Train Life: A Railway Simulator

54%
Game Brain Score Based on 412 reviews
  • graphics
  • gameplay
  • story
Train Life: A Railway Simulator Game Cover
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"Train Life: A Railway Simulator" is an immersive experience that allows players to manage their own railway company. Create and operate trains, maintain infrastructure, and make business decisions to grow your company while ensuring safety and customer satisfaction. With a variety of locations and detailed environments, this simulator offers a realistic and challenging experience for train enthusiasts.

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

54%
Audience ScoreBased on 412 reviews
graphics29 positive mentions
optimization4 negative mentions
  • The game offers a fun mixture of simulation and arcade elements, allowing players to control a train and manage a railway company.
  • The graphics are decent, and the game runs well on various systems, providing an enjoyable visual experience.
  • The concept of leveling up cities and managing resources adds depth to the gameplay, making it engaging for players.
  • The game has been criticized for being abandoned by the developers, with many players expressing frustration over the lack of updates and support.
  • Signaling and AI train behavior are poorly implemented, leading to confusion and frustration during gameplay.
  • Many players have reported bugs and issues that hinder the overall experience, such as crashes, unresponsive controls, and unclear navigation.
  • graphics57 mentions

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many players noting that while the visuals can be clean and appealing, they often lack detail and suffer from issues like poor draw distance and pop-in elements. Some users appreciate the aesthetic and smooth performance, especially on lower-end systems, while others criticize the graphics for feeling outdated or underdeveloped, particularly in comparison to similar titles. Overall, the game shows potential for improvement as it continues to evolve in early access.

    • “The graphics are surprisingly good.”
    • “Clean and pretty graphics.”
    • “Great graphics and gameplay.”
    • “Despite the clean and pretty graphics, the game is greatly lacking in detail, which undermines its simulation side.”
    • “Visually the game looks good and it runs very well, but even on maxed out graphics the draw distance is very poor with severe pop-in of all elements, even the signals.”
    • “At the moment I cannot recommend this game until they optimize the graphics better so it doesn't kill your GPU.”
  • gameplay40 mentions

    The gameplay has been described as fun and engaging, particularly with the freedom to create routes and upgrade trains, but it suffers from a lack of realism and depth compared to other train simulation games. Many players noted issues such as the absence of manual saves, game-breaking bugs, and a repetitive gameplay loop, which detracts from the overall experience. While the core mechanics show potential and the graphics are praised, significant improvements are needed in optimization and content to elevate the gameplay to a more polished state.

    • “The world map is pretty big, which I am so happy about. I could travel without moving between DLCs (other train sims). Gameplay is smooth and fun; I love that you can upgrade trains, switch between them, buy new ones, and also maintain them.”
    • “The core gameplay is fun in that aspect, and the liberty to make your own route across the entire European map is really enjoyable.”
    • “The gameplay is very intuitive and simple to understand, making it easy to get to grips with.”
    • “A real shame, it would be a 7 out of 10 for me, but this problem totally ruins the gameplay and Nacon is not known for providing developers time to fix things after release.”
    • “The gameplay is nowhere near being realistic; it seems the developers have no relationship with railways and didn't bother doing any research at all.”
    • “Ignoring the game-breaking bugs for now, the gameplay itself is awful.”
  • story21 mentions

    The game's story aspect is largely absent, with players noting a lack of narrative depth and character development. Missions are described as repetitive and often frustrating due to bugs and poor design choices, leading to a grind-focused experience rather than an engaging storyline. While the tutorial is lengthy and somewhat engaging, the overall mission structure lacks variety and coherence, leaving players wanting more in terms of narrative content.

    • “The missions are very good (some routes are really too long), but being in early access it still has problems with graphics and lag (especially in curves)... I'll wait for further updates until the final version to give a more accurate assessment.”
    • “I have only just finished the tutorial missions but I can already see the content that is available at launch.”
    • “There are missions/contracts though that ask to deliver to a specific far location within a time frame.”
    • “After a brilliant tutorial that keeps you busy for 2 hours so that you can't ask for a refund, you are free to grind through extremely repetitive missions in bland environments.”
    • “Basic game functionality is broken (cameras, GPS, signals), and there is no variety in trains and missions.”
    • “Buggy game, oversights exist which lead to missions being in a state where they can't be completed.”
  • optimization21 mentions

    The optimization of the game has received mixed feedback, with some players praising its smooth performance, particularly in 4K, while others report issues like stuttering, FPS drops, and poor train simulation mechanics. Many users note that while the game has improved over time, it still requires significant work on optimization, UI, and gameplay mechanics to reach its full potential. Overall, the game's performance varies widely among players, often depending on their hardware specifications.

    • “Buttery smooth performance helps immersion, and the rather crazy electronic music radio makes this my go-to chill game at the moment.”
    • “The game runs quite smooth now, so thanks to the devs for doing whatever they did to improve performance.”
    • “On the positive side, it runs smoothly even in 4k, the graphics are very nice, and there are loads of things to do and accomplish.”
    • “I don't understand why the game was released in a 1.0 state, with clear performance and game-mechanic problems lingering on.”
    • “But need a lot of work too, optimization (fps drops, stutters, object pop-in), UI rework, some gameplay tuning, quality of life improvements.”
    • “Change to negative, stuttering in this game is getting ridiculous and has made it unplayable for me, even on Nvidia GeForce Now it stutters; watch any YouTube let's play and you will see the stutters, some more than others.”
  • stability14 mentions

    The game's stability is widely criticized, with users reporting numerous bugs and glitches that hinder gameplay and suggest it was released in an unfinished state. Many players feel it has been abandoned, as there have been no updates since December 2022, leaving the game in a problematic condition. While some improvements have been noted, the overall consensus is that significant stability issues remain, making it difficult to recommend.

    • “The game feels unfinished and buggy, and given there's been no updates since December 2022, it looks like it's also been abandoned.”
    • “I cannot tell why it ended up this way, but it was seemingly abandoned in a very buggy state, which is a shame as if those bugs were ironed out, the product, albeit flawed in many ways, would still be a functional and decent pastime.”
    • “Too many glitches and bugs... the program was released before it was ready and is pretty useless... make sure you request your refund immediately or within 2 weeks, or you will get ripped off by Steam, yet again.”
  • music8 mentions

    The music in the game is described as a smooth and relaxing soundtrack that enhances the overall experience, with some players appreciating the radio option that mimics a real radio experience rather than a repetitive playlist. While some noted a lack of variety, others found the electronic music and Christmas tunes enjoyable, contributing to a chill atmosphere during gameplay. Overall, the music complements the game's graphics and gameplay, making it a favorite for casual players.

    • “Cool graphics, good gameplay, and a very smooth and relaxed soundtrack. My son is addicted to the game too, and she's not even a railway enthusiast.”
    • “The best thing is the music/radio option.”
    • “But the lack of a soundtrack reminds me of that French movie I saw, which had the same song throughout the entire movie.”
    • “Thing is, it feels like you are experiencing the actual radio, not like a whole playlist of music that constantly goes on and on without any 5-minute talk show.”
    • “Buttery smooth performance helps immersion, and the rather crazy electronic music radio makes this my go-to chill game at the moment.”
  • grinding6 mentions

    Reviews indicate that the grinding aspect of the game is viewed as tedious and repetitive, with some players feeling it detracts from the overall experience. While there is potential for growth and improvement, the current grinding mechanics can feel overwhelming and unengaging, particularly when interacting with in-game systems.

    • “After having done almost all of the Steam achievements (only the grinding ones remain), here is my final verdict:”
    • “Any additions I'd make would simply be grinding that now decimated a dead horse into the dirt.”
    • “That is just tedious!”
  • monetization3 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game has raised concerns among users, with many labeling it a potential cash grab due to a lack of ongoing support and polish. Players feel that the game's quality does not match the promotional content seen in ads, leading to skepticism about its long-term viability and commitment from the developers.

    • “Cash grab scam - abandoned after 6 months.”
    • “I'm honestly a little concerned that this might just be a cash grab, because I don't see all the issues being fixed and the game being polished enough to be seen as complete in 6-10 months, as stated by the developers.”
    • “It is not that big as you get in ads (streams, YouTube, developers), it's compressed a lot.”
  • atmosphere3 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its relaxing and immersive qualities, making it ideal for fans of train simulations. The visuals contribute significantly to the overall ambiance, creating an adorable and engaging world that enhances the addictive gameplay loop.

    • “For someone who enjoys the slower pace and relaxing atmosphere of train games, this one is definitely a great way to flex your inner armchair engineer.”
    • “Visuals are great, as is the whole atmosphere.”
    • “There is an incredibly addictive gameplay loop here, and an utterly adorable and atmospheric world.”
  • humor2 mentions

    The humor in the game is characterized by its lighthearted and absurd moments, such as the amusing effects of driving mechanics, like the wheel slip light activating unexpectedly at high speeds. Players find these quirks entertaining and appreciate the comedic elements woven into the driving experience.

    • “It is a joke and has no effect on the driving itself; it's funny when you drive at 100 km/h, put the throttle from 0% to 20%, and the wheel slip light comes on.”
    • “I find them hilarious.”
  • emotional1 mentions

    Players express a deep emotional connection to the game, particularly when controlling a train and departing from Amsterdam, which evokes personal memories and nostalgia for those who once called the city home.

    • “The joy of controlling a train, pulling out of Amsterdam was amazing and even emotional; it was once my home.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

5hMedian play time
5hAverage play time
5-5hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 1 analyzed playthroughs

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