Summary of Toy Trains
(played on a Meta Quest 3 128 GB model)
| Pros | Cons |
| + Fun sandbox gameplay | – Too short |
| + Charming aesthetic | – Lackluster English translation |
| + Relaxing score |
Innocent, solitary, peaceful, and playfully imaginative: Toy Trains—from Polish developer Something Random—captures the beauty and freedom of childhood imagination.
If you have ever interacted with physical toy train sets or played with Lego blocks (or if you are younger and enjoy sandbox games like Minecraft), then you will understand the sensation I am referring to.It’s the feeling of solitary fantasy; of knowing it’s just you in here, safe to pour yourself into a make-believe world.
It’s vulnerably taking your first creative steps; telling stories by impressing aspects of yourself upon models and figurines, and expressing yourself through the simple caricatures of a child’s understanding. Engaging in sports cultivates the athlete, while participating in chess cultivates the strategist. Similarly, playing in the sandbox cultivates the storyteller.
If parents want to provide their children with an enjoyable VR sandbox experience, Toy Trains is an excellent choice!For adults who desire to experience the innocent and peaceful nostalgia of childhood creativity, Toy Trains offers something special. It allows you to tap into a creativity that is not limited by deadlines, scarcity, complexity, or cynicism.
GAMEPLAY
This is a short, simple, cozy game in which you connect a central location—like an airport or a community center—to cute little houses on a map occupied by cute little people using—you guessed it—toy trains (as well an infinite catalogue of railway pieces).
The game consists of ten levels that become progressively more challenging.As you advance in the game, the levels will become increasingly challenging with various obstacles such as cliffs, boulders, rivers, and more. Additionally, you will unlock new railway pieces that can assist you in navigating around these obstacles.
Each level goes in phases. Once you connect the first couple of houses on the map to the burgeoning central location, that central location will advance a phase in its construction and spawn new houses on the map. Then you’ll have to alter your railway to reach those new houses. This means throwing out old bits of your railway and adding new ones.
Do not worry, though, because there is no restriction on the quantity of puzzle pieces you can utilize or attempt, and there is also no time constraint to reach the solution! Toy Trains aims to maintain a relaxed level of challenge, guaranteeing that with a little perseverance, you will definitely achieve success.
The level of difficulty in this game can be either attractive or off-putting, depending on the type of experience you desire. Personally, as someone who enjoys challenges, I found the gameplay somewhat underwhelming occasionally. However, I still had a good time because of the game’s delightful art style and engaging storytelling.
STORY
The premise of the story is that you are a young person who finds a toy train set in the basement of your grandparents’ house.Your parents are away on a trip, so you are currently residing with your grandparents.You do not know the specific profession of these individuals as you are only a child.They send you postcards from their trip. These postcards influence your imagination and mood, altering the theme and tone of each level.
Through various means, the game immerses you in the innocent viewpoint of a child as they perceive the world with a newfound perspective.For instance, when one of the levels is introduced, you receive a postcard informing you that your parents are currently occupied with urgent matters during their trip. It mentions that once these issues are resolved, they will be able to return home.
Each aspect of the game contributes to creating a cohesive experience.
As grown-ups, we comprehend the phrase “putting out fires” as a substitute for resolving unexpected issues.However, the young main character is unaware of this fact and pretends to extinguish real fires with their toy trains. The main area that needs to be reached in this level is a fire station, which sets the somber tone of the level. This tone is conveyed through the music, the lighting, the conversations with non-playable characters, and the chaotic devastation caused by the raging wildfires. All of these elements reflect the protagonist’s sadness upon learning that their parents will be gone for a longer period of time.
This is Toy Trains’ strongest point: its immersive, unpretentious artistry.
Every little bit of the game evokes a unified experience. There are no menus, only an old-school train catalogue that you leaf through to select a level or piece of railway. The simple, yet emotionally resonant story is told through the postcards you receive and echoed through the dialogue of the imaginary little characters—called “Railies”—whose lives you improve through the construction of your railways. Even the music is played diegetically through a dusty old record player there with you in your grandparents’ basement.
Overall, Toy Trains is a remarkable display of aesthetics.
DESIGN & MORE GAMEPLAY
There’s a great joy found in just leaning in real close and watching a Railey as it dances or floats in a balloon or simply putters about its business, then turning your head and scanning across an entire landscape of busy railroads, cliffsides, and lakes.
Under the microscope: The adorable and appealing character and map designs can be observed. The score is straightforward, calming, and exquisite. The interface has a tasteful vintage feel. Additionally, the setting feels cozy and familiar.
After reaching a certain level, it is incredibly satisfying to simply take in the surroundings and appreciate the scenery in the macroscope. Observing the miniature trains as they traverse through a vibrant and lively world brings back the nostalgic charm of beloved isometric games such as Roller Coaster Tycoon or Sim City.
Toy Trains offers a visually pleasing experience, but it lacks challenging gameplay or complexity.
The player’s immense scale and ability to shape the toy world of the Railies is cleverly contrasted with the limited influence and helplessness that children often experience in dealing with challenging life circumstances.
Toy Trains provides a visually pleasing experience, but it lacks challenging elements and gameplay depth.If you desire something brief, attractive, informal, and soothing, it may not be an issue!However, upon completing my playthrough, which lasted approximately three hours, I discovered that I desired additional content.
The game feels like it’s just beginning to open up into a truly sophisticated sandbox experience around level nine, once you’ve unlocked everything in the catalogue. This means that you only get a couple of levels of the freedom of expression that Toy Trains’ full arsenal grants; and only a couple of levels of the challenging terrain that that arsenal is meant to overcome.
From a perspective focused on gameplay, the entire experience seemed to serve as an extended tutorial for a more extensive game.I can’t help but feel like Toy Trains needs a little bit more content: a random map generator, a free creation mode, or even just another ten levels to play around in with the fully unlocked catalogue!
This need becomes incredibly evident when, if you are similar to me, you try to revisit the previous levels using the newfound freedom of all the railroad pieces you have unlocked, only to discover that each level can only be played using the pieces that were unlocked during your initial playthrough.
Once you have acquired the powers, there is no possibility of returning to the initial state.
My main issue with Toy Trains is simply the lack of quantity it offers.
Furthermore, although recognizing that there is no risk of losing adds to the game’s calming atmosphere, it would be desirable to have an alternative higher level of difficulty for individuals like myself who value the feeling of accomplishment that arises from conquering a challenge.This could be done as simply as adding some scarcity, perhaps by adding a limit to the number of railroad pieces you can use, or perhaps by limiting the time you have to complete the level.
However, this criticism is solely based on personal preference, so I will not deduct any points from Toy Trains for its simplicity. However, I will deduct points for its disappointing English translation, which disrupts the immersive experience due to spelling and grammar mistakes. Although these mistakes are not overly common, they still need to be acknowledged.
VERDICT
In general, my main issue with Toy Trains is the insufficient quantity it offers!I desire a greater number of levels, increased difficulty, and more Railies to admire.Having such a problem is quite favorable.
I suggest taking a look at Toy Trains, whether you are purchasing them for yourself or for a child you know.This game provides a delightful and laid-back experience, evoking a sense of nostalgia for simpler days, although it may be a bit brief.
