Train Valley 2
- March 29, 2018
- Timofey Shargorodskiy
- 52h median play time
In Train Valley 2, players build and manage train routes in European cities during the 1800s, facing increasingly complex challenges that test their time management and strategic skills. The game features a campaign mode with 35 levels, sandbox mode, and multiplayer, with various trains, landscapes, and weather conditions to add variety. Players must ensure the safety and efficiency of their trains while expanding and upgrading their rail network to meet demand and turn a profit.
Reviews
- Addictively fun gameplay that combines puzzle-solving with resource management.
- Challenging levels with a good variety of mechanics and unique twists that keep the game interesting.
- Strong community support with user-generated content and regular updates from developers.
- Some levels can become tedious and frustrating, especially when a single mistake requires restarting a lengthy level.
- Lack of a save function during levels can lead to significant time loss and frustration.
- The game can feel overly restrictive in terms of track placement and solutions, often leading to only one viable path to success.
- gameplay290 mentions
- 24 % positive mentions
- 70 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The gameplay in Train Valley 2 has evolved significantly from its predecessor, introducing new mechanics that enhance strategic planning and resource management while maintaining a core puzzle-solving experience. Players appreciate the intuitive mechanics and engaging challenges, although some express frustration with unexplained features and occasional repetitiveness. Overall, the game offers a polished and addictive experience, with a variety of levels and downloadable content that keeps players invested.
“The core mechanics of Train Valley are still at the center of TV2, but this time they are just the foundation on which this excellent game builds.”
“The combination of addictive gameplay, cool graphics, and challenging puzzles make it a must-play for anyone who loves puzzle games.”
“The gameplay is fun and engaging, and everything feels really well polished.”
“Around the halfway point, new mechanics that go completely unexplained start getting added.”
“I've had enough of these bad levels where I spend an hour doing everything I am supposed to only to have to start over because of one mistake, or worse, some form of troll mechanic that can't be foreseen.”
“The graphics are hard to read, the gameplay becomes very tedious, and the music is repetitive.”
- graphics199 mentions
- 48 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received a mixed reception, with many players appreciating the cute, colorful, and low-poly art style that adds charm to the gameplay. While some find the visuals appealing and well-designed, others criticize them for being simplistic or less detailed compared to the previous installment. Overall, the graphics contribute positively to the game's relaxing atmosphere, though opinions vary on their effectiveness in gameplay clarity.
“Its charming visuals, intuitive gameplay, and addictive puzzle-solving mechanics make for an incredibly enjoyable experience.”
“The graphics in 'Train Valley' are well-designed and add to the game's overall charm.”
“The graphics are bright and detailed enough to make everything really visually satisfying.”
“I wanted to give a chance for this one as well but I can't enjoy a game with such low quality graphics after the first game. It was much better, I think... and if this one also has those stupid puzzle rushes then I won't even bother with it.”
“To make matters worse, this is a copy-paste of their last game, Train Valley, but they made the graphics worse by doubling down on the lazy low poly 'art' and making it look deliberately more blocky, abandoning any pretense at realism.”
“I'm sorry, I really wanted to love this but the graphics are worse and the gameplay is so, very, boring.”
- music76 mentions
- 42 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players praising its relaxing and pleasant nature, while others criticize it for being repetitive and lacking variety. Many appreciate the chill vibe it creates, enhancing the gameplay experience, but there are calls for more diverse tracks to prevent monotony during longer sessions. Overall, while the soundtrack is generally well-received, it is noted that it could benefit from additional thematic depth and variety.
“The music slaps though.”
“Train Valley 2 features a relaxing soundtrack that supports the game well but won’t distract you from thinking about the solution for the level.”
“The music is really pleasant and it always feels great when my tracks finally come together!”
“The music is just terrible.”
“In complete contrast to the first part, there are hardly any music tracks, so unfortunately no variety and thematically appropriate music.”
“The music is mediocre and repetitive compared to the first game.”
- story68 mentions
- 7 % positive mentions
- 78 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The game lacks a cohesive story, focusing instead on mission-based gameplay where players complete timed challenges involving train management. While some missions are creatively designed and offer engaging mechanics, the absence of a narrative and the frustrating complexity of later levels detract from the overall experience. Players generally find the gameplay enjoyable but express disappointment over the lack of a meaningful plot or character development.
“The map designs for the missions are cool, and events in the maps (like in Panama Canal, Kansai Airport, volcano mission, etc.) make it more fun and challenging.”
“The game takes the concept of the first game and just makes it infinitely better in every way possible, especially with the added workshop mode where you can download user-created missions.”
“It was the best levels from the first one, putting you under pressure sometimes, or with a strange challenge or storytelling, and the few ones in Train Valley 2 just feel like a level with a twist but no real challenge added in terms of pace or anticipation.”
“There is no actual plot to Train Valley, and this is less of a sequel to the previous game than an entire revamp of the mechanics.”
“Story: 0/2 no story at all.”
“The campaign missions so far seem completely randomly themed, with no links between one another.”
- replayability34 mentions
- 32 % positive mentions
- 59 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
Overall, the game offers a strong replayability factor, primarily due to its level-building workshop, global leaderboards, and the challenge of achieving 5-star ratings on each level. While many players appreciate the endless possibilities and user-generated content that enhance replay value, some express that once certain goals are met, the replayability can feel limited. The combination of optional challenges and new mechanics keeps the experience engaging for puzzle enthusiasts, though opinions on its longevity vary.
“Love the workshop that allows players to build levels - make it infinitely replayable!”
“With its clever level design and endless replayability, Train Valley 2 is a must-have for any puzzle or simulation enthusiast.”
“A very chill and engaging puzzle game with tons of replayability through workshop content.”
“I just wished it had more replayability.”
“It has some but limited replayability - going for more stars is the real reason to play through multiple times, and can be fun for a while.”
“There is almost no replay value on a map once you've achieved 5 stars on it... and the reward for collecting stars on maps is purely aesthetic.”
- grinding28 mentions
- 7 % positive mentions
- 11 % neutral mentions
- 82 % negative mentions
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, often requiring excessive time investment to progress. Many reviews highlight that as levels increase in difficulty, the gameplay becomes more frustrating and less enjoyable, with limited innovation and challenging mechanics. While some players appreciate the game for its initial appeal, the grinding ultimately detracts from the overall experience, leading to feelings of boredom and frustration.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“A bit grindy sometimes.”
“It does get a bit tedious after a while, and some of the mechanics could also use some real quality of life improvements.”
“Overall, I enjoyed the game for a decent while, but some of the levels just got too tedious for me to see it all the way through.”
“If a game is more tedious than fun, you've done something wrong with the design.”
- optimization17 mentions
- 18 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
Overall, the optimization in the game is a central focus, offering players a satisfying challenge in route planning and resource management. While many users report improved performance compared to the previous installment, some still experience occasional freezes and minor control quirks, particularly on Mac systems. The game is generally well-optimized for most platforms, but players should be aware of these lingering issues.
“Puzzle and problem solving is pretty straightforward, but it's really all about the optimization and figuring out the most efficient routes and train utilization to get all of the time trophies.”
“At its heart, Train Valley 2 (TV2) is an optimization puzzle where you need to decide on what to do first, then second, while executing tasks that can be run concurrently, within constraints.”
“Great game for logistic champions or aspiring newbies that want to learn about optimization.”
“The only downside for me: it's not very optimized for Mac.”
“Also, performance seems to be somewhat lacking, so that is something to be aware of.”
“There isn't a dozen options to connect elements and you pretty quickly figure the only real optimized option.”
- stability7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- -29 % neutral mentions
- 86 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is generally positive, with many players reporting smooth performance and minimal bugs or glitches during gameplay. However, some users have experienced occasional freezes and minor graphical issues, particularly at high speeds. While most players enjoyed a stable experience, a few noted that the game could be buggy at times, especially in comparison to previous titles.
“Fun game, runs great on Proton.”
“The game is incredibly stable, with no crashes or bugs during my playthrough.”
“I appreciate how smoothly everything runs; it really enhances the overall experience.”
“- it's buggy”
“Performance is mostly good on my GTX 1070-based gaming laptop, but a couple of times a level the game freezes for a second or two for no obvious reason.”
“It is very stable with only a few strange graphical glitches that I've noticed when running in super-fast speed.”
- humor6 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in Train Valley 2 is highlighted by its amusing gameplay and the comedic failures that arise during play, making the experience enjoyable even for those who aren't train enthusiasts. The game's art and design enhance this humor, with funny contrasts and quirky terrain challenges contributing to the overall lighthearted atmosphere.
“Train Valley 2 is never frustrating, and the failures can be downright hilarious.”
“It's a funny contrast, and the general art and design of the levels is both a significant improvement from Train Valley 1 yet is also good enough to stand on its own.”
“Nice graphics, funny gameplay.”
- monetization4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game has been criticized for intrusive ads in the main menu, which detract from the experience of a paid title. Players also express frustration over pop-up advertisements and perceive the game as overly simplistic and reminiscent of mobile games, while viewing DLC as a cash grab rather than meaningful content.
“Ads in the main menu that cover 1/3 of the screen for a paid game is absurd.”
“I couldn't click out of the pop-up advertisement about the developer's new game when launching the game at a 32:9 aspect ratio.”
“I bought it thinking it would be more like City Skylines or Civ, but in reality, it's just like a mobile game without the ads.”
- atmosphere3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is characterized by its distinct, chill vibe, enhanced by low-poly graphics and a strong time management theme. Players appreciate its simplicity and uniqueness, making it appealing for those who enjoy a relaxed gaming experience.
“It is not overly complicated and realistic, and this creates a unique atmosphere.”
“If you like games with strong time management themes, featuring low-poly graphics and a very chill atmosphere, you'll probably like this.”
“Looks nice, distinct atmosphere.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the game series to be a fun and wholesome experience, with challenges that, despite time limits, do not evoke a sense of pressure or stress. The emotional tone is generally positive, emphasizing enjoyment and lightheartedness.
“This is just such a fun, wholesome series of games.”