Train Yard Builder

About

"Train Yard Builder" is a creative sandbox game that lets you build and customize your own train yard. Choose from various trains and wagons, customize their appearance, and use tools like track switches and activators to create complex designs. You can also add details such as benches, roads, and plants to create a vibrant and immersive environment. Shop and sell different items to expand your collection while planning and building your dream train yard.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

71%

Audience ScoreBased on 48 reviews

graphics5 positive mentions

optimization2 negative mentions

The game offers a cozy and relaxing experience, making it suitable for casual players and younger audiences.
It features a variety of customization options, including the ability to paint models and create dioramas, which adds a personal touch to layouts.
The graphics are visually appealing, and the game runs smoothly, providing an enjoyable atmosphere for model train enthusiasts.

The game lacks essential features for serious model railroading, such as the ability to create complex layouts, reverse train operations, and a wider selection of models and tracks.
There are numerous bugs and issues with the game, including problems with item placement, unresponsive controls, and a lack of support from the developers.
The career mode feels restrictive and repetitive, with tasks that can become tedious and a storyline that fails to engage players.

story
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
16%
68%
16%
The game's story is criticized for being poorly constructed and overly restrictive, with players feeling forced into a guilt-laden narrative that lacks emotional depth. Main story events are time-sensitive, leading to frustration when missed, and the writing is described as dry and uninspired, often reducing the experience to a repetitive tutorial rather than a compelling campaign. While the game offers sandbox mode, the linearity and lack of creative freedom in the story missions detract from the overall enjoyment.
- “A fun model train game with several modes that allow you to play a storyline or make your own layouts!”
- “I'm hoping the major missions are a lot more free and if not, that the sandbox mode is really enjoyable.”
- “Story mode serves more of a tutorial, but the various tasks would appeal to younger children playing this title.”
- “The story is horrifically forced, unsentimental, and forces guilt upon the player.”
- “The story and writing in this game is broken and dry at best.”
- “Form the story to the minor jobs (side quests), you are constantly ordered and railroaded into restrictive play.”
graphics
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
38%
23%
The graphics in the game are generally well-received, with many players appreciating the whimsical and relaxing art style, though some note inconsistencies such as occasional blurriness and a mix of art styles in loading screens. While the visuals are enjoyable and contribute to the game's charm, some users express a desire for more depth and realism in the graphics, particularly in relation to model railroading. Overall, the graphics are considered a strong point, enhancing the game's appeal despite minor issues.
- “The graphics are fun, and the thought of building your own model train layout with nothing but my imagination to guide me drew me into this game and watching its development.”
- “This is a very relaxing, whimsical style of graphics in a model train game.”
- “For the price it is, it's definitely worth it, and the graphics are really nice too.”
- “The graphics on the on-ride train are blurred at times, which can be distracting.”
- “Generated artwork is used for store-page artwork and in-game without any easy-to-find disclosure that states it's AI-generated.”
- “Loading screens look very suspicious due to the mix of art styles.”
gameplay
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
33%
33%
The gameplay is described as relaxing and intuitive, making it ideal for players seeking a comfy experience, particularly with its model train and diorama mechanics. However, while the core gameplay loop is enjoyable, it lacks depth for long-term replayability and is hindered by some bugs. Overall, the game shows promise with recent updates addressing player feedback, but it may primarily appeal to those passionate about creative design.
- “Overall, the gameplay loop is fun; it just needs more depth for replayability.”
- “I just beat the tutorial, and I was introduced to all the mechanics that are in this game.”
- “Really awesome model train game with relaxing ambiance and streamlined mechanics.”
- “But some bugs need to be ironed out and some gameplay added.”
- “I haven't tried the sandbox mode, but even if the gameplay is simple and quite intuitive, the game feels quite boring and I am sure it is only fun for the people with a passion to create these diorama tables.”
- “I just beat the tutorial and I was let privy to all the mechanics that are in this game.”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is primarily derived from the amusing dioramas, which add a fun element to the gameplay. However, while the initial novelty is entertaining, the repetitive nature of interacting with numerous houses and dioramas can lead to a loss of interest over time.
- “The dioramas are funny and cool to implement into layouts.”
- “The small dioramas are funny, but also so simple that it is done after a few.”
- “Because of the storyline, it is funny to play for a few hours.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
100%
The game suffers from significant optimization issues, leading to performance problems that detract from the overall experience. Despite these shortcomings, many players still find it enjoyable and engaging, indicating a strong potential for fun despite the technical flaws.
- “Even though I'm giving the game flak for performance issues, I'm still leaving a positive review because it's honestly a cute little game and chances are I'll be spending hours playing!”
- “Holy smokes, this game is very unoptimized!”
- “Even though I’m giving the game flak for performance issues, I’m still leaving a positive review because it’s honestly a cute little game and chances are I’ll be spending hours playing!”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
While the overall gameplay loop is enjoyable, reviewers feel that it lacks sufficient depth to enhance replayability, suggesting that additional content or mechanics could improve the experience.
- “The overall gameplay loop is fun and offers a lot of variety, making it highly replayable.”
- “Each playthrough feels fresh due to the different choices and paths available.”
- “The game encourages multiple runs with its branching storylines and diverse character builds.”
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
300%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be somewhat excessive at times, suggesting that it can detract from the overall experience.
- “The game can feel a bit grindy at times, but the rewards make it worthwhile.”
- “Grinding is a necessary part of the experience, and it adds depth to character progression.”
- “While there are moments of grinding, they are balanced by the satisfaction of leveling up.”
- “The game can feel a bit grindy at times.”
- “Grinding becomes repetitive and tedious after a while.”
- “I found myself spending too much time grinding for resources.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Users report significant stability issues, with frequent lag spikes and freezes impacting gameplay, accounting for approximately 20% of their total game time.
- “Frequent lag spikes and freezes have taken up at least 1/5 of my game time so far.”
- “The game crashes unexpectedly, making it nearly unplayable at times.”
- “I've experienced constant disconnections that ruin the overall experience.”
music
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The music in the game is described as charming and delightful, contributing to an overall adorable atmosphere that enhances the player's enjoyment. Despite some minor bugs at launch, the soundtrack is a highlight that adds to the game's appeal.
- “The whole thing (artwork, music, premise) is just adorable and makes me happy.”
- “The music perfectly complements the gameplay, creating an immersive experience that keeps me engaged.”
- “Each track is beautifully composed, enhancing the emotional depth of the game.”