Tracks - The Train Set Game Review Summary

Last updated: 2026-04-27
  • Relaxing and meditative experience
  • Encourages creative building and sandbox gameplay
  • Easy to learn and use for all ages
  • Poor controls and user interface
  • Lack of gameplay depth and limited content
  • Frequent bugs, glitches, and camera issues
Tracks - The Train Set Game header

Emotions

Archetypes

What players like:

Common complaints:

Gameplay feedback:

Performance notes:

Recommendations:

Other player notes:

Review evidence

Why players say this

What players like

Relaxing and meditative experience: The game offers a relaxing and meditative experience, providing comfort and a way to unwind. Many players find it nostalgic and enjoyable for its calming effects.

Encourages creative building: The game allows for extensive creative building, letting players construct toy tracks, cities, and more. This encourages creativity and imagination.

Brilliant and beautiful game: Players praise the game as brilliant and beautiful overall. It is described as fun, creative, and lovely, making it a great experience.

Easy to learn and use: The game is intuitive and easy to learn, with a simple and easy-to-use editor. This makes it accessible for players of all skill levels.

Great for all ages: The game is suitable for both parents and kids, making it ideal for all ages. It is enjoyable for both adults and children.

Common complaints

Poor controls and UI: Many players have reported that the controls are difficult to use and unintuitive. The user interface is also criticized for being bad and clunky.

Lack of gameplay depth: The gameplay is often described as monotonous and confusing, lacking depth and becoming boring quickly.

Limited content and variety: The game is criticized for having limited content, including few maps, limited vehicle variety, and a lack of customization options.

Frequent bugs and glitches: The game is reported to be full of bugs, which frequently ruin the fun and overall experience.

Issues with passenger mode: Passenger mode is criticized for being too short, feeling unfinished, and having issues with passengers not appearing.

Gameplay and performance

Sandbox and creative gameplay: The game offers a sandbox-style experience with creative building modes, allowing players to build freely.

Train and track building: Players enjoy building and customizing train tracks, cities, and train sets. This includes laying tracks, decorating, and operating trains.

Passenger and multiple modes: The game features various modes, including passenger transport and conductor modes, adding diversity to gameplay.

Building mechanics: The building system and mechanics are key features, including track laying and item placement.

Relaxing and open-ended gameplay: The game is noted for its relaxing and open-ended nature, providing a chill sandbox experience.

Strong performance and graphics: Many players praised the game's graphics and performance, noting that it runs well even on dated PCs and offers amazing FPS.

Game crashes and freezes: Several players reported that the game crashed to a blank white screen or froze during gameplay.

Proton compatibility issues and successes: Some players experienced issues with Proton experimental, while others reported that the game works perfectly on Linux thanks to Steam's Proton.

General bug reports: Some players reported encountering bugs, but did not provide specific details.

Mention of XD11 Level 10.0: A player mentioned XD11 Level 10.0 without providing additional context or details.

Recommendations

Workshop support needed: Players are requesting workshop support for modders and additional content such as decorations, worlds, and levels.

Ideal for train enthusiasts: The game is highly recommended for individuals who are passionate about trains, including kids who enjoy train-related activities.

More train variety: Players are asking for a greater variety of train models to enhance gameplay.

Great for relaxation: The game is recommended for those looking to relax and have a fun time.

Consider other similar games: Some reviews suggest checking out other similar games like Brio or Rolling Line for potentially cheaper or deeper experiences.

Buying context

Community fair range: $4.00 - $10.00.

Game completion: 6.0h.

Session length: 1.5h.

The game has initial friction due to clunky controls and a lack of tutorial, but once players overcome these barriers, they can enjoy the creative aspects of the game. However, the fun may eventually wear off due to the lack of structured progression.

Reported time to anchor: 30m.

Friction: Clunky grid system and placement controls; Lacking tutorial.

Unlock drivers: Figuring out the tutorial; Exploring the creative playground.

Player profiles

Nostalgic Relaxer: Casual and relaxed, focusing on recreating childhood experiences. Motivation: Nostalgia and relaxation. Stance: buy.

Chill Seeker: Casual and laid-back, focusing on the sandbox and creative aspects. Motivation: Relaxation and stress relief. Stance: buy.

Achievement Hunter: Focused on unlocking and completing all achievements. Motivation: Completing achievements. Stance: sale.

Platform notes

Steam Deck: The game generally works well on Linux with Steam's Proton, but some users need to use Proton Experimental and edit start options for optimal performance. Controls are a mixed bag, with some users finding them intuitive while others encounter issues with the HUD and limited controller support.

Linux and Proton: The game generally works well on Linux with Proton, but some users may need to make minor tweaks for the best experience. The overall compatibility is high, with only a few mentions of necessary adjustments.

Extra review signals

Monetization: The game offers both free and paid DLC, with some achievements and content locked behind the paid DLC. This can be frustrating for players looking to fully complete the game, but the overall impact on user experience is moderate.

Other review notes

Early Access Concerns: Players have expressed concerns regarding the game being in Early Access. This suggests potential issues with game stability, completeness, or content availability.