Train Sim World

About

Train Sim World is a realistic train simulation game that offers players the opportunity to operate a variety of locomotives and trains on detailed routes around the world. The game features realistic physics, functioning train systems, and accurate depictions of various locomotives and railcars. Players can challenge themselves with various scenarios and timetables, or simply enjoy exploring the intricate routes and operating the trains.

Genres & Tags

Simulation

Play Modes

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

72%

Audience ScoreBased on 3,136 reviews

graphics448 positive mentions

optimization88 negative mentions

Stunning graphics and immersive environments that enhance the train driving experience.
Highly interactive train controls, allowing players to engage with various functions and features.
Great for train enthusiasts, offering a realistic simulation of operating trains.

Numerous bugs and glitches that can disrupt gameplay and frustrate players.
Expensive DLCs that add limited content, making the overall cost of the game quite high.
Lack of promised features such as an editor and multiplayer support, leading to disappointment among players.

graphics
861 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
52%
45%
3%
The graphics in Train Sim World have received widespread acclaim for their stunning realism and detail, particularly due to the use of Unreal Engine 4, which marks a significant improvement over previous iterations. Many users highlight the immersive environments, intricate train models, and dynamic weather effects, although some report performance issues and frame rate drops, especially on lower-end PCs. Overall, while the visuals are impressive, the game's optimization and gameplay depth have been points of contention among players.
- “The graphics are ultra realistic.”
- “The graphics are mind-blowing.”
- “The graphics, simulation, and feel of the game are as you would expect in real life.”
- “Although the graphics engine, textures, etc. are much better than standard train simulator 202x, the scenery is mind-numbingly boring compared to ts.”
- “This game took two steps forward on graphics and 10 steps backwards on the actual gameplay.”
- “The graphics are very life-like, but the game is still not graphically optimized, lacking a super amount of gameplay and content.”
optimization
317 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
60%
28%
The optimization of the game has received widespread criticism, with many users reporting persistent stuttering, low frame rates, and performance issues even on high-end systems. While some players have noted improvements following updates, the overall consensus is that the game remains poorly optimized, requiring significant hardware to run smoothly and still suffering from various bugs and glitches. Many reviewers recommend waiting for further optimization patches before purchasing.
- “The graphics are smooth and performance is great.”
- “Optimization has been improved 100% and runs smooth as butter and looks fantastic!”
- “The first thing I noticed was that the performance has drastically improved from its initial release, so bear that in mind when reading older reviews about performance.”
- “The stuttering problem has been present for many months, even years, and although my 600 euro medium performance PC meets the recommended requirements, especially on the Long Island Rail Road: New York - Hicksville route add-on, the stuttering is unbearable.”
- “The fact that there are bugs in the game (red lights that never turn green in a few missions, often reported, never fixed) that have never been fixed and some optimizations that never happened is an absolute no-go and it made me stop buying the DLCs eventually.”
- “This game is very poorly optimized and it's very irritating that I see posts from 2017 that they have not yet resolved this issue.”
gameplay
179 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
65%
5%
The gameplay of Train Sim World (TSW) is characterized by a mix of impressive graphics and realistic mechanics, but it suffers from linearity and a lack of depth, leading to a repetitive experience. While many players appreciate the immersive driving and camera mechanics, concerns about high-priced DLCs, limited core content, and bugs detract from overall enjoyment. Despite these issues, some users find the gameplay engaging and relaxing, particularly for train enthusiasts, though they express a desire for more dynamic features and improvements.
- “Killer graphics and realistic gameplay.”
- “The gameplay is great too; there are three types: 'scenarios, services, and tutorials'. I would advise watching videos of people playing the game just to make sure that this is a game for you.”
- “The gameplay feels so much more organic and fluid.”
- “What you get is linear gameplay, which I think is a thing of the past.”
- “The first issue is the lack of a scenario editor; with no way to edit scenarios to simulate different workings and to utilize trains from different routes, this means you're effectively stuck with the scenarios Dovetail provided with the game, making the overall gameplay experience stale with relatively low replay value compared to the game's predecessor.”
- “Short route lengths do not allow for realistic gameplay, rolling stock is recycled for multiple paid DLC, core features are missing and bugs not being fixed for years.”
stability
173 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
6%
94%
The game's stability is widely criticized, with numerous reports of persistent bugs, glitches, and performance issues that detract from the overall experience. Many users express frustration over unresolved problems, including crashes, unresponsive controls, and tutorial failures, leading to a consensus that the game feels unfinished and poorly supported. While some players find enjoyment despite these issues, the overwhelming sentiment is that the game remains a "buggy mess" that fails to meet expectations, especially given the time since its release.
- “Runs great on older hardware too.”
- “It runs great on my medium level rig (GTX 970, 16 GB RAM) and the settings are easily tweakable; I get 60 FPS and 35-45 FPS in congested areas.”
- “It runs great on my system with visuals maxed at 2560x1440.”
- “This game is a buggy mess even after all these years, don't buy.”
- “Not worth the money, the devs abandoned the base game after a few months, full of glitches and bugs, motion blur sucks.”
- “The game is very buggy and it has now been confirmed that none of its issues will be fixed after the release of TSW2.”
story
114 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
9%
86%
5%
The game's story aspect is largely criticized for its lack of depth and engagement, with many users noting that it features minimal narrative elements and primarily consists of repetitive missions that feel disconnected from any overarching plot. Players express frustration over bugs and mission failures that detract from the experience, leading to a perception of the game as more of a simulation than a story-driven adventure. Overall, the consensus is that while the gameplay may appeal to train enthusiasts, the storytelling is virtually non-existent, leaving players wanting more in terms of narrative content and mission variety.
- “I like trains, this is trains :-) it feels very story driven, progress oriented and at first I was against it, but it's slowly making me better at handling a train so it's not a bad thing.”
- “The story or main point to this game is you do scenarios ranging from shunting freight around Cumberland train yard to driving long consists from point A to point B while responding to events that happen along the way from signals, weather, speed changes, gradients positive and negative.”
- “The service missions plop you into the 24-hour schedules, and you have so much freedom to do things the way you want, whether that's strictly following schedules and limits, or freely exploring the gorgeous scenery.”
- “This game is at times just unplayable due to the missions being sometimes completely bugged out and therefore being uncompletable.”
- “The addition of side missions like a few collect-a-thon missions for each line fails to add to the experience in any way aside from giving you an incentive to leave the engineer's seat every once in a while and race back in time.”
- “There is virtually no mission editing capability outside of basic weather selection.”
monetization
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
5%
95%
The monetization strategy of this game has been widely criticized as a blatant cash grab, with players feeling that the developer, Dovetail, prioritizes profit over quality and user experience. Many reviews highlight the excessive reliance on DLCs and microtransactions, alongside broken promises regarding game features and support, leading to a perception of insincerity and exploitation within the gaming community. Overall, players advise potential buyers to avoid the game due to its high costs and lack of substantial content.
- “This game is just a huge cash grab.”
- “Dovetail designed this game and all of their train games to be a cash grab for more DLCs and constantly push you towards it in their game, and requires you to set up an account with them for whatever reason.”
- “Dovetail is a developer that is not concerned about the product or its users; it's all about the cash grab!”
grinding
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
5%
9%
86%
Reviews highlight that the grinding aspect of the game is overwhelmingly tedious, with players often feeling the need for a second life to endure repetitive tasks. Many find the gameplay monotonous, particularly due to the lack of engaging scenarios and the necessity to perform the same missions repeatedly. Comparisons to other simulation games, like Farming Simulator, reveal a preference for those that offer more variety and engaging content, making the grinding in this game feel particularly frustrating.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “If you think grinding was a thing in MMOs and RPGs, wait till you see DTG's idea of 'a game' when you do the same mission just in the opposite direction 300+ times.”
- “Once you've done the scenarios, all you have to do is run up and down the lines which is extremely tedious, especially on such a short route like Great Western.”
- “What really turned me off was how boring and tedious it was to drive a train.”
replayability
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
68%
14%
The game's replayability is a mixed bag; while some players find it infinitely replayable due to various routes and modes, others criticize the lack of a scenario editor, which limits the variety and ultimately makes the experience feel stale. Many agree that the service mode enhances replay value, but the absence of customizable scenarios is seen as a significant drawback. Overall, the game offers decent replayability, particularly for train enthusiasts, but it could benefit from more diverse content and editing options.
- “There's lots of replay value here, and while the rest of the addons are quite expensive, I personally don't think you need them to have fun.”
- “Regardless, I find it to be an extremely entertaining game to play and the variety of routes leads to the game having lots of replay value.”
- “It's probably the most solid and value-rich feature the software package offers with its near infinite replay value.”
- “The first issue is the lack of a scenario editor; with no way to edit scenarios to simulate different workings and to utilize trains from different routes, this means you're effectively stuck with the scenarios Dovetail provided with the game, making the overall gameplay experience stale with relatively low replay value compared to the game's predecessor.”
- “Very poor replay value and variety, but that was okay because we had been promised a scenario editor from before it was released.”
- “Lacking an editor is a major flaw and it's quickly lost its replayability.”
humor
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
94%
17%
The humor in the game is described as a mix of unintentional hilarity stemming from buggy physics and AI behaviors, leading to amusing situations like runaway trains and awkward controls. While some players find joy in these comedic moments, others feel that the game's shortcomings overshadow the humor, suggesting that it can be entertaining but is often a result of its flaws. Overall, the game elicits laughter, particularly when players encounter its various quirks, though some believe it relies heavily on additional content to enhance the comedic experience.
- “I've not experienced anything major but have had some hilarious moments - such as a runaway loco even though the brake was on and I could not climb back into the cab even though I could open the cab door.”
- “If you want a good laugh, go ahead, because this is one of the most hilariously bad games I've ever played.”
- “This has made my day, I'm sat here laughing my head off at them.”
- “This game is not funny without DLC.”
- “The humor feels forced and falls flat.”
- “I expected more laughs, but the jokes are stale.”
atmosphere
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
54%
23%
23%
The atmosphere in the game is a mixed bag; while many players appreciate the immersive first-person experience and detailed environments that enhance the overall ambiance, there are notable issues such as glitches, frame rate drops, and inconsistent atmospheric effects that detract from the experience. Some users find the missions stale and lacking in liveliness, particularly in certain locations like Paddington Station, despite the game's impressive visual fidelity and weather effects. Overall, the atmosphere is described as both compelling and relaxing, but it could benefit from improvements in liveliness and consistency.
- “I love the first-person atmosphere, as well as the ability to ride passenger trains.”
- “TSW provides a fantastic atmosphere to just kick back and drive, with enough challenge to make it compelling.”
- “The detail is great; you've never seen trains look so good, and even the surrounding houses and factories add a lot of atmosphere to the game.”
- “The stale atmosphere of the missions also put me off eventually.”
- “Lack of atmosphere in Paddington Station, also station announcements.”
- “When it comes to cons: I would say there are a number of glitches, script errors, sound inconsistencies, and the atmosphere needs to be more lively.”
music
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
44%
33%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some players finding the main menu music tolerable while others find it annoying and repetitive. There is a lack of a radio feature, which limits players' options for background music during longer sessions. Additionally, the music changes when selecting scenarios or tutorials, which some users find disruptive.
- “I go to any station in France, and that great SNCF music and announcements take place regularly.”
- “Sound/music: the game main menu music is fine; I personally am not bothered by it.”
- “The music when you open the game is very annoying.”
- “Coming from ATS/ETS2, I listen to the music radio, but it seems TSW does not have a radio feature just yet (when some sessions do take hours).”
- “Another thing is the music; it changes when you go to select a scenario or tutorial.”
emotional
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users express a deep emotional connection to the experience of driving trains, highlighting a sense of immersion that makes them feel like they are truly operating the train. However, there is also a strong sense of frustration and heartbreak over the lack of support and attention to ongoing issues, which detracts from their overall enjoyment and investment in the game.
- “It's absolutely heartbreaking that railfans have nothing to call their own at this point.”
- “It really made me feel like I'm driving the train, not just sitting at the computer!”