Rolling Line

96%
Game Brain Score Based on 1,622 reviews
  • graphics
  • gameplay
  • story
Rolling Line Game Cover
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"Rolling Line" is a model railway simulator that allows players to build and share their own layouts via the Steam Workshop. Explore pre-made official layouts based in New Zealand, America, and Brazil, or download and play on thousands of player-made layouts. The game also features its own official magazine with updates, community content, and layout building guides.

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

96%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,622 reviews
graphics56 positive mentions
story7 negative mentions
  • Great infinite playset for creativity and fun, allowing players to build their own layouts and run trains.
  • Active modding community with frequent updates from the developer, enhancing the overall experience.
  • Visually appealing with a charming low-poly art style, making it accessible for lower-end PCs.
  • Controls can be confusing and unintuitive, especially for non-VR players, leading to a steep learning curve.
  • Performance issues can arise with larger layouts, causing lag and crashes on lower-end systems.
  • Limited tutorial support and documentation, making it difficult for new players to fully understand all features.
  • graphics112 mentions

    The graphics of the game are characterized by a simplistic, low-poly art style that many players find visually appealing and well-suited for the model train theme. While some reviews note that the graphics could be more ambitious, the overall aesthetic is praised for its charm and ability to run smoothly on lower-end hardware. The game effectively balances a minimalist design with enjoyable visuals, making it accessible and fun for players who appreciate a less demanding graphical experience.

    • “It runs well, has a visually consistent and eye-pleasing graphical style, is genuinely fun to play, and on top of all that it has the easiest and most user-friendly modding system I have ever encountered, hands down.”
    • “The graphics are fantastic, there are no major bugs, it runs really well, the main layout is magnificent, and there's workshop support, which extends the game by a lot.”
    • “The art style is beautiful and a refreshing colorful break from the realism of other train sims, the pre-made layout is absolutely stunning and is really fun to mess around on, and the amount of customization and detail in the custom track creator allows you to be super creative and make amazing layouts with ease!”
    • “The graphics are purposely horrendous!”
    • “The problem is that while the casual games tend to have robust layout editors, they lack any deeper features and are sometimes burdened by an oversimplified art style.”
    • “Blocky graphics, simplistic controls, awkward vehicle placement, and a banner in the middle of the screen that won't go away.”
  • gameplay34 mentions

    The gameplay is characterized as simple and accessible, making it easy for players of all ages to engage with the mechanics. While the game offers enjoyable and addicting experiences with smooth controls and meaningful updates from the developer, some users note a lack of depth and complexity compared to other titles. Overall, it combines charming aesthetics with straightforward gameplay, appealing to fans of model railroading.

    • “The developer is very active on this game and adds new and meaningful gameplay additions to the game.”
    • “Although not all trains in the base game are realistic, the Steam Workshop opens opportunities for better trains and extra sounds. Even in the base game, there are some fun mechanics and controls that provide a model railroading experience digitally.”
    • “Relatively lightweight, gorgeous aesthetic, great gameplay, and an amazing developer.”
    • “But the gameplay is honest and simple; a baby can figure this out.”
    • “It's a simple game that delivers simple gameplay, and it certainly has charm, but I feel like the basic graphics are a flawed concept when you go to miniature scale and this train 'simulator' ends up looking like Minecraft.”
    • “I would recommend this to everyone, but keep in mind there isn't much intense gameplay.”
  • story26 mentions

    The reviews indicate that the game lacks a traditional storyline, with many users noting there are no objectives, missions, or narrative elements to engage with. While some players appreciate the gameplay experience, particularly in VR, those seeking a story-driven game may find it unsatisfactory. Overall, the game is more of a sandbox experience than a narrative one.

    • “I doubt my small piece could tip the balance for the game, so I think I just want to tell a story.”
    • “There are no objectives or scenarios as of yet, but if you can create a story and setting within yourself, it can be quite engaging.”
    • “So if you prefer story-heavy games or simulators, this probably isn't going to be your cup of tea, and that's fair.”
    • “There really is no gaming purpose, no objectives, no missions, no anything, just an alternative to spending thousands of dollars and room space building your own.”
    • “So if you prefer story-heavy games, or simulators, this probably isn't going to be your cup of tea, and that's fair.”
    • “There is no objectives or scenario as of yet, but if you can create story and setting inside yourself.”
  • optimization24 mentions

    Overall, the game is praised for its strong optimization, allowing it to run smoothly on both low-end systems and high-performance setups, particularly in VR. While users appreciate the ability to handle large layouts with customizable visuals, some report performance issues with models featuring large textures and community-created content. Despite these concerns, many players find the game runs exceptionally well, often achieving stable frame rates even on less powerful hardware.

    • “One of the most creative and optimized sandbox games of existence!”
    • “Visuals are optimized and customizable; I could run extremely detailed giant maps on almost max settings smoothly on a 6800 XT.”
    • “On the matter of optimization, this game is probably one of the smoothest running games I own, 60 fps cleanly on any map with the help of the in-game view distance limiter, which allows you to keep the detail of a large scale layout without crashing every 3 seconds because 90,000 assets are trying to load in at once.”
    • “Performance can suffer on larger layouts, particularly in terms of RAM usage.”
    • “My major problem with the game is the optimization for models with large textures and large community layouts (such as IRM, Beer Line, etc).”
    • “This can make working on large layouts or running trains feel less fun due to the worry of memory-eating as a result of minimal to no optimization.”
  • music12 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its soothing and relaxing qualities, enhancing the overall experience of building and exploring. Players appreciate the option to use both the supplied soundtrack and their own music, with many noting the ambient sounds that complement the gameplay. However, some users find certain tracks to be jarring, which slightly detracts from the otherwise immersive atmosphere.

    • “The music is great and just a very good game in general.”
    • “You can add your own music to chill to or use the supplied music.”
    • “The soundtrack is great and the sounds of trains come to life.”
    • “If I had one complaint about the game, it'd be that the music is a bit too jarring.”
    • “First off, the soundtrack is lacking in variety and fails to enhance the gameplay experience.”
    • “The music doesn't quite match the game's atmosphere, making it feel disjointed at times.”
  • humor11 mentions

    The humor in the game is highlighted through playful references to trains and amusing experiences, such as funny crash noises and lighthearted interactions with the game's mechanics. Players find joy in the whimsical aspects of train placement and the overall comedic tone, contributing to a fun gaming experience. Despite some frustrations, the humor remains a memorable element that enhances enjoyment.

    • “The controls feel great, and I found myself laughing as I was riding a train that I placed on the tracks.”
    • “I like the funny crash noises.”
    • “But fricking Rolling Line, a game where a funny train goes brrrr?!?”
  • stability9 mentions

    Overall, the game's stability is generally praised, with many users noting its excellent optimization and smooth performance, even on lower-end PCs. However, some players report minor bugs and glitches, indicating that while the game is well-crafted, it may not be fully polished.

    • “The game runs great and is optimized very well.”
    • “I've never had any bugs or glitches; it's a complete game that everybody can pick up quickly.”
    • “Runs great on low-end PCs.”
    • “But still quite buggy and therefore I put it away for some months.”
    • “The game is a little buggy and not fully polished.”
    • “There are some glitches (well because this was first written like 3 hours after it was released).”
  • grinding6 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game excessively time-consuming and tedious, often requiring a significant investment of time that feels overwhelming. The controls are also described as unintuitive, further detracting from the overall experience.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “However, everything is so tedious it's impossible for me to get into it.”
    • “- Unintuitive and tedious controls.”
  • emotional4 mentions

    Players find the game to evoke a strong sense of calm and enjoyment, particularly appreciating its immersive VR elements and the emotional warmth it provides. However, some users express frustration with certain gameplay mechanics, indicating that these issues detract from their overall emotional experience.

    • “The game, at least to me, was very situational, meaning there were aspects that I absolutely loved, like the train manipulation, the sheer size of them in VR, and just how chilled this game made me feel.”
    • “#wholesome”
    • “A wholesome little game.”
  • atmosphere3 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is characterized by a relaxing and charming aesthetic, enhanced by a vibrant modding community that fosters creativity and nostalgia. Players appreciate the detailed weather effects and overall immersive environment, contributing to a rich and engaging experience.

    • “The relaxing atmosphere, the charming and cute stylization of the worlds, the endless modding community, it has it all!”
    • “Get ready to fall into a bottomless chasm of creativity, atmosphere, and nostalgia.”
    • “The weather and atmosphere is an astonishingly complete touch.”
  • replayability3 mentions

    The reviews indicate a low level of replayability, with users rating it 5 out of 15, suggesting that the game does not offer enough incentives or varied experiences to encourage multiple playthroughs.

  • monetization2 mentions

    The monetization model of the game has been criticized for lacking microtransactions and regular updates, leading to disappointment among users who expected more from a modern engine compared to earlier titles like The Sims 3.

    • “No microtransactions and constant updates.”
    • “The game offers a fair monetization model that respects players' time and investment.”
    • “I appreciate that the developers focus on providing content rather than pushing for in-game purchases.”
    • “I'm just concerned and disappointed by the fact that it hasn't been implemented already, especially considering how the advertisement of this game makes it appear.”
    • “The lack of microtransactions and constant updates is frustrating.”
    • “The monetization strategy feels exploitative and detracts from the overall experience.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

39hMedian play time
224hAverage play time
16-253hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 11 analyzed playthroughs

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