Train of Afterlife
- January 13, 2015
- Zeiva Inc
- 6h median play time
Get on SteamTrain of Afterlife is a mystery, psychological, horror Visual Novel. FEATURES - Mystery, Psychological & Horror - 9 Endings & Unlockable Gallery - Rated Teen 13+
Mac OS
PC
Windows
Linux
Reviews
- The game features a thought-provoking and philosophical story that unfolds in a nonlinear fashion, keeping players engaged as they piece together the narrative.
- The artwork and soundtrack are beautifully crafted, enhancing the overall atmosphere and emotional impact of the game.
- The developer has shown commendable responsiveness by reinstating revoked keys and addressing player concerns, which reflects a commitment to their community.
- The gameplay can become repetitive, especially when trying to unlock all endings, leading to frustration for some players.
- There is a lack of clear instructions on how to skip text, which can result in tedious clicking through previously read dialogue.
- The game has been criticized for its short length and limited character development, leaving some players wanting more depth and content.
- story88 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 69 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The story is presented in a nonlinear fashion, creating an intriguing yet sometimes confusing experience as players piece together the narrative. While the plot features emotional depth and interesting characters, it can feel repetitive due to the necessity of multiple playthroughs to unlock all endings and fully understand the story. Overall, the writing is praised for its subtlety and emotional impact, though some players find the gameplay mechanics and pacing detract from the overall experience.
“The story quietly revised how I understood its subject matter, without throwing it in my face or leaving most things unexplained, as is the case with some other visual novels of this genre.”
“The story is a little masterpiece, as it plunges the reader little by little into the understanding in the form of a kind of puzzle which unknots itself in the very end.”
“The atmosphere and the story together give form to a very emotional grand finale which might make you cry because of its intensity.”
“The story doesn't delve into most of them deeply, and keeps things brief (it's not a long game).”
“And no matter what you do, the story doesn't change at all.”
“We could've had some really interesting characters here, but the dev made the story so vague, and all the supporting characters too, that the entire game is just boring because of all the ambiguity.”
- music32 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 41 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for its beauty and atmospheric qualities, with many reviewers noting its calming and haunting melodies that enhance the overall experience. While some found the soundtrack to be repetitive or lacking in variety, others appreciated its fitting role in supporting the game's themes and story. Overall, the music is considered a strong aspect of the game, contributing positively to its emotional tone and immersive quality.
“The music, visual art style, and limited use of colors effectively set a simultaneously dull and intriguing tone.”
“I really liked this game; sure, it is repetitive at times due to the different endings, but to me, it was still a very enjoyable experience accompanied by beautiful music, an intriguing story, and interesting art.”
“The haunting melody of the soundtrack with the muted color scheme adds to the overall atmosphere of the game.”
“The music was decent, but that's not enough for me to recommend this game.”
“While having to replay the game to collect more pieces and figure out the mystery is not a bad idea, it'll make it a lot harder to look past the somewhat clunky interface, the illusion of interactivity and dreary music while retaining an interest in the story if you go through the same bits up to 9 times.”
“Sad feeling, sad music, sad atmosphere, everything's so sad.”
- graphics12 mentions
- 42 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The game's graphics feature beautiful artwork that effectively complements its tone, though the minimalist approach can lead to a dull and repetitive visual experience over time. While some players appreciate the strong soundtrack and the overall art style, others find the limited color palette and simplicity somewhat boring. Overall, the graphics receive mixed reviews, with a general score around 6/10.
“The artwork in the game is lovely.”
“The first thing I noticed about this game is that the artwork is really good.”
“Because of the nature of the story, the visuals are dull and bland and tend to bore you after a while.”
“Graphically, there's not too much to say since the game takes enough of a minimalist approach that you can see most of the game's graphics in the screenshots on the store page.”
“The music, visual art style, and limited use of colors effectively set a simultaneously dull and intriguing tone.”
- atmosphere11 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in "Train of Afterlife" is a standout feature, characterized by a haunting soundtrack and a muted color palette that evoke a range of emotions from calmness to eeriness. Players appreciate the game's ability to create a deeply immersive setting that enhances the storytelling, with many noting its emotional intensity and the intriguing blend of mystery and melancholy. While some find the music can become repetitive, the overall atmosphere is praised for its depth and impact on the player's experience.
“The entire atmosphere of the train can be wonderfully calming, or uncomfortably eerie, and it all depends on you, the player.”
“This is my second time playing a visual novel from this developer and once again they have created an amazing atmospheric setting that creates the perfect mix of the unknown and curiosity as you try to figure out who you really are, why you can't remember your past, and the reasons why you are on the train to start with.”
“Sad feeling, sad music, sad atmosphere, everything's so sad.”
“The haunting melody of the soundtrack with the muted color scheme adds to the overall atmosphere of the game.”
“The atmosphere and the story together give form to a very emotional grand finale which might make you cry because of its intensity.”
- gameplay9 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The gameplay is criticized for being repetitive and tedious, with players often feeling like they are simply clicking through dialogue and moving between locations without meaningful interaction. While the concept of multiple endings is appreciated, the grindiness and minimal variation in gameplay mechanics lead to a dull experience overall. Despite an engaging story, the gameplay lacks depth and becomes monotonous, making it feel more like a chore than an enjoyable experience.
“Gameplay is typical; you read messages, move around the train, and every now and then make a decision that impacts what ending you'll end up getting.”
“The visual style, story, and mechanics are minimal at best, but the trip is interesting the first time through; clicking to select destination seats can be tedious over time, but without it, there'd be very little interaction.”
“Overall, the gameplay felt very much like 'my first VN' where the author really liked the idea of multiple endings, but didn't realize the tedium associated with replaying the same game a large number of times with very little change in the dialog or gameplay.”
“Overall, the gameplay is dull and involves just clicking to go from seat to seat to talk to people and then getting a tarot card read that tells you a little bit more about your past.”
“It's a boring mechanic that gets redundant and tiring.”
“The true ending worsens the other endings as a whole, and the characters eventually turn into mechanics to reach the ending the player desires, because of how grindy the game becomes.”
- grinding6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, particularly when attempting to unlock all endings, which can feel like a chore by the end. The lack of a comprehensive skip function exacerbates the grind, turning character interactions into mere mechanics for achieving desired outcomes. While the initial experience may be engaging, the overall grind detracts from the enjoyment and narrative depth.
“At the beginning, I was genuinely intrigued; by the end, it was a tedious chore and I wanted it over with.”
“The true ending worsens the other endings as a whole, and the characters eventually turn into mechanics to reach the ending the player desires, because of how grindy the game becomes.”
“A lack of a skip function, save for select areas, makes this more tedious than it needs to be.”
- replayability3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game boasts a high replay value, rated 9/10, thanks to its appealing art and enjoyable music, which contribute to numerous memorable moments that encourage players to return.
“The art is appealing, the music is nice, and it's got tons of replay value.”
“This game truly has a lot of highly replayable moments.”
“Replay value: 9/10”
- character development1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that while the main characters may receive adequate development, the side characters lack depth and growth, leaving them feeling underexplored and less impactful in the overall narrative.
“There isn't a lot of character development for the side characters.”
“The main character feels one-dimensional and lacks depth throughout the game.”
“I was disappointed by how predictable the character arcs were; they didn't evolve in any meaningful way.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game features a compelling and emotionally resonant story, but it is hindered by repetitive gameplay and underdeveloped alternative paths, which may detract from the overall emotional impact.
“It has a great and emotionally touching story.”
“The narrative deeply resonated with me, leaving a lasting impact.”
“I felt a strong connection to the characters, which made the experience truly unforgettable.”
