Train of Afterlife

About

Train of Afterlife is a mystery, psychological, horror Visual Novel. FEATURES - Mystery, Psychological & Horror - 9 Endings & Unlockable Gallery - Rated Teen 13+

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

50%

Audience ScoreBased on 286 reviews

story48 positive mentions

gameplay4 negative mentions

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 a commendable response to issues regarding revoked keys, reinstating them and addressing player concerns.

The gameplay can become repetitive, especially when trying to unlock all endings, which may lead 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.

story
176 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
70%
3%
The story is characterized by its nonlinear and cryptic narrative, which can initially confuse players but ultimately engages them as they piece together the plot. While the game features intriguing characters and emotional depth, many reviews note that the repetitive nature of unlocking multiple endings can detract from the overall experience. Despite some criticisms regarding pacing and underdeveloped routes, the story is generally praised for its compelling themes and emotional resonance, making it a worthwhile experience for fans of visual novels.
- “The story is a little masterpiece, as it plunges the reader little by little in 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.”
- “I really loved the story, and the amount of enjoyment I felt after the whole story clicked in place is beyond the scope of my literary abilities to explain.”
- “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.”
music
64 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
45%
5%
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 dull over time, others appreciated its fitting nature and emotional depth, contributing significantly to the game's tone and storytelling. Overall, the music is considered a strong aspect, though it may not be enough to elevate the game for all players.
- “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 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.”
graphics
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
45%
13%
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 many players appreciate the strong soundtrack and the art style, some find the limited color palette and simplicity somewhat boring. Overall, the graphics receive a mixed reception, 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.”
- “+ beautiful artwork”
- “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.”
atmosphere
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
59%
14%
The atmosphere in "Train of Afterlife" is a standout feature, characterized by a haunting soundtrack and a muted color palette that evoke a mix of calmness and eeriness. Players appreciate the emotional depth and storytelling, with the setting fostering a sense of curiosity and introspection as they navigate the narrative. While some find the music can become repetitive, the overall ambiance contributes significantly to the game's impactful and emotional finale.
- “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.”
gameplay
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
61%
22%
The gameplay is criticized for being repetitive and tedious, primarily involving clicking to navigate between seats and engaging in minimal interactions, which leads to a grindy experience. While the story is emotionally engaging, the lack of meaningful variation in dialogue and mechanics diminishes replay value, making the overall experience feel dull and underdeveloped. Players noted that the true ending negatively impacts the perception of other endings, further highlighting the game's shortcomings in gameplay design.
- “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 game 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.”
grinding
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, particularly when attempting to unlock all endings without a skip function. While the initial experience is engaging, it quickly becomes a chore, with characters feeling more like mechanics due to the grindy nature of the gameplay. The lack of guidance on efficient ending farming adds to the frustration, making the overall experience less enjoyable as players progress.
- “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.”
replayability
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
Players consistently highlight the game's high replayability, rating it 9/10, thanks to its appealing art and enjoyable music. Many note that it features numerous moments that encourage repeated playthroughs.
- “The art is appealing, the music is nice, and it's got tons of replay value.”
- “Alas, this game truly did have quite a bunch of highly replayable moments.”
- “Replay value: 9/10”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviews indicate that character development is lacking, particularly for side characters, who do not receive significant growth or depth throughout the game.
- “There isn't a lot of character development for the side characters.”
- “There isn't a lot of character development for the side characters.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game features a compelling and emotionally resonant story that resonates with players, but it is hindered by repetitive gameplay and underdeveloped alternative routes, which detracts from the overall emotional impact.
- “It has a great and emotionally touching story.”

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Train of Afterlife
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6h Median play time

4h Average play time

1-7h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 4 analyzed playthroughs

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