Developed by Whoop Group
Published by Excalibur Games
Released for Xbox One (11/14/2019)
Also on PC
Tracks: The Train Set Game, developed by Whoop Group, is one of those games that's exactly what it says it is. Released for both PC and the Xbox One in November 2019, Tracks is a sandbox game where you construct wooden tracks which you can then drive the train on. It's a simple premise but Tracks does offer you quite a bit to do when it comes to track building.
Tracks: The Train Set Game features some clean visuals, featuring detailed maps with well-rendered objects and environments. The sound design is minimal, with some calm piano music in the background that suits the laid-back gameplay quite well. The menus are simple and easy to navigate, rounding out an overall nice presentation. The options menu allows you to choose between 4K at 30 FPS or 1080 at 60 FPS, which is always a nice option to have. There are a variety of different "levels" to select from as your background. These include blank white/black rooms, modern apartment day/night and bedroom day/night. The bedroom and apartment levels have various objects scattered about like beds, shelves and couches. These objects can all be built on or around with your track, so if you want to build a ramp up onto the table you can. The levels all look nice and add some good variety.
After selecting your room type, you have 2 options: free play and passenger mode. Free play mode allows you let your imagination go wild and build what you want, within the confines of the game of course. Placing tracks where you want is easy and intuitive, which will be explained in a brief tutorial the first time you play. The game will let you place an impressive amount of track and objects, just load up the included sample roller coaster track for a good example of this. You can also place tracks that branch off and while driving the train, holding in a direction will allow you to choose which way to steer. Pieces of track can be removed and this can even be done while the train is traversing the track, which will send the train flying off the track. There's quite a bit of fun to be had within the free play section.
There's a ton of different scenery to add in, featuring a vast array of buildings, decorations, trees, cars, passengers, signs, active elements and construction items. The active items are stuff that can be interacted with, such as fireworks or boxes that can be knocked over as you pass through them. Construction items include stuff like corkscrew tracks, tunnels and track supports. There's a category to change the terrain type as well. It's impressive how much stuff there is to choose from in here and it really gives you a lot to work with if you want to go all in your creations. There are additional options for choosing the train texture and the scenery, giving you many ways to customize things to your liking.
Passenger mode tasks you with locating groups of passengers and getting them to the station. This will require you to place a platform near the passengers, build the tracks up to the platform to the station and then drive then train. Occasionally a set of passengers will have a time limit or a request, tasking you to make the train jump 5 times before arriving at the station. Passenger mode is a nice little diversion, but all of the levels can be cleared in around 20 minutes, so it's not likely to be something you'll keep coming back to.
Tracks: The Train Set Game ran smooth and I didn't encounter any technical issues while playing, though there is some strange lack of clipping when the tracks passes through certain objects, but it's definitely best to just not build directly into objects. I preferred building in the clear rooms most of the time anyways so it wasn't really an issue. Tracks features an incredibly easy set of achievements that can be unlocked in under an hours time if you want.
Tracks: The Train Set Game allows you save your tracks, but unfortunately there's no way to share tracks with others. I would have enjoyed seeing what kind of crazy stuff people have cooked up. As it is, Tracks: The Train Set Game is a laid-back and enjoyable train-track builder. Outside of the passenger mode, there's no real objective other to build and have fun, but there's nothing wrong with that sometimes. While achievement hunters will be drawn to it for another easy completion, there's enough to Tracks: The Train Set Game that you can really sink some serious time into it, if you fancy building wooden toy train tracks that is. As of April 2020, Tracks is currently featured on Game Pass and is the type of game that fits great for that service. Recommended, but wait for a sale or play it on Game Pass (if it's still there).
Final Verdict: Tracks: The Train Set Game is a relaxing toy train track builder that provides quite a bit of stuff to build with, allowing you to let your imagination run wild. Recommended if you're the creative type, but due to the high initial price wait for a sale.
Purchase Links:
Buy Tracks: The Train Set Game - Microsoft Store
Game Pass - Microsoft Store
Related Links:
Excalibur Games - Official Site
Tracks: The Train Set Game - Metacritic
Tracks: The Train Set Game - GameFAQs
Tracks: The Train Set Game - True Achievements
Tracks: The Train Set Game Achievement Guide - Xbox Achievements
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