
4 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Overall, the game exhibits some visual glitches, particularly noticeable when the speed is increased to 2x, but these issues do not significantly impact gameplay.
- “The train visually glitches out at 2x speed.”
- “Definitely has some glitches, but nothing that affects gameplay.”
atmosphere
4 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is characterized as calming and enjoyable, enhanced by lovely visuals, despite its simplicity and repetitive nature. Players appreciate the chill vibe it creates, making it a solid choice for casual gaming.
- “I enjoyed the chill atmosphere it produced despite being relatively simple and repetitive.”
- “In conclusion, this is a mechanically solid casual puzzle game with lovely visuals and a calming atmosphere.”
story
2 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The game lacks a predefined narrative, encouraging players to create their own stories through their experiences and choices. This open-ended approach allows for personal interpretation and engagement, making each player's journey unique.
- “There is no story but the one you make for yourself.”
humor
2 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Users find the humor in the game's glitches, particularly noting that the train's malfunctions provide an entertaining experience. The comedic value of these glitches adds to the overall enjoyment of the game.
- “My train was really glitchy, but it was funny to watch.”
optimization
2 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The game is noted for its smooth optimization, allowing players to enjoy a relaxing experience while rearranging tracks without any performance issues. Overall, it runs efficiently, enhancing the gameplay experience.