Train Sim World 4

About

"Train Sim World 4" offers a realistic rail simulation experience, featuring new difficulty ratings and settings for accessibility. Explore a variety of iconic routes and trains, with the added freedom to roam and drive any train wherever you want. The Training Center provides a place to learn the basics of operating diesel, steam, and electric power trains.

Genres & Tags

Simulation

Play Modes

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

76%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,503 reviews

graphics97 positive mentions

optimization42 negative mentions

The game features stunning graphics and attention to detail, making it visually appealing.
The addition of free roam mode allows for greater exploration and flexibility in gameplay.
The variety of trains and routes available keeps the gameplay fresh and engaging.

The game is essentially a rehash of previous versions, with minimal new content and features.
DLC prices are considered excessive, making it costly to fully enjoy the game.
Performance issues, including stuttering and lag, persist despite having a high-end gaming setup.

graphics
230 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
51%
7%
The graphics in Train Sim World 4 receive mixed reviews, with many praising the immersive and detailed environments, as well as the realistic train models. However, some players criticize the game for its occasional stuttering, lack of significant graphical improvements over previous versions, and performance issues even on high-end systems. Overall, while the visuals are generally considered good, they are often seen as not living up to the expectations for a game released in 2024.
- “Amazing graphics, you forget that you are playing a game.”
- “The graphics are exceptionally well-executed, rendering trains and landscapes with a level of realism that is truly immersive.”
- “Train Sim World 4's graphics are crisp and sharp, with every detail recreated to perfection.”
- “Bad graphics, the whole environment looks terrible.”
- “Graphics settings are stuck in the past and are so poorly optimized that people with top-end settings lag and stutter just the same as if they're on lower settings.”
- “I do not recommend this game; there is literally no difference compared to Train Sim World 2. If anything, the graphics are worse than Train Sim World 2, and there is not even the slightest difference. I am not happy about this game; it's a complete waste of money.”
optimization
87 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
10%
41%
48%
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant stuttering and performance issues even on high-end systems. While some users have experienced smoother gameplay and improved frame rates compared to previous versions, the overall consensus is that the game is poorly optimized, suffering from frequent freezes, lag, and inadequate resource utilization. Players express frustration over the lack of improvements despite the game's long development time, suggesting that optimization remains a critical area needing attention.
- “This game is amazing; the graphics are pretty good and the game is so optimized that it can run on a 1070 Ti.”
- “I am happy with this version 4 update; much better performance.”
- “Performance seems to be better than TSW3 but still not great; FPS overall seems to have increased but there are bad stutters while playing.”
- “Clearly, optimization isn't Dovetail Games' forte, which is evident from the countless house and vehicle models that are spammed mindlessly throughout most maps.”
- “This game is plagued by constant freezes, pauses, glitches, audio dropouts and repetitions, and general issues with poor performance.”
- “The stuttering (that the devs said is unavoidable no matter your machine) is just atrocious.”
gameplay
80 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
75%
6%
The gameplay of Train Sim World 4 has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating its simulation aspects and variety of routes, while others criticize it for being repetitive and lacking significant improvements over previous iterations. Many users highlight the game's strong graphics and immersive elements, but express frustration over bugs and the high cost of DLCs, which are seen as essential for a richer experience. Overall, while the game offers engaging moments for train enthusiasts, its gameplay can feel sterile and underwhelming at times.
- “I love the attention to detail, and the hours of gameplay on a single route.”
- “Gameplay is brilliant and authentic and the most enjoyable train simulation experience.”
- “The immersive gameplay is further enhanced by the dynamic weather system and realistic sound effects, which make each trip feel like a genuine railway journey.”
- “I enjoy the sim aspect, but the gameplay can be quite annoying.”
- “The gameplay loop is inherently repetitive, and maybe this is a symptom of the game's realism but it turns out driving a train is not particularly challenging or engaging.”
- “Gameplay has little to it - just drive a train from point A to point B.”
stability
59 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
5%
98%
The stability of Train Sim World 4 is widely criticized, with users reporting numerous bugs, visual glitches, and performance issues such as freezing and stuttering, which significantly detract from the gameplay experience. Many players express frustration over the recurring nature of these problems across multiple iterations of the game, suggesting a lack of commitment from the developers to address these issues. Overall, the game is perceived as a buggy and unfinished product, with many recommending potential buyers to wait for fixes or consider alternatives.
- “A lot less laggy than TSW3; even on my low-end PC, it runs great on medium graphics.”
- “The game runs smoothly without any crashes, making for a seamless experience.”
- “I've experienced minimal bugs, which really enhances the overall gameplay.”
- “Despite all this, they have the nerve to re-release the same buggy mess every year, accompanied by a handful of new buggy maps.”
- “The game is plagued by constant freezes, pauses, glitches, audio dropouts and repetitions, and general issues with poor performance.”
- “I feel ripped off buying this bug-ridden game as I am sure many others do too.”
story
37 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
8%
70%
22%
The game lacks a coherent story, with many users noting that it feels more like a series of missions than a narrative experience. Players express frustration over minimal guidance and poor tutorials, which hinder mission completion and overall enjoyment. Additionally, the absence of engaging elements like NPCs or a quest system contributes to a sense of emptiness in the gameplay.
- “The routes are jam-packed with little side missions that you can complete as well as scenarios and timetabled routes.”
- “I had to operate a vectron and mission accomplished.”
- “Its fun but it feels long doing the missions but I do recommend if you have the time.”
- “Garbage tutorials that don't teach you everything you need to know to complete the missions.”
- “No summary after an hour of driving, no rewards, no overall mission completion information.”
- “I am not talking about small glitches, but about game-breaking bugs which prevent you from completing a mission/tutorial.”
monetization
25 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization strategy of the game has been widely criticized as a blatant cash grab, with many reviewers noting minimal improvements over previous versions and excessive reliance on paid DLC, which totals over $2000. Players express frustration over the necessity to repurchase the core game and the inclusion of in-game advertisements, labeling the overall experience as exploitative and lacking innovation. Despite some acknowledging the game's quality when on sale, the overwhelming sentiment is one of disappointment with the developers' practices.
- “Just a repackaged Train Sim World 3; it's a blatant cash grab with no real improvements that we want, like start point and consist builder that MSTS had.”
- “Has tons of performance drops, not much different from the previous games, over $2000 of DLC, shameless cash grab.”
- “It's not much different from TSW3 to me, and the biggest bugbear is having to buy the core game again; what a lousy cash grab.”
music
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
45%
27%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews; while many players praise the beautiful soundtrack and find it enjoyable to listen to both in-game and separately, others criticize the inability to disable the loud music during scenarios, which can detract from the overall experience. Some players appreciate the relaxing atmosphere it creates, likening it to other simulation games, while the trailer music has also garnered positive attention.
- “The graph and sounds are great, and I can't stop listening to the soundtrack (which can be found separately online) when not playing.”
- “There is nothing better than spending an hour and a half in a train with max volume headphones playing phonk music so loud it's vibrating your brain.”
- “The soundtrack is beautiful.”
- “Stutters along and gives no way to disable the obnoxiously loud music that plays during scenarios, obscuring in-cab and ambient sounds.”
- “Sadly, I'm just a lowly musician, so I'll just keep throwing money at DTG until someone better comes along.”
- “A year later - they announce TSW 4, make a trailer with a Depeche Mode song and update the graphics just a little bit.”
grinding
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
70%
30%
The grinding aspect of the game is described as extremely time-consuming, with players feeling they would need a "second life" to complete all tasks. While some find the grinding tedious, others appreciate the lack of pressure from daily quests, viewing it as a mind-numbing yet rewarding experience.
- “I personally want to finish all timetables and scenarios for specific trains, a tedious task but definitely something I'd love to brag about when I finish all of them.”
- “Decent mind-numbing game which demands your concentration but won't nag you about 'daily quests' and 'grinding gear'.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
humor
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is highlighted by its unexpected and amusing bugs, as well as the quirky tutorial voice reminiscent of a character from "Rick & Morty." Players find the chaotic situations and the game's relaxed atmosphere to be entertaining, despite acknowledging the need for improvements. Overall, the blend of realism and absurdity creates a lighthearted experience for those who enjoy train simulations.
- “The mess leads to funny situations though.”
- “For some reason, the lady speaking in the tutorials sounds almost exactly like Beth from Rick & Morty, but that's kind of hilarious.”
- “Of course, I would love to see firing brought in, but I can put up with magic steam, which is funny given I am a steam fireman in real life.”
atmosphere
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The atmosphere in the game is highly inconsistent, with some players noting significant improvements in graphics and sound that enhance immersion, while others criticize the lack of life in the game world, poor physics, and numerous bugs that detract from the experience. Overall, the game's atmosphere seems to be a mixed bag, with notable advancements overshadowed by persistent technical issues.
- “A huge step in the right direction with more control over what one can do and buckets of atmosphere to go with it through both graphics and sound, which have made a significant step forward.”
- “I thought ECML might be the weak link, but with the atmosphere improvements, it is really very good.”
- “This completely ruined the atmosphere when you wanted to watch your train travel around the landscapes from a fly-over view.”
- “The game's physics engine is trash and nothing like real trains. They accelerate too fast, the game world is devoid of life, there's no sounds or atmosphere, and there are bugs and glitches all over, including passengers floating and walking through the air and the track, which has been present since the first version of the game.”