Unrailed 2: Back on Track
- November 7, 2024
- Indoor Astronaut
- 5h median play time
Get on SteamIn "Unrailed 2: Back on Track," players collaborate with friends in local or online multiplayer to build and expand train tracks in real-time as the train runs. New rewards, upgrades, train engines, wagons, and extensions are available, allowing for various train configurations. The game features five unique biomes, each with distinct game mechanics and a boss to defeat at the end.
Mac OS
PC
Steam Deck
Windows
Reviews
- Unrailed 2 builds on the original with new mechanics, quality of life improvements, and a fun roguelite system that enhances gameplay variety.
- The game is highly enjoyable in co-op mode, providing chaotic fun and fostering teamwork among friends, making it a great party game.
- Despite being in early access, the game feels polished and offers a wealth of content, including new biomes, bosses, and customization options for trains and characters.
- The game can be frustratingly difficult, especially with certain bosses and the need to restart entire biomes upon failure, which can deter players from continuing.
- Some players have reported issues with the bot AI, which can hinder gameplay by making poor decisions or blocking paths, especially in solo play.
- There are still bugs and technical issues present, including problems with multiplayer connectivity and item pickup mechanics, which can disrupt the gaming experience.
- gameplay49 mentions
- 41 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Unrailed 2 has been widely praised for its significant improvements over the original, introducing new mechanics, enhanced graphics, and a more engaging gameplay loop that emphasizes player choice and strategy. While maintaining the frantic, cooperative essence of the first game, it adds depth with features like customizable routes and various upgrades, making the experience feel fresh and dynamic. Despite some minor bugs and issues with bot performance, the overall reception highlights a successful evolution of the gameplay that retains its core fun while expanding its complexity.
“It's still the same old fun from the original, whilst adding tons of new game mechanics and it is absolutely worth the money.”
“The sequel improves every mechanic from the first one and has a great tutorial which you can play with your friends on the very first round - which is great!”
“Unrailed 2 has, in my book, retained the essence of the original while expanding the game mechanics that you would want; more variety, more hidden strategies, and more player choice make this a successful sequel.”
“Maybe if the gameplay was faster, or if it required more skill rather than merely attention, it might be justifiable.”
“To developers of the game, I usually solo with a bot as my partner, but the bot doesn't work well in some maps such as desert and swamp as it does not deal with the bone thing and spider web, which seriously hurt the gameplay experience.”
“They somehow managed to take a working set of mechanics and graphics and make both worse.”
- graphics15 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 47 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game have received mixed reviews, with many praising the updated visuals, improved lighting, and overall enhancements compared to the original. However, some players noted issues with visual clarity and controller gameplay, suggesting that while the graphics are generally appealing, they can sometimes hinder the gaming experience. Overall, the game is seen as a significant improvement in graphics, though not without its flaws.
“The visuals and sound are sharper, and the gameplay is smoother, making it feel like a true next-gen version of the original.”
“Holy crap is this game ever an improvement on the original game, updated graphics, beautiful lighting, and a whole lot of effort, if you've never played Unrailed, this is definitely the best time to consider playing it!”
“I really think it's a great sequel, graphics are great, mechanics are great, I like everything about it but I think there's only one thing in which Unrailed 1 is better: soundtrack.”
“They somehow managed to take a working set of mechanics and graphics and make both worse.”
“The graphics are significantly less clear and playing with a controller is absolutely a worse experience than the first.”
“U2 is also on a new engine and has some teething issues to overcome with the graphics levels.”
- music6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for its nostalgic and charming qualities, with some reviewers rating it as a standout feature. However, there are mixed feelings about its presence, as it is noted to be absent at times, leading to a lower overall score despite high individual ratings. Comparisons to the previous game highlight a preference for the original's soundtrack, suggesting that while the music is well-received, it could be improved.
“Starting off on a strong note, the music... what can we say, it is magnificent and it can remind you of childhood (assuming you had a good one).”
“There is so much love in the music, cute characters and maps, and playing as one team is just so wholesome.”
“I really think it's a great sequel, graphics are great, mechanics are great, I like everything about it, but I think there's only one thing in which Unrailed 1 is better: the soundtrack.”
- stability5 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, users report that the game has experienced significant bugs, particularly with item grabs and matchmaking, though many of these issues have been addressed in post-launch patches. While some players find the game enjoyable despite its stability problems, others express a desire for further improvements before fully recommending it.
“I don't like bugs that are this bad, so I will update this review when the game feels less buggy.”
“Matchmaking is buggy.”
“Was buggy but most have been patched out post-launch.”
- humor5 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in *Unrailed 2* is highlighted by its chaotic gameplay, which leads to numerous amusing moments, especially when played with multiple players. Reviewers find the game to be a blend of frustration and hilarity, making it an entertaining experience overall.
“I think this game is pretty fun with lots of players because it can get hectic and funny.”
“I love this game; it’s funny, it’s hectic, and makes for a lot of fun moments.”
“**Final verdict**: *Unrailed 2* is a brilliantly frustrating, fun, and hilarious experience.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Reviewers highlight the game's strong replayability, noting the inclusion of quality of life improvements, multiplayer options, and beautifully crafted randomly generated levels. Many feel that the game offers countless hours of enjoyment, making it well worth its price.
“Lots of quality of life improvements and much better replayability; it's 100% worth it!”
“Even being in early access, the game is worth more than the $20 asking price as there are countless hours of replayability with multiplayer and randomly generated levels (which are done beautifully, I might add).”
“Even being EA, the game is worth more than the $20 asking price as there are countless hours of replayability with multiplayer and randomly generated levels (which is done beautifully, I might add).”
- story2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The story offers a blend of quick, enjoyable gameplay with the opportunity for deeper engagement through various worlds, levels, and side quests. Players can customize their experience by selecting quests for rewards and choosing map difficulties, enhancing the overall narrative experience.
“The story is engaging and immersive, allowing players to quickly lose themselves in the different worlds, levels, and side quests that have been created.”
“The narrative offers a variety of quests that enhance gameplay, providing opportunities to invest in different challenges and rewards.”
“Players can choose their path through the story, deciding on quest investments and the difficulty of maps they wish to explore.”
“The story feels disjointed and lacks depth, making it hard to stay engaged.”
“Character development is minimal, leaving the plot feeling flat and uninteresting.”
“The narrative is predictable and fails to offer any surprising twists or turns.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessive, particularly regarding perks, which can feel overly tedious. Additionally, the limited number of servers can exacerbate the grinding experience, making it feel more monotonous.
“The perks are too grindy, and sometimes there are only 2-3 servers available.”
“Grinding feels excessive and tedious, making the game less enjoyable.”
“The amount of grinding required to progress is overwhelming and frustrating.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Users feel that certain elements disrupt the overall atmosphere of the game, indicating that immersion may be compromised.
“This disrupts the atmosphere for me.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players highlight the emotional depth of the game, noting the heartfelt music, charming characters, and the wholesome experience of teamwork, all of which contribute to a warm and loving atmosphere.
“There is so much love in the music, cute characters, and maps, and playing as one team is just so wholesome.”
