The “problem” with casual city builders is their longevity, and Islands & Trains has the potential to be easily forgotten, like many of the others, if the player doesn’t appreciate it. Beginning with the adage that the only limitation is your imagination rings true, and in case you’re wondering, you don’t have to be into trains either.
The purpose of the game is to have free roam to create the ultimate train set, traversing several terrains and biomes purely based on what you decide to throw into this sandbox. There are no objectives, timers, or side quests other than unlocking trophies, so in terms of motivation, the focus is entirely on creativity.
Unsurprisingly, publisher Future Friends Games is also behind some of the best games of this type, such as Gourdlets, SUMMERHOUSE, and The Block. Islands & Trains is in good company, as it is undoubtedly one of the best in the category. My only reservation is longevity, and that is naturally a subjective opinion.
Islands & Trains Review
I’m not into trains, never really fussed about Lego, and in Minecraft creative mode, I’d need a reference point as creating something afresh was as challenging as changing my underwear. With Islands & Trains, you see everything from the get-go. No tease of the thigh, no carrot dangling – nada. This can backfire as there isn’t always the motivation to keep playing.
Running through the tutorial was pleasant, as it showcased adorable visuals and allowed for freedom of movement with minimal restrictions. There’s no reason to make the longest track or to reach A, B, and C within a set time, as it’s essentially a sandbox where you can do as you please. Once the tutorial is over (a few minutes), you’re left to tinker as you see fit.
Initially, I did that thing we all did in Unpacking and placed stuff randomly to experiment. My island didn’t look like anything special, but it was functional. Starting with a simple oval track was the way to go, then adding a subtle raise up onto an elevated cliff face meant my train was ready to go, and populating the lil’ ray of sunshine with cows and pigs was a nice touch. But then I was done, and that was only 30 minutes worth.
Track & Field(s)
Once you’ve placed a train on the track (note you can lay an incomplete track, and the train will stop), you can pull a lever to make it move. Of course, if you create a whole track, you’ll watch the train navigate your creation either from afar or with a ‘chase’ cam, allowing you to zoom in and out with the mouse wheel on command.
Despite my first attempt being ready in a short space of time, I found myself watching the train as if looking at a fish tank or peering at the sort across the street when they were scrubbing the tiles on their roof. Saying for a friend. It is alluring, hypnotic… relaxing. While my eyes were focused on the train, my gaze was then drawn to the terrain. What else could I change?
This was when Islands & Trains ‘clicked’ for me. Instead of building a sandbox to see what was on offer in the game and then moving on to the next title, I noticed that I was now thoroughly engaging – drawing in the family to take a look at my creations and asking if they’d like a go. They did. Though there was a slight dismissive sneer towards the train elements, as if someone had dropped their guts in a lift, they too appreciated the immersiveness of creating one’s train track.
Tools Of The Trade
All the typical features apply, such as rotating around the map, zooming in and out and raising and lowering terrain. While the game is Islands & Trains, theoretically, you don’t have to have a train track, but it’s kind of the point. My youngest had a go and spent a while creating a playground and recreational area. The train was merely an afterthought!
During this point, we noted the lack of any option to manipulate an existing object. Either you live with it or delete and rebuild it. This wasn’t such a big deal, but when expanding on an existing track, for example, it’s not ideal to have to destroy elements and fiddle about with the right rotational option to rebuild. Additionally, there is no undo feature, only the aforementioned delete button.
These are both minor issues in Islands & Trains, as the focal point is a free-flowing sandbox in a chill environment, which this excels at. There are a few additions that could have improved the experience, such as different types of terrains, not just limited to snow and sand biomes. Sometimes, we’d like to defy the odds and have a beach next to a snowy mountain. Again, these are minor points and not deal-breakers.
Islands & Trains Review Summary
By this point, it’s a given that the publisher will back a game of this ilk that nails the concept perfectly. Islands & Trains isn’t about taxes, plumbing and complex management issues but a chill environment to build a dream train track without running out of living room space and then flipping a toggle to change the weather. Lovely!
