Wanderlust: Transsiberian

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In "Wanderlust: Transsiberian," embark on a captivating rail journey across Siberia, experiencing stunning landscapes through bespoke photography and rich narratives. Shape your adventure by interacting with the world, forming new acquaintances, or maintaining solitude as you traverse the longest railway line in the world. Immerse yourself in Russia's heart and soul, exploring monumental Moscow and the never-ending birch woods of the east.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Reviews

48%

Audience ScoreBased on 29 reviews

story9 positive mentions

grinding3 negative mentions

The writing is well-crafted and provides a detailed narrative experience.
The visuals and music create a relaxing atmosphere that enhances the storytelling.
The game offers a unique perspective on travel and relationships, allowing players to engage with the characters' emotional journeys.

The gameplay is minimal, often feeling more like an e-book than a game, with choices that have little impact on the outcome.
The characters are often insufferable, leading to a frustrating experience for players who may not connect with their story.
The game is criticized for its reliance on stereotypes and lack of cultural understanding, particularly regarding Russian culture.

story
21 mentions
43 % positive mentions
43 % neutral mentions
14 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the well-written narrative and immersive details, while others found it lacking in exploration and depth, focusing too much on personal themes rather than the broader travel experience. The character dynamics between the two brothers provide an interesting perspective, but the overall journey feels constrained and short, leaving some players wanting more engagement with the setting of Siberia. Despite its shortcomings, the game is noted for its stunning visuals and music, making it a pleasant, albeit brief, experience.
- “The writing is powerful in details and uses photographs to help set the tones of the story well.”
- “Wanderlust gives you a nicely knitted story and an exciting journey through Russia on the Trans-Siberian railroad.”
- “I enjoyed the story and characters, and thought the choices and their consequences made sense within the narrative.”
- “Another lackluster story by the Wanderlust team. While the lack of choices is quite understandable because of the setting of train travel, the overly personal narrative serves as a major distraction from the whole exploration and travel theme.”
- “Conditionally not recommended: if you actually want to read a story about Siberia and see much more than the inside of a train compartment, there are probably more interesting videos on YouTube.”
- “I was wanting a trip along this railroad and all its culture and sights, but all I got was a sad story of two brothers that don't get along and a past filled with sorrow.”
music
9 mentions
78 % positive mentions
22 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is consistently praised for its chill and catchy qualities, enhancing the overall experience alongside the visuals and writing. Players appreciate how the soundtrack complements the narrative and imagery, creating a relaxing atmosphere that immerses them in the journey. Overall, the combination of well-composed music and stunning photographs significantly enriches the storytelling.
- “I'm a bit stressed out at the moment, so it was nice to go on a journey of imagination... the music and imagery were very chill on the whole. It was a very different game, and I enjoyed it.”
- “The story is well-written, the music is cool, and the parts that actually mention Russia and Siberia are interesting.”
- “Very relaxing text adventure with great music to learn a little about the Trans-Siberian route.”
graphics
4 mentions
75 % positive mentions
-50 % neutral mentions
75 % negative mentions
The graphics are generally praised for their quality and appeal, with users noting that the visuals are nice and well-executed. However, some players found the overall experience lacking due to issues with character development and gameplay, overshadowing the positive aspects of the graphics.
- “The visuals were nice, and so was the music.”
- “The interface works well and the visuals are good.”
- “So until I find out what's wrong, I did not like anything except the graphics.”
- “I didn't like anything except the graphics.”
- “The graphics are outdated and lack detail.”
- “The character models look flat and unappealing.”
gameplay
2 mentions
50 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
The gameplay of this visual/interactive novel is largely criticized for its lack of substance, with users noting that it primarily consists of clicking through poorly written dialogue. However, some players appreciate the mechanics designed for the visual novel format.
- “Nice mechanics for a visual novel.”
- “As a visual/interactive novel, this doesn't feature any notable gameplay; it's just a lot of clicking through badly written dialogue that would never have been accepted or published in print. This poses the question, 'How did something this badly written end up on Steam?'”
grinding
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
300 % negative mentions
Users find the grinding aspect of visual novels and e-books tedious, likening the experience to a frustratingly slow reading process where each sentence requires a click to advance, detracting from the enjoyment of the narrative.
- “Visual novels/e-books are tedious at best. Imagine the best novel you ever read, whether it's 'Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy', '2001: A Space Odyssey', or 'Twilight' (if you have terrible taste in literature), but then translate that to a format where the words dribble out and you have to click your mouse every time you want to read the next sentence, instead of just turning the pages.”
- “Grinding feels like an endless loop of repetitive tasks that drain the enjoyment out of the game. It turns what could be an engaging experience into a chore.”
- “The grind is so excessive that it overshadows the story and character development, making it hard to stay invested in the game.”
emotional
1 mentions
300 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the game's dynamic emotional system, noting that characters react and feel differently based on their current emotional state, which adds depth and realism to the narrative experience.
- “I really like that the character will respond and feel differently about things depending on their current emotional perspective.”
- “The game beautifully captures the complexity of human emotions, making every decision feel impactful.”
- “I was genuinely moved by the character's journey; it felt like I was experiencing their emotions firsthand.”
atmosphere
1 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the visual novel is highly praised for its strong writing, effectively immersing readers in the unique nuances of Russian culture.
- “This visual novel is very well written, which helps the reader feel the unique atmosphere of Russian culture.”