Toy Trains
- January 16, 2024
- Something Random
- 3h median play time
Get on Steam"Toy Trains" is a single-player Simulation game offering around 3 hours of playtime, where you can build and customize train tracks in your grandpa's attic. The game features a relaxing main story, devious challenges, and a sandbox board for creativity, with multiple solutions for each board. The warm and colorful world provides a cozy environment with no timer or score, for a stress-free and enjoyable experience.
PC
Playstation 5
Windows
PlayStation
Reviews
- Charming and relaxing atmosphere with beautifully crafted visuals and a delightful soundtrack, making it a nostalgic experience for players.
- Engaging puzzle mechanics that allow for creative track building, providing a satisfying gameplay loop that appeals to players of all ages.
- The game has received updates that significantly expand content, adding new levels and modes, enhancing replayability and overall enjoyment.
- The game is relatively short, with only 10 levels that can be completed in a few hours, leaving players wanting more content.
- Limited movement controls can hinder gameplay, making it difficult for players with smaller play spaces to reach certain areas.
- Lack of a sandbox mode or community content support restricts replayability and creative expression, which could enhance the overall experience.
- story30 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The game's story is described as charming and lighthearted, primarily aimed at a younger audience, with a focus on the imaginative world of a child. While some players appreciate its simplicity and cuteness, others find it lacking in depth and complexity, with themes that touch on feelings of abandonment and mental stress. Overall, the narrative complements the gameplay well, enhancing the immersive experience without overshadowing the fun mechanics.
“Absolutely loved this little game and its storytelling!”
“The peaceful gameplay, charming story, and unique tabletop-like puzzle mechanics hooked me immediately, and I bought it as soon as it was released.”
“The story is absolutely (dare I say adorable) fantastic with how the levels tie in!”
“It feels nice, cute trains, cute story, but is lacking any depth.”
“The story, though, was kind of weird and off-putting.”
“There really didn't need to be some kind of huge grand story going on while you're playing with toy trains in VR, but having a game with no reason behind why the player character is doing what they're doing feels thin at the same time.”
- gameplay14 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by its peaceful atmosphere, charming story, and engaging tabletop-like puzzle mechanics that captivate players. While the mechanics and puzzles are enjoyable and well-executed, some users feel the game could benefit from additional challenge modes to enhance depth and variety. Overall, the game offers a satisfying experience with a gradual increase in complexity across its levels.
“The peaceful gameplay, charming story, and unique tabletop-like puzzle mechanics hooked me immediately, and I bought it as soon as it was released.”
“Toy Trains VR shines with its relaxing atmosphere and engaging puzzle mechanics.”
“Everything about it feels great and works very well with no real bugs or hiccups in gameplay alongside puzzles that are a joy to solve.”
“Missed gameplay opportunities: challenge modes with time limits, limited resources, or multiple train routes could add depth and variety.”
“In my 3 hours of gameplay (at the time of the review), I completed all 10 levels and got every achievement except for 4 hidden ones.”
“It's just gameplay.”
- graphics9 mentions
- 56 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are highly praised for their appealing visuals, featuring a lovingly crafted miniature world with vibrant colors, charming characters, and delightful details. Reviewers commend the joyful art style and excellent framerates, noting that the visuals enhance the overall gameplay experience, especially in VR. Overall, the graphics contribute significantly to the game's unique charm and replayability.
“Appealing visuals: the miniature world is lovingly crafted, with vibrant colors, lovely characters, and charming details.”
“The art work and style is just visually beautiful!”
“All in all, a game worth purchasing and I do recommend it, as it's a pretty unique little puzzle/sandbox with a beautifully done art style.”
- music8 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its calming and peaceful qualities, enhancing the overall relaxing experience. It features an adaptive soundtrack that reflects the emotional tone of the story, contributing to the game's charm and replayability. Many players enjoy the music so much that they share it with friends, highlighting its appeal beyond just gameplay.
“The music in this game is fantastic.”
“The music also appears to be somewhat adaptive to the story, getting sadder and lower as the story does, and rising back up again as things get better.”
“When streaming this game to friends on Discord, a few watched the stream for the background music alone.”
“You don't have a timer and the music is really relaxing (available on Spotify if you'd like to have a listen).”
- atmosphere5 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is consistently praised for its beautifully relaxing and calming qualities, making it an enjoyable experience for players looking to unwind. The thematic elements, particularly in settings like the basement, enhance the overall ambiance, while the art style complements the engaging yet simple puzzle mechanics. Despite its short length and lack of a sandbox mode, the atmosphere remains a standout feature.
“Beautifully relaxing game, it's not hard and the story is about you being a child, but the theming and atmosphere is perfect.”
“Relaxing experience: the game exudes a calming atmosphere, perfect for unwinding after a long day.”
“Toy Trains VR shines with its relaxing atmosphere and engaging puzzle mechanics.”
- replayability4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -25 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is seen as limited, with some players expressing a desire for additional features like sandbox modes or randomly generated levels to enhance it. While the charming visuals and relaxing music provide a pleasant experience, the lack of substantial content beyond the initial playthrough diminishes long-term engagement. Expanding the game could significantly improve its replay value.
“Charming visuals, relaxing music, and levels that you can solve as you please provide a bit of replayability, as you can choose a different approach on a reset.”
“If they expanded a little to improve replayability, this could easily be in my top 10.”
“I enjoy it, but I am already 80% of the way through the game after 2 hours, and its replay value is minimal.”
“A sandbox or randomly generated level mode would offer endless replayability.”
“But if they expanded a little to improve replayability, this could easily be in my top 10.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express that the game evokes a strong sense of nostalgia, making them feel youthful and reminiscent of their childhood experiences.
“Honestly, this game made me feel like a kid again.”
“The story touched my heart in ways I never expected.”
“I found myself tearing up during several key moments.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, users report that the game is generally stable, with only a few minor glitches noted. For those not interested in toys or VR, alternatives like OpenTTD are available to enhance train simulation skills.
- grinding1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players express that the grinding in the game is excessively time-consuming, often requiring a significant investment of time akin to having a second life to fully engage with it.
“Grinding in this game feels rewarding and keeps me engaged for hours.”
“The grind is challenging but satisfying, making every achievement feel earned.”
“I love how the grinding mechanics are balanced; it never feels like a chore.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“The grinding feels endless and tedious.”
“Grinding takes away from the enjoyment of the game.”
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted by its clever and whimsical details, such as the amusing "cat person-dog person" switch, which showcases the developers' attention to creating a lighthearted and engaging atmosphere. Players appreciate these random, funny elements that add depth and charm to the overall experience.
“One of the funniest moments was when I encountered the 'cat person-dog person' switch; it was such a hilarious little detail that really shows the care that went into this game!”
“The humor in this game is top-notch! I found myself laughing out loud at the quirky dialogue and unexpected situations.”
“The witty banter between characters had me in stitches; it's clear that the developers have a great sense of humor!”
