Sweet Transit
- July 27, 2022
- Ernestas Norvaišas
- 9h median play time
Get on Steam"Sweet Transit" is a city-building and transportation management game set in a charming low-poly world. Design and grow your own towns, create efficient rail and road networks, and transport goods and passengers to keep your economy thriving. With weather and day-night cycles, seasons, and a variety of landscapes, the game offers a relaxing and engaging experience.
PC
Steam Deck
Windows
Epic Games
Reviews
- Unique blend of city building and train logistics, reminiscent of Transport Tycoon and Anno.
- Challenging gameplay that requires strategic planning and optimization of resources and train routes.
- Visually appealing graphics and a charming soundtrack that enhance the overall experience.
- Clunky and unintuitive UI that makes navigation and building frustrating.
- Steep learning curve with insufficient tutorials, leading to confusion about game mechanics.
- Bugs and balancing issues, particularly with train routing and resource management, can lead to frustrating gameplay experiences.
- gameplay210 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 70 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game is a mixed bag, with some players praising its intricate mechanics and smooth experience, while others criticize its confusing interface and unintuitive systems. Many find the train mechanics enjoyable and the city-building aspect engaging, but the steep learning curve and numerous bugs detract from the overall experience. Overall, it offers a unique blend of logistics and city management, but requires patience and a willingness to navigate its complexities.
“Gameplay is ultra smooth.”
“The meat and bones of this game is where it needs to be - the city building is simple to grasp but complex to master, the train mechanics are really satisfying once you embrace spaghetti networks and generally you will find yourself consistently learning new and fun ways of improving your network.”
“If you enjoy transport/city building games and don't mind taking the time to learn the mechanics, follow the tutorials, etc., this is a great game with plenty of room to grow.”
“The game mechanics are really weird, and I don't understand why they are like that.”
“After 45 minutes, I still did not understand the gameplay mechanics, goals, or missions.”
“The game is full of bugs and obtuse mechanics that the dumpster UI will not help you figure out.”
- graphics98 mentions
- 51 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally praised for their charm and aesthetic appeal, with many users highlighting the cute art style and smooth visuals reminiscent of titles like Factorio and Transport Tycoon. While the visuals are often described as beautiful and well-designed, some players note issues with clarity and differentiation between structures, as well as occasional glitches. Overall, the graphics contribute positively to the gameplay experience, enhancing the satisfaction of building and managing logistics in a visually pleasing environment.
“The graphics are really cute and there's a large variety of trains and buildings to play with.”
“The satisfaction of seeing all your trains whiz by with the charming aesthetic this game offers is immense.”
“Game runs great, has plenty of content, and the art style is gorgeous.”
“Bit janky, couldn't even complete the tutorial as it insisted I build dozens of trees around my village to increase aesthetics to a level that allowed me to proceed.”
“There are lots of pop-ups blocking your view, and the graphics do not help differentiate between the types of structures and resources.”
“The isometric graphics are old-school and don't even use a realistic vanishing point.”
- music80 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 48 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some players praising its charm and nostalgic quality reminiscent of classic railway games, while others find it repetitive and irritating, leading them to mute it. Many appreciate the upbeat and cheerful soundtrack that complements the gameplay, but a significant number of users express frustration over its repetitiveness and occasional glitches. Overall, the soundtrack is seen as a highlight by some, but a major complaint by others, reflecting a divide in player experience.
“The soundtrack is cheerful and feels at home in a game populated by determined workers conquering the wilderness via rails and optimism.”
“The game has probably the best soundtrack of any game I have ever played.”
“A labor of love with an amazing soundtrack and fun logistic puzzles to solve.”
“The music is bland and repetitive, and ends up making the game feel more tedious than relaxing, and yet the trains have no sound effects so all you can really listen to is that jangly half guitar solo over and over.”
“It's extremely rare for me to mute a game's music, but I felt like I had no choice with this one.”
“Biggest complaint so far is the music, of all things.”
- stability30 mentions
- 7 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 93 % negative mentions
The game's stability is widely criticized, with numerous reports of severe bugs that hinder gameplay, such as unresponsive worker and passenger systems, and frequent freezes. While some players have experienced smooth performance and appreciate the game's aesthetic, the overall consensus leans towards it being a frustrating and unpolished experience, making it largely unplayable for many.
“The game runs great and has plenty of content. The developer seems super dedicated and down to earth, and the art style is gorgeous.”
“It's game-breakingly buggy, with the two worst offenders being workers complaining that they have no work while businesses in their (train) range have no workers, and passenger/traveler routes just stopping to carry passengers for no reason at all.”
“A buggy, confusing, frustrating mess of a game.”
“Great concept, currently very buggy in my experience - in a way that makes the game unplayable.”
- grinding28 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being tedious and repetitive, with players noting that the extensive micro-management required for building and managing resources becomes a chore rather than an enjoyable challenge. Many reviewers express frustration with the game's user interface and the need for constant troubleshooting, which detracts from the overall experience. While some appreciate the forced expansion and complexity, the overwhelming amount of management tasks often leads to a sense of boredom and frustration.
“However, as the village grows and demands more resources, the game becomes increasingly tedious, and not in a fun way.”
“It's just the gameplay is too repetitive and tedious right now.”
“Getting anything to work right is tedious and you'll burn through the refund time trying to troubleshoot why x doesn't do y.”
- optimization26 mentions
- 46 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization aspect is a mixed bag; while the performance is praised for being smooth and crash-free, the menus require improvement. Players enjoy the focus on constant optimization and resource management, finding it engaging and addictive, though some note that the mechanics can feel simplified. The game is best approached with an optimization mindset, as inefficiencies can hinder progress.
“Amazing game if you're into automation, logistics, and optimization city builders!”
“At the current state in 0.5, before the big gameplay change update, the game is all about constant optimization which is actually fun even after 20 hours with the same map.”
“Very fun and addictive if you're into deep optimization and resource management games!”
“The menus are okay, but they need some optimization.”
“Just don't expect a classic transport tycoon game; this game is more of a puzzle and 'big factory' optimization game.”
“Multiple constraints make it difficult to achieve optimization.”
- story14 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game is criticized for its slow progression and lack of clear objectives, leaving players feeling compelled to build without understanding the gameplay mechanics or goals. While the train gameplay is enjoyable during challenge missions, the absence of a structured campaign or meaningful missions detracts from the overall experience, making it feel tedious and unengaging. Players express a desire for a more defined narrative and mission structure to enhance their experience.
“The actual train gameplay was a lot of fun, but that really only shone in the challenge missions.”
“There are challenges and a bare bones interactive tutorial, but I feel like the game would benefit greatly from a mission structure.”
“After 45 minutes, I still did not understand the gameplay mechanics, goals, or missions.”
“There is some guided progression, but nothing akin to missions or a campaign.”
“Like I said, I'll give it another go in a while, but I just don't have the patience to try and slog through a game when tutorial mission five was just more of the same from the first time I tried.”
- replayability10 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The game offers strong replayability through its procedural map generation, providing a variety of experiences for players. While it may not match the extensive replay value of titles like Factorio, it serves as a refreshing change of pace. Players express curiosity about potential future updates that could enhance the core game's replay value.
“You can generate maps with a lot of variety for great replayability.”
“(+) Replayability due to procedural maps.”
“Which can be a bit off-putting for replay value.”
“It is already up there with games like Factorio and {your favorite train management} games, and I'm curious to see what more can be added to enhance the replay value of the core game loop.”
- monetization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect has received negative feedback primarily due to excessive advertising, which detracts from the overall gaming experience. Users express frustration with the intrusive ads in the rail game format.
“I give a thumbs down due to the excessive advertising in this game.”
“The monetization strategy feels overly aggressive and detracts from the overall experience.”
“It's frustrating how much the game pushes for in-app purchases at every turn.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game resonates with players who appreciate its nostalgic connection to previous train tycoon experiences, allowing them to engage deeply without the need for tutorials. This familiarity fosters a sense of comfort and enjoyment, enhancing the overall emotional experience.
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor aspect of the game is largely criticized, with users expressing that it fails to deliver any comedic elements, particularly in relation to trains, which are deemed unfunny.
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is significantly enhanced by the inclusion of a night and day slider, which players feel should be a standard feature in similar games. This dynamic element contributes to a more immersive experience, making the environment feel more alive and engaging.
“The night and day slider is something I wish was more standard for these games, as it really adds to the atmosphere, which this game certainly has.”
