Train Life: A Railway Simulator

About

"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.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Train Life: A Railway Simulator screenshot

55%

Audience ScoreBased on 487 reviews

graphics33 positive mentions

optimization6 negative mentions

The game offers a relaxing and engaging experience, combining elements of train simulation with management gameplay.
The graphics are decent, providing a visually appealing environment for players to explore.
The controls are intuitive, making it easy for both casual players and train simulation fans to pick up and play.

The game has been abandoned by the developers, leading to unresolved bugs and a lack of updates.
The signaling system is poorly designed, often resulting in confusion and frustration for players.
There is a lack of AI trains and dynamic events, making the world feel empty and lifeless.

graphics
69 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
48%
48%
4%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players praising the clean and atmospheric visuals while others criticize performance issues such as poor draw distance and pop-in elements. Although many find the graphics acceptable or even good, there are concerns about optimization and a lack of detail that detracts from the overall experience. Overall, while the game shows potential with its visuals, it still requires further development to reach a higher standard.
- “The graphics are surprisingly good.”
- “Clean and pretty graphics.”
- “The graphics, while not cutting-edge, do a decent job of creating a pleasant and atmospheric setting for your railway adventures.”
- “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.”
- “The game was made in Unreal Engine yet the graphics are worse than TSW2 and terrible performance.”
gameplay
52 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
65%
8%
The gameplay has been described as fun and engaging, particularly for those familiar with Euro Truck Simulator, featuring solid core mechanics like contract taking and equipment upgrades. However, many reviewers noted significant issues, including a lack of realism, repetitive gameplay loops, and game-breaking bugs, which detract from the overall experience. While the game shows potential with its intuitive design and expansive world, it requires further optimization and content improvements to reach its full capabilities.
- “The gameplay is very intuitive and simple to understand and get to grips with.”
- “The core gameplay is fun in that aspect, and the liberty to make your own route in all the European map is really fun.”
- “There is an incredibly addictive gameplay loop here, and an utterly adorable and atmospheric world.”
- “The gameplay is nowhere near being realistic; it looks like the devs have no relationship with railways and didn't bother making any research at all.”
- “The overall gameplay is fine, but it feels very barebones. There are barely any trees or grass outside the track, and the track itself is poorly designed.”
- “As interesting as this game is, there are still glaring gameplay problems with it.”
optimization
25 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
12%
64%
24%
Overall, the game's optimization has received mixed reviews; while some players report smooth performance and improvements in frame rates, others experience significant stuttering and FPS drops, particularly on lower-end systems. Many users appreciate the polished experience and graphical quality, but there are calls for further optimization, including better handling of loading times and UI improvements. Despite its potential, the game still faces challenges related to performance consistency and gameplay mechanics.
- “The performance is smooth, and the overall experience is very polished.”
- “Buttery smooth performance helps immersion, and the rather crazy electronic music radio makes this my go-to chill game at the moment.”
- “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.”
- “This game needs so much optimization and for sure needs a rework of the graphics settings; this is not healthy in any way or form.”
- “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.”
story
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
73%
14%
The game's story aspect is largely criticized for its lack of narrative depth, with players noting that there is no overarching story to engage with. While missions are described as lengthy and potentially enjoyable, they often suffer from bugs and repetitive gameplay, detracting from the overall experience. Players express frustration with the game's mechanics and design, which hinder mission completion and exploration, leaving the story element feeling underdeveloped and unfulfilled.
- “I will leave my old review of this game here for all to see because it tells a story - I will put my '2024 Christmas review' later down the line. Old review: the game has fantastic potential - a great basis to work from.”
- “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.”
- “I will leave my old review of this game here for all to see because it tells a story - game has/had fantastic potential - a great basis to work from - however, the game developers have closed the door on this game, so do not expect anything more to be added, nor any of the bugs that are still in-game to be fixed.”
- “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.”
stability
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
94%
The game is widely criticized for its instability, with numerous users reporting significant bugs and glitches that hinder gameplay. Many feel it was released in an unfinished state and appears to be abandoned, with no updates since December 2022. While some players note improvements over time, the overall consensus is that the game remains too buggy for a satisfactory experience.
- “I have not experienced any of the crashes that others are reporting, although I wouldn't say the game is completely bug-free either.”
- “The game runs smoothly for me, with no major issues or crashes.”
- “I've played for hours without encountering any stability problems, which is a huge plus.”
- “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.”
music
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
38%
38%
The music in the game is generally well-received, with players appreciating the smooth and relaxed soundtrack that enhances immersion. Some users enjoy the unique radio feature, which offers a mix of music and talk shows, creating a more authentic experience. Overall, the soundtrack contributes positively to the game's atmosphere, making it a go-to choice for relaxation.
- “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.”
grinding
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, comparing it unfavorably to other simulators like Stardew Valley. While some express a willingness to continue playing and hope for improvements, the current grinding mechanics are seen as a significant drawback that detracts from the overall enjoyment.
- “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!”
atmosphere
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
83%
50%
The game's atmosphere is characterized by pleasant graphics that effectively create a relaxing setting for railway adventures, enhanced by weather effects like rain, fog, and snow. While not cutting-edge, the visuals contribute to an addictive gameplay loop, making it a great choice for fans of slower-paced train games. Overall, the atmosphere is described as charming and immersive, inviting players to enjoy their journey.
- “The graphics, while not cutting-edge, do a decent job of creating a pleasant and atmospheric setting for your railway adventures.”
- “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.”
- “Driving through the countryside can be pretty eye-candy, and rain, fog, or snow weather effects are really atmospheric.”
- “There's always the option to turn it down, but then you'd get no atmosphere at all. For a game that is out of early access now, I don't really think people should have to do this.”
- “The atmosphere feels flat and uninspired, lacking the depth that would make the game immersive.”
- “Despite the game's potential, the atmosphere is disappointingly bland, making it hard to stay engaged.”
monetization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization aspect of the game has been widely criticized, with users labeling it a "cash grab" and expressing concerns about the developers' commitment to fixing issues and delivering a polished experience. Many feel that the game's value does not match the monetization strategies employed, leading to skepticism about its long-term viability.
- “Cash grab scam - abandoned after 6 months.”
- “Nothing short of a cash grab.”
- “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.”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by lighthearted and absurd moments, such as the amusing effects of driving mechanics, like the wheel slip light activating unexpectedly. Players find these quirks entertaining, adding a comedic layer to the driving experience. Overall, the humor is appreciated for its silliness and ability to elicit laughter.
- “It is a joke and has no effect on the driving itself; it's funny when you drive 100 km/h, put the throttle from 0% to 20%, and the wheel slip light comes on.”
- “Sorta funny!”
- “I find them hilarious.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Players appreciate the diverse routes and environments, along with the option to create custom scenarios or engage in free mode, which significantly enhances the game's replayability.
- “The routes and environments are diverse, and the ability to create custom scenarios or just enjoy free mode adds a level of replayability to the experience.”
- “Each playthrough feels unique due to the random events and choices that can drastically change the outcome, making you want to dive back in for more.”
- “With multiple character paths and endings, the game encourages you to explore different strategies and decisions, enhancing its replay value.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
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 it home.
- “The joy of controlling a train, pulling out of Amsterdam was amazing and even emotional; it was once my home.”