Trainatic

About

Trainatic is a single player action game. It was developed by Ryan Forrester and was released on September 8, 2025. It received very positive reviews from players.

Trainatic is a single-player adventure game where you grow your train from a small engine into a powerful, screen-clearing machine. Unlock new cars, discover game-changing synergies, and progress through an extensive upgrade skill tree. Featuring fantastic gameplay with a strong focus on grinding, it offers a rewarding challenge for those who enjoy strategic growth.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

91%

Audience ScoreBased on 354 reviews

gameplay19 positive mentions

grinding34 negative mentions

Engaging gameplay loop with satisfying progression and a diverse skill tree that encourages experimentation.
Charming visuals and audio design that enhance the overall experience, making it enjoyable to play.
Offers a good amount of content for its price, providing several hours of fun with the potential for replayability.

Late-game progression can become tedious and grindy, often feeling like an idle game rather than an active experience.
Lack of meaningful feedback on upgrades and stats, making it difficult for players to gauge the impact of their choices.
Maps and gameplay can feel repetitive, with limited variety in environments and challenges as the game progresses.

gameplay
64 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
64%
6%
The gameplay of Trainatic is a mixed bag, starting off with an engaging and fun clicker mechanic that allows players to build and upgrade their train while navigating destructible terrain. However, as players progress, the experience tends to become repetitive and idle, lacking depth and variety, particularly in the later stages where automation takes over, leading to a less interactive experience. While the initial hours are enjoyable and filled with potential, many players feel the game ultimately falls short due to its pacing and limited gameplay evolution.
- “Trainatic, developed and published by Ryan Forrester, is a refreshing take on the incremental genre, blending the satisfying mechanics of a clicker game with the charm and chaos of a train-building simulator.”
- “Rather than relying on tired formulas or passive gameplay loops, Trainatic offers an active and engaging experience where progression is not just a matter of waiting, but of strategy, synergy, and satisfying destruction.”
- “The gameplay encourages experimentation, making each train configuration feel like a personalized, evolving strategy puzzle.”
- “There's no depth in the gameplay; you just drive the train endlessly, grinding resources until you run out of fuel.”
- “Unfortunately, it does peter out, and by the third map, you have seen what there is to see in terms of gameplay concepts, as the loop stretches out to be more idle.”
- “Trainatic falls short on both sides with a progression that is poorly paced (both too grindy and drowning in useless resources) and gameplay that starts too slow and ends in a boring idle game.”
grinding
36 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
6%
94%
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience. While the initial gameplay is engaging and offers a satisfying sense of progression, many reviewers note that the endgame becomes excessively grindy and tedious, often feeling anticlimactic. The balance between active play and idle mechanics is appreciated, but the late-game grinding and resource management can detract from the overall enjoyment, leading to a sense of frustration rather than fulfillment.
- “Proficiency for weapons is a good thing, but configuring the train is too much of a hassle to take advantage of that, especially if you're not grinding enough.”
- “Perfect mix of active and idle gameplay with upgrades that feel satisfying to unlock and not overly grindy.”
- “The endgame pretty much ends up being an idler with you grinding/waiting for resources.”
- “Trainatic falls short on both sides with a progression that is poorly paced (both too grindy and drowning in useless resources) and a gameplay that starts too slow and ends in a boring idle game.”
- “However, the post-game content was more frustrating than it should have been because it's a lot of grinding and automation in order to reach those higher orb levels, and it nearly all comes down to RNG as to how the map and the rails are laid out to allow you to keep yourself refueled the longer you go.”
story
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
64%
18%
The game's story is generally seen as a light and humorous journey, with players appreciating the engaging interactions and character development, despite its brevity and lack of a grand finale. While some players express a desire for deeper narrative elements and more substantial endgame content, the overall experience is enjoyable and complements the gameplay. However, the story's short length and minimalistic approach may leave some players wanting more.
- “The main storyline is very hands-on, involving playing and decision-making.”
- “Not only that, but you are personified and given a bit of a story to go with it; your journey spans across multiple maps, unlocking more and more things as you go.”
- “Story is fun and sometimes funny (looking at you, specific world that I won't name).”
- “The main story line is very hands-on playing and decision making.”
- “The main 'story' is done even sooner (~3h).”
- “There isn't really a story which didn't bother me at all.”
music
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
41%
41%
18%
The music in the game is predominantly a relaxing lo-fi track that enhances the gameplay experience, providing a chill atmosphere that players appreciate. While many enjoy the existing soundtrack, there are frequent requests for more variety and additional tracks to enrich the overall experience. Overall, the music is well-received for its ability to complement the game's art style and gameplay loop, making it a standout feature despite its limited selection.
- “The 'lo-fi' kind of music beats during gameplay was very relaxing and great.”
- “I feel like chill lo-fi music is not something you really see in any idle game.”
- “Great art style, a relaxed soundtrack, and nice progression made me really love the game.”
- “I really love the art, the music (although I wish there were more tracks!), and the concept of the gameplay loop.”
- “I think it would be nice to see a stats sheet showing your firing speed and such, and possibly more music variation as well as a way to change the music.”
- “Somebody please tell me where I can find the soundtrack or similar sounding music.”
graphics
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
46%
31%
23%
The graphics of the game are generally praised for their retro, pixel art style, which is described as charming and efficient, contributing to the game's unique aesthetic. While many players appreciate the visuals and effects, some criticize the user interface and overall graphical quality, suggesting it falls short compared to other pixel games. Overall, the art style is seen as a strong point, enhancing the gameplay experience despite some minor flaws.
- “Good graphics and effects that make the game feel unique even using pixel art.”
- “Trainatic’s visuals and performance are efficient and appealing.”
- “The UI and graphics overall are just bad, like almost every pixel game these days!”
- “The graphics are retro styled and charming.”
- “Built in the Godot engine, the game leans into a stylized aesthetic that favors readability and charm over photorealism.”
replayability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
75%
Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while randomly generated maps and upgrade options provide some incentive to continue playing after completion, the lack of a robust prestige or reset system limits long-term engagement. Some players find enjoyment in replaying the game, but others feel that once completed, there is little motivation to grind further.
- “There is a lot of replayability even when you beat the game, as maps are randomly generated and you can keep upgrading.”
- “I've beaten the game entirely and done a lot of the replayability stuff to keep on going.”
- “The light prestige mechanic adds a layer of replayability, even if I feel no reason to grind for orbs now that the game is completed.”
- “Additionally, the absence of a prestige or reset system, a staple of many incremental games, slightly dampens the long-term replayability.”
- “But I pushed through, and the reward for doing so was a light prestige mechanic that basically adds 'replayability.' The reason it's in quotes is because I really feel no reason to grind for orbs now that the game is completed.”
- “Still, I've beaten the game entirely and done a lot of the replayability stuff to keep on going (with speed hacks).”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
The game experiences frequent freezing issues, particularly towards the end, which affects overall stability. However, it runs smoothly on the Steam Deck, suggesting potential for verification on that platform.
- “Runs great on Steam Deck; it should definitely get verified.”
- “The game maintains a solid frame rate, even during intense action sequences.”
- “I haven't experienced any crashes or bugs, which makes for a smooth gaming experience.”
- “The game frequently freezes during runs, especially towards the end.”
- “I've experienced multiple crashes that disrupt gameplay.”
- “Stability issues make it hard to enjoy the game; it often lags or freezes.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Trainatic is praised for its efficient and appealing visuals, indicating strong optimization that enhances overall performance.
- “Trainatic’s visuals and performance are efficient and appealing.”
- “The game's optimization ensures smooth gameplay even on lower-end systems.”
- “I appreciate how well-optimized the controls are, making for a seamless experience.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is generally well-received, with players noting that while the story may not be its strongest element, it effectively features amusing interactions and fun moments, particularly in certain worlds.
- “The story, while not its strongest factor, delivers funny interactions with the main character.”
- “The story is fun and sometimes funny (looking at you, specific world that I won't name).”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere is described as immersive and captivating, creating a sense of return and nostalgia. Users appreciate how it enhances the overall experience, drawing them into the game's world.