The Trolley Solution

About

The Trolley Solution is a single player casual action adventure game with a comedy theme. It was developed by byDanDans and was released on September 12, 2025. It received positive reviews from players.

The Trolley Solution is a compilation of point-and-click minigames based on the famous thought experiment originally proposed by Philippa Foot.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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82%

Audience ScoreBased on 336 reviews

humor94 positive mentions

grinding18 negative mentions

The game features a variety of absurd and humorous mini-games that keep the experience fresh and entertaining.
The writing is clever and filled with comedic moments, making it enjoyable for those who appreciate absurdist humor.
The game successfully combines philosophical dilemmas with quirky gameplay, providing a unique and engaging experience.

Many mini-games are overly long and tedious, leading to frustration when players have to restart after failing.
The pacing is poor, with slow transitions and repetitive elements that detract from the overall enjoyment.
Some levels feel like filler content rather than meaningful gameplay, which can diminish the impact of the game's humor.

humor
95 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
99%
1%
The humor in the game is a mix of absurdity, satire, and clever writing, often eliciting genuine laughter from players through its quirky take on the trolley problem and various mini-games. While many found the jokes to be funny and engaging, some critiques noted that the humor can become repetitive or rely too heavily on social media trends, leading to moments of tedium. Overall, players who appreciate absurd and philosophical humor are likely to enjoy the game's comedic elements, despite some inconsistencies in execution.
- “It is completely ridiculous and genuinely funny to read through.”
- “The game is funny; there were so many times my partner and I laughed out loud from the absurdity and humor of it.”
- “A hilarious yet thought-provoking (sometimes) tongue-in-cheek bit of fun relating to one of the most beloved/hated philosophical dilemmas.”
- “Unfunny mini-game collection with a vague trolley theme.”
gameplay
36 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
70%
8%
The gameplay is characterized by a mix of simple mechanics and creative mini-games that offer a variety of experiences, though some players find the core gameplay unsatisfying and repetitive. While the game showcases innovative humor and unique twists, it lacks depth and replayability, making it more of a satirical experience than a mechanically rich one. Overall, it appeals to those who enjoy quirky indie games with unexpected elements, but may disappoint players seeking a serious or philosophically engaging gameplay experience.
- “The sheer variety of game mechanics and scenarios means you never quite know what's coming next.”
- “Every problem is a new and fun experience, featuring clever twists and a broad range of gameplay mechanics.”
- “But for players who enjoy satire, weird indie experiments, and short-form gameplay with unexpected twists, it’s a delightful ride.”
- “The gameplay itself wasn't satisfying on its own, either.”
- “There is no gameplay in it, and I'm not even kidding; this looks like a 2005 flash animation.”
- “If you're here expecting innovative gameplay, you're better off using your money to buy the rest of your clown costume.”
grinding
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
16%
95%
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and often frustrating, with many mini-games feeling repetitive and clunky. While some levels offer interesting challenges, a significant number are criticized for overstaying their welcome and lacking engaging gameplay. Quality of life improvements are suggested to alleviate the monotony, particularly in longer mini-games where failures lead to repetitive early phases.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Grinding in this game is incredibly rewarding and keeps you engaged.”
- “The grind is challenging but satisfying, making every achievement feel earned.”
- “Unfortunately, it's more tedious than interesting.”
- “I thought it was just gonna be a bunch of fun minigames; instead, a lot of them are tedious and repetitive, requiring you to do the same thing for sometimes 5+ minutes with almost no margin for error.”
- “Most of them feel too clunky or too tedious and a chore to play.”
graphics
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
40%
30%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some praising the creative and detailed art style that effectively captures the original trolley image and enhances the humor, while others criticize the lack of anti-aliasing, resulting in jagged lines. Overall, the minimalist and lo-fi visuals are noted for their consistency and intentionality, contributing to the game's surreal tone and allowing the gameplay to shine.
- “The art style replicates the original trolley image very well, and it's satisfying to see it all in motion.”
- “Wonderful art style with quite some attention to detail, lots of creativity and humor (dad joke level, but that fits quite well).”
- “The simplicity of the visuals — blocky characters, clean flat designs, and minimalist environments — complements the surreal tone, allowing the absurdity of the situations to take center stage without overwhelming the player with sensory noise.”
- “I like the idea of this game, and I appreciate what they were going for with the aesthetics, but the game is just awful to look at.”
- “They decided to go for this very clean art style, with lots of straight lines, but then didn't put any anti-aliasing on it, so all the lines just look horribly jagged.”
- “---{graphics}---”
replayability
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
37%
38%
Overall, the game's replayability is considered weak, with many players feeling that subsequent runs become tedious rather than enjoyable. While there are some elements like multiple endings and side decisions that offer a slight incentive to replay, the lack of meaningful content after achieving all goals leaves little motivation for players to return.
- “The game’s structure encourages quick play sessions, and most levels are short enough to complete in a few minutes, though multiple endings and side decisions encourage at least some replayability.”
- “The various types of gameplay made it entertaining and kept it fresh for the few hours it lasts, but there's not a ton of replayability.”
- “Replayability was a bit meh though, especially when going for achievements, and while the DLC and pricing were okay overall, it definitely felt like it could’ve been handled a little better.”
- “There's no replayability after all achievements, either, so it's kinda just $10 you don't get back.”
- “The replay value is nonexistent, and by the time I hit my third run, I was basically controlling the trolley out of spite.”
story
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
40%
40%
The story aspect of the game is described as inconsistent, shifting abruptly from ethical dilemmas to a quirky visual novel about a lovesick schoolgirl, which some players find lacking in coherence and depth. While certain elements, like the anime love story and mini-games, are appreciated, the overall narrative experience leaves many feeling unsatisfied.
- “The anime love story or grinding murder mini-games are the best.”
- “One moment you're making a quick ethical choice about track switching, the next you're guiding a lovesick schoolgirl through a visual novel storyline where she falls for the trolley itself.”
- “Where is the story or comedy in that?”
music
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
The music in the game is characterized by its quirky and upbeat tunes, which enhance the absurdity of the scenarios, while exaggerated sound effects add to the overall experience. Players appreciate how the soundtrack complements the ludicrous situations, making it a standout aspect of the game.
- “Also, the music is great.”
- “The same can be said for the music.”
- “The music and sound effects are quirky and serve to accentuate the absurdity of the scenarios—upbeat tunes play while you ponder ludicrous life-and-death decisions, and exaggerated sound cues accompany every splat, crash, or gasp from the pixelated bystanders.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
100%
The game's optimization is generally solid, with smooth performance and minimal technical issues reported across various systems. However, while leaderboards and performance stats are present, they are considered secondary to the game's primary appeal of humor and creativity.
- “From a technical perspective, the trolley solution runs smoothly, with little to no reported issues across most systems.”
- “Leaderboards and performance stats exist but feel secondary to the game’s real draw: its humor and creativity.”
- “The game suffers from significant optimization issues, leading to frequent frame drops and long loading times.”
- “Despite its potential, the lack of optimization makes it frustrating to play, as the game often lags during critical moments.”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization strategy of the game has received mixed reviews, with players appreciating the comedic writing but expressing frustration over the presence of unskippable ads that detract from the overall experience.
- “I loved the visual novel, but I hated the ads!”
- “Plus, that way would get to the comedic writing of the game, which I would consider its strongest aspect, without feeling like you're having to sit through unskippable ads.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the game emotionally impactful, often experiencing intense feelings that lead to tears, indicating a strong connection to the narrative or challenges presented. While it is a fun puzzle game, it also evokes a sense of sadness and emotional strain.
- “A fun puzzle game that wrecked my brain and made me cry at least 5 times.”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's sound design effectively enhances the atmosphere, evoking a range of emotions from pensive and humorous to epic and romantic, tailored to the context of the gameplay.
- “The sound design of the game is excellent, creating an atmosphere that is pensive, funny, epic, or even romantic, depending on the circumstances.”