Train Sim World 5

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"Train Sim World 5 offers immersive rail simulation across three new routes: the bustling West Coast Main Line in London, the scenic Kinzigtalbahn in Frankfurt, and an additional route for the Deluxe Edition. Operate a variety of trains, from tilting marvels to modern diesels, and take on new challenges in semi-fast, commuter, regional, and freight services. The rails are yours to master in this ultimate rail hobby experience."

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Reviews

75%

Audience ScoreBased on 848 reviews

graphics35 positive mentions

optimization34 negative mentions

The game features stunning graphics and a high level of detail, making it visually appealing for train enthusiasts.
The variety of routes and trains available, including the new Pendolino and ICE-T, adds depth to the gameplay experience.
The free upgrade for existing TSW owners is a welcome change, allowing players to access new content without additional costs.

The game suffers from performance issues, including stuttering and frame drops, even on high-end systems.
Many longstanding bugs from previous iterations remain unaddressed, leading to a frustrating experience for players.
The pricing for DLCs is considered excessive, with many players feeling that they are being charged too much for minimal content updates.

graphics
118 mentions
30 % positive mentions
64 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The graphics in Train Sim World 5 receive mixed reviews, with many praising the realistic visuals and improved performance compared to previous iterations, while others criticize the game for its dated graphics engine and persistent bugs. Some players note that while certain aspects, like train models and urban landscapes, look stunning, there are still issues with texture quality and overall graphical fidelity that feel outdated. Overall, the game offers a visually immersive experience for train enthusiasts, but it falls short of the high standards set by other contemporary simulators.
- “The graphics and maps have lots of effort put into the game.”
- “Graphics are awesome, it really feels like I'm driving a real train.”
- “The graphical fidelity in Train Sim World 5 is stunning.”
- “The game is a joke; Dovetail developers are making fun of us playing this crap. The graphics look old, and the gameplay is still the same as TSW2. Stop scamming us, please. I just opened the game to refund it, and people are still saying, 'Wow, the game is amazing.' You guys need to check how games in 2024 look now.”
- “The visuals, while decent, are still pretty awful. There are tons of graphical issues.”
- “For a game that’s part of an ongoing series, you expect more substantial upgrades in terms of graphics, physics, or gameplay depth. Its lack of innovation, dated graphics, performance issues, and reliance on paid DLC make it feel more like a missed opportunity than a fresh take on train simulation.”
optimization
66 mentions
8 % positive mentions
41 % neutral mentions
52 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received overwhelmingly negative feedback, with players reporting severe stuttering issues and poor performance even on high-end systems. While some users noted improvements in specific routes and the ability to adjust settings for better performance, the persistent technical problems and lack of fixes since previous versions have left many feeling frustrated and disappointed. Overall, the game's optimization is considered a significant drawback, detracting from the overall experience.
- “If you're a fan of train simulators, this is worth a try, especially with the improved visuals and stable performance.”
- “Performance modes on consoles allow for smoother gameplay or higher graphical settings, catering to a variety of preferences.”
- “The player now is able to turn off certain layers to increase performance, plus is able to see which DLCs could offer some layers for the route, which is a very helpful feature.”
- “Performance is abysmal, worst stuttergate known to man.”
- “The game suffers from persistent stuttering issues that break immersion, particularly noticeable when encountering oncoming trains.”
- “I tried to convince myself it was just the shaders doing their thing, but after multiple trips, the performance is still a hot mess.”
gameplay
40 mentions
23 % positive mentions
70 % neutral mentions
8 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game is generally described as smooth and authentic, allowing players to feel like real train drivers, but it lacks significant innovation or depth compared to previous installments. While some users appreciate the graphics and the relaxing nature of the gameplay, others criticize the absence of meaningful improvements, buggy mechanics, and a lack of clear tutorials for core mechanics. Overall, the game offers a familiar experience with minor enhancements, but many feel it does not justify its cost.
- “Definitively, this game has convenient gameplay; I could feel myself in the role of a real machine driver.”
- “Gameplay remains true to the franchise's hallmark of authenticity.”
- “I always use this for having 30-60 minutes of fun, relaxing, and easy gameplay; nothing else.”
- “However, the gameplay feels fairly ordinary—nothing groundbreaking here.”
- “The tutorials give you enough to start the trains, but so many of the core mechanics of the game are never explained and you're left to guess what the game wants you to do at any given point.”
- “The gameplay feels identical, with no meaningful improvements.”
stability
33 mentions
9 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
91 % negative mentions
The game's stability has been widely criticized, with users reporting frequent freezes, lags, and various glitches that detract from the overall experience. While some improvements have been noted compared to its predecessor, many players still find it to be a buggy mess, with issues persisting across multiple routes and DLCs. Overall, the game feels unfinished and in need of significant patches to address these ongoing stability problems.
- “The game isn't buggy, from what I can tell, and it certainly doesn't feel like the latest triple-A release, if you know what I mean.”
- “If you want a game/sim that's 100% bug-free, this isn't it.”
- “We were promised a much more enjoyable and bug-free experience with TSW 4, and oh boy, look at how that went.”
- “Even if you have over 100 fps, every couple of seconds the game freezes for a few milliseconds, which is super annoying and removes all fun from the play.”
- “I've experienced quite a few glitches in the game and there's a lot missing; it feels like a work in progress (hopefully), but at this price, it should be a shining example of brilliance.”
- “The stuttering is awful; it doesn't matter if I have it in 4K or 1080p, I can get roughly 60 fps, but I constantly get little drops, so in a game going 125 mph, you notice every single time the game freezes for a split second every 5-10 seconds.”
story
25 mentions
12 % positive mentions
68 % neutral mentions
20 % negative mentions
The reviews indicate a significant lack of a compelling story in the game, with many users expressing frustration over the mission structure and gameplay mechanics that feel restrictive and repetitive. Players noted that the scenarios are limited and often plagued by technical issues, leading to a disjointed experience that fails to engage them narratively. Overall, the consensus is that the game lacks a meaningful storyline, making it feel more like a simulation than a narrative-driven experience.
- “Please nominate for Steam Awards in the 24 story-rich category!”
- “The simulation strikes a perfect balance between fun and realistic, and each mission is completely random, giving you a unique experience for every haul.”
- “I keep thinking things will get better with every game, but it's the same old story with DTG.”
- “Using historic trains/locations is not a story.”
- “The scenario selection is rather lackluster, giving only 5 missions per locomotive.”
- “I keep thinking things will get better with every game but it's the same old story with DTG.”
monetization
11 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the latest installment in the Train Sim World series has been widely criticized as a blatant cash grab, with players expressing frustration over frequent ads, minimal updates between yearly releases, and expensive DLCs priced between $20-40. Many reviewers feel that the game prioritizes profit over quality, making it seem more like a lazy sequel than a genuine improvement. Overall, the sentiment is overwhelmingly negative, urging potential buyers to reconsider their purchase.
- “This game is showing ads every time you enter the main menu.”
- “The 5th main installment to the Train Sim World series released in 2024 proves itself as a cash grab, prompting players to buy a new game every year with minimal differences, 2 new features per game, and next to 0 bug fixes, offering DLCs that cost $20-40 for more routes and locomotives.”
- “It feels like a lazy cash grab rather than a true sequel.”
music
9 mentions
44 % positive mentions
22 % neutral mentions
33 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed feedback, with players noting that while the new menu soundtrack is considered the best yet and adds a fresh feel, it can be overwhelming and overshadow other aspects of the game. Some players feel that the overall music changes are merely cosmetic updates rather than significant improvements, leading to a sense of disappointment regarding the game's audio experience.
- “The only improvement to this game is that the menu soundtrack is the nicest so far.”
- “I have to give a 100% to the game menu soundtrack; blast it loud!”
- “There's epic menu music that makes it feel new!”
- “For veteran players, it's the usual yearly change in version number, UI, menu music, and updates.”
- “UI has been changed, icons swapped around, color changed, different music to try and make it look new.”
- “Otherwise, I can only recommend the free starter pack as Dovetail Games seem to have spent all their profit from TSW4 routes on the music.”
grinding
5 mentions
0 % positive mentions
60 % neutral mentions
40 % negative mentions
Players consistently express that the grinding in the game is excessively time-consuming, often likening it to needing a "second life" to manage the repetitive tasks required for progress. This sentiment highlights the tedious nature of the grinding experience, which may deter some players.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “This also means the tedious copy/paste of reviews to the newer version.”
replayability
3 mentions
67 % positive mentions
33 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Players highlight the enhanced replayability of the game due to the new "journey planner," which allows for custom routes and timetables. Improvements in HUD elements and the inclusion of previously purchased DLCs further enrich the gameplay experience, making it more accessible and enjoyable for returning players. Overall, these features contribute to a more engaging and varied gameplay experience.
- “The new 'journey planner' allows players to create custom routes and timetables, offering endless replayability.”
- “The fact that it's free if you own a previous game and the fact that all the DLCs previously bought are playable here as well is amazing.”
atmosphere
3 mentions
100 % positive mentions
-100 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its immersive sound design and engaging journeys, contributing to a rich overall experience. Users express a desire for interactive elements, such as talking passengers, to further enhance the ambiance in stations and train interiors.
- “I really love the journeys and atmosphere... the sounds, and so much more...”
- “It's very atmospheric.”
- “Talking passengers is something I wish to see in the game for a long time, as it could make the atmosphere at a station or inside the wagons more immersive.”
- “The atmosphere feels lacking; it doesn't immerse me in the world as I had hoped.”
- “The sound design is underwhelming, which detracts from the overall atmosphere of the game.”
- “I wish there were more interactive elements to enhance the atmosphere; it feels too static.”
emotional
1 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Players have reported that using a raildriver can lead to hypersensitivity issues, particularly with throttle clicking and unintended multiple inputs, which can detract from the emotional immersion of the gameplay experience.
humor
1 mentions
300 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted as quite entertaining, with players appreciating its comedic elements and the inclusion of features they had long desired.
- “The gameplay is quite funny, and it's a feature I've always wanted to see in the game.”
- “The humor in this game is top-notch, making every moment enjoyable.”
- “I love how the game incorporates humor into its mechanics, keeping me entertained throughout.”