Tracks: The Train Set Game

About

"Tracks: The Train Set Game" is a creative sandbox simulation where players can build and operate their own train sets. Customize detailed landscapes, lay tracks, and control various trains across multiple scenarios or a free-play mode. With realistic physics and a variety of tools at your disposal, the possibilities are endless in this relaxing and engaging experience for all ages.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

+14

94%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,824 reviews

music48 positive mentions

story6 negative mentions

The game is a charming and nostalgic experience, reminiscent of childhood wooden train sets.
It's very relaxing and allows for creative freedom in building tracks and towns.
The developer is responsive and actively updates the game, adding new features and content.

The controls can be clunky and unintuitive, making gameplay frustrating at times.
There is a lack of content and variety in train types and scenery, leading to potential boredom.
Some players have experienced bugs and issues with the game's performance, particularly with saving and loading.

music
102 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
50%
3%
The music in the game is widely praised for its calming and relaxing qualities, featuring a soothing piano soundtrack that enhances the overall atmosphere. Many players appreciate the nostalgic and peaceful vibe it creates, making it a perfect backdrop for creative gameplay. However, some users note that the music can become repetitive over time, suggesting a desire for more variety in the soundtrack.
- “The music is relaxing and you can enjoy a stress-free game with plenty of options from sandbox to mission-based.”
- “The music and sound design are sublime and understated; they’re perfect for brightening up and selling what may otherwise seem like a boring or repetitive task.”
- “Beautiful music, extremely gorgeous & slightly cartoony graphics, and great lighting effects.”
- “Wish I didn't buy the music thing, never listen to it ever.”
- “The chill music can be repetitive after a bit, but you can always get your own playlist going.”
- “The music is very relaxing but there is no atmosphere; it feels like you are on an astral plane. I would love to have some train sounds (at least a whistle) and maybe some environmental sound effects, as it is there are no sound effects.”
graphics
48 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
44%
6%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their charm and aesthetic appeal, featuring a detailed wooden style and clean visuals that enhance the overall experience. Many players appreciate the game's beautiful lighting effects and the relaxing atmosphere created by the visuals and music, although some note occasional oddities like color fog. Overall, the graphics are considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's enjoyment, even in its early access state.
- “The graphics are really a step up from what you could expect; the wood that makes up the train is so detailed, and with Unreal Engine 4, the physics are also a pleasant surprise to find how well everything is.”
- “Beautiful music, extremely gorgeous and slightly cartoony graphics, and great lighting effects.”
- “Aesthetically, it's gorgeous, and I hope they add more items and game modes.”
- “The graphics to me are the only saving grace.”
- “It took a few minutes running on Linux to get the graphics downgraded correctly so that the user interface was adequately responsive.”
- “The visuals are charming but sometimes seem odd with the color fog and such.”
story
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
67%
20%
The game lacks a traditional narrative, offering players a choice between sandbox and mission modes focused on delivering passengers and cargo. While the sandbox experience is enjoyable and stress-free, many users find the mission content to be limited and short, leading to disappointment and a desire for more objectives and updates. Overall, the absence of a cohesive story is noted, with gameplay primarily revolving around task completion rather than a narrative-driven experience.
- “The music is relaxing and you can enjoy a stress-free game with plenty of options from sandbox to mission-based.”
- “Personally, I mostly enjoy the passenger missions where you have to pick up a group of people somewhere in the room and bring them to the station.”
- “There is a sandbox mode and a mission mode, where you deliver passengers and cargo, so even for early access, there is plenty for you to do.”
- “Little light on mission content.”
- “There is no story - n/a.”
- “Unfortunately, this game's mission is so short that it only costs you half an hour, and then I keep waiting for the update for the new missions, but it let me down.”
gameplay
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
71%
14%
Gameplay reviews highlight a mix of boredom and potential, with many players finding it lacking in depth and content, often comparing it unfavorably to other sandbox games. While some appreciate the nostalgic and relaxing aspects, others criticize the abrupt shifts to strict challenges and the overall emptiness of the experience. However, there is optimism for future updates that could enhance gameplay complexity and introduce new mechanics.
- “It's not Skyrim for gameplay length, but it's very, very good.”
- “A lot of nostalgia and nice relaxing gameplay.”
- “The new challenge mode of getting passengers to the right stations is in a very early, basic stage, but the potential there for imaginative gameplay and solutions is limitless.”
- “No gameplay to speak of; just a 'toybox' as the trailer says.”
- “Imo the game feels too empty content-wise and gameplay-wise, even for early access.”
- “To me it makes no sense that the game has all the appearance and mood of a relaxing title but then gameplay can suddenly switch to a seriously strict timed challenge.”
emotional
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the game to be incredibly emotional and nostalgic, evoking feelings of childhood joy and imagination. Despite some technical issues, it is praised for its relaxing and wholesome atmosphere, often leading to tears of joy and a deep sense of connection. Overall, it is regarded as one of the most heartwarming experiences available on Steam.
- “Captures childhood imagination perfectly, great to relax with and just an all round wholesome game with a lot of love put into it.”
- “Remarkably wholesome.”
- “Tl;dr: I cried”
atmosphere
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
20%
20%
The atmosphere of the game is generally described as chill and calming, with beautiful and relaxing music that enhances the experience. However, some users feel that the lack of environmental sound effects detracts from the overall atmosphere, suggesting that additional audio elements, like train sounds, could improve immersion. Overall, it is recommended for those seeking a nostalgic and tranquil sandbox experience.
- “Such a cute, atmospheric, calming game.”
- “Highly recommend to anyone wanting to enjoy a very chill sandbox atmosphere or just wanting to relive train set building days from your childhood.”
- “Very nice atmosphere and beautiful music.”
- “The music is very relaxing but there is no atmosphere; it feels like you are on an astral plain. I would love to have some train sounds (at least a whistle) and maybe some environmental sound effects, as there are no sound effects.”
optimization
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
25%
25%
The game runs smoothly with impressive graphics, but it currently lacks optimization for Tilt Five, which affects the overall experience. Players appreciate the customization options and express a desire for more structured challenges that require optimization, rather than just sandbox gameplay. Overall, while the game is enjoyable, there is room for improvement in its optimization and content variety.
- “Great customization and optimization; I wish there were more track (tram) and train types (diesel, electric).”
- “The game runs smoothly, and the graphics are very nice and cool.”
- “It is not optimized for Tilt Five (yet), though, so it's just an okay game.”
- “I would like some challenges and levels that aren't purely sandbox, whereby I must make an optimized railway that navigates an area using only the pieces provided—like Bridge Constructor, but modular and less physics-based.”
stability
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game exhibits significant stability issues, particularly with frequent bugs and freezing when resuming from sleep mode. While players enjoy the game overall, these problems are typical for an early access title.
- “One problem though is that when you close your laptop and come back to it later, it sometimes freezes the game.”
- “Yeah, sure, it can be super buggy.”
- “I like this game, but it is buggy, as expected with an early access game.”
humor
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is appreciated by players, particularly those who enjoy creative gameplay similar to titles like Minecraft and Stardew Valley. The whimsical elements, such as the amusing horn sound and the quirky interactions with passengers, contribute to a lighthearted and enjoyable experience. Overall, it offers hours of fun and laughter while engaging in creative building.
- “Hours of relaxing fun building wild tracks or getting the funny little passengers to the station.”
- “Good for creative players and funny; recommend if you like stuff like Minecraft and Stardew Valley.”
- “Funny horn go woo wooooo.”
replayability
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
17%
50%
Overall, the game offers decent replayability with room for creativity, though some users feel it could benefit from improved GUI and additional features to enhance the experience. While some find the replay value limited, many still consider it worth the investment.
- “Could use a little GUI work with easier changes to the view and a few more hotkeys, but definitely replayable and offers lots of room for creativity.”
- “Limited replayability, but worth the investment.”
- “Limited replayability, but worth the $”
- “It needs just a little bit more for replay value.”
- “Could use a little GUI work with easier changes to the view and a few more hotkeys, but definitely replayable and lots of room for creativity.”
grinding
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Players find the grinding aspect tedious, particularly due to the need for multiple attempts to build tracks correctly, often exacerbated by unintentional button presses. This can lead to frustration and a sense of repetitiveness in gameplay.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “It makes it tedious to build tracks when the wrong buttons are pressed.”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players feel misled by the game's advertising, suggesting that the monetization strategy does not accurately represent the actual gameplay experience. This discrepancy has led to frustration among users who expected a different game based on promotional materials.
- “The videos and advertising for this game misled me into thinking I would be playing a very different game.”