Train Sim World 6
Dovetail Games
Steam
The latest version of the Train Sim World series hits with new modes, new routes and new trains. Is it worth picking up?
Transcribed Audio
Train Sim World 6 from Dovetail Games is, as you might have guessed it, the sixth entry in the Train Sim World series.
A series that has long been, I suppose, the de facto train simulation game for many.
Where pretty much so many different trains from across the world, all the various different routes across the world, you get to take over the train, run the route, and generally get to feel what it’s like to be on a train.
Always been, I think, at the forefront of the simulation genre. Now, this is the sixth entry, and it is more of the same, really. As always happens with a new numbered entry, you’ve got more tracks, you’ve got new trains and they generally become the feature of each new release.
You’ve got all the familiar gameplay that’s there, so you’ve got the first person mode you’re going,
you take control of the trains with various different controls. If you’re on a controller, you’ve got shortcuts that you can usem or you can actually press and touch the buttons virtually, which gives you as much depth as you want within the game.
You can set it up to be as realistic or as assisted as you like, really. With regards to that, one of the early issues with Train Sim World was the onboarding, where it’s a bit clunky, didn’t really teach you stuff, just felt a bit finicky to do.
In Train World 6, as with Train Sim World 5 before it, the onboarding process is a lot slicker now. You feel like you’re actually getting somewhere with it. You’re learning what the train does. It’s a better guide to get you going. Each new journey you take, if you’re on a new train, it will teach you how to use that train as part of the journey. You’re not just like, “oh, here’s how to use a train just figure it all out yourself”
It’s balanced really, really well. The improved onboarding is really good.
But the question I need to ask, really, is, is there really a point to a new numbered version? Train Sim World 5 came out not too long ago in the grand scheme of things. A lot of your tracks, a lot of your trains that you’ve bought via 2, 3, 4 and 5 will work here.
There’s some [tracks and trains] that I think from each game that haven’t come across, mostly from TSW2.
I think anything you’ve had woeking in TSW5 will work in TSW6, it’s like there’s a parity with the versions, apart from a couple of really early ones.
The versions you can buy for TSW6 are where things become confusing. There is a free base version. There’s a standard version. There’s a deluxe version. There’s a special edition and there’s also a Thomas and Friends Edition. Which seems the logical one to go for because it’s something a bit different included.
All the others, as someone who’s got all of these, I wouldn’t know where to come in. But it can be confusing. Especially for new players. What do you go for?
It is almost as if you are being told to go for the £100 special edition version. But that’s a lot of money to put down in one go.
If you’re a newcomer to the series now, I don’t think you’re going to jump in at that level. I would even argue that if you are someone who’s a veteran of the series, you’re going to have a lot of the DLC already that you just want to carry on playing. You’ve got your favourite trains, your favourite tracks. You just might want to buy the new editions rather than having to buy a whole new version of the game again.
So we’re at that point now with this game where I personally feel we need to get rid of the numbered versions. We need to look at, turn it into a platform. Just say, “look, here’s Train Sim World. It is just Train Sim World. No new numbered editions”
“We’re going to release new trains.
We’re going to release new tracks.
Every so often we’ll give a game an update where it’ll get maybe a new mode put in.
It’ll get a new physics update.”
Just turn it into a platform. Look at what No Man’s Sky does. Look at what Pinball FX does. Games like that. Just add content to it. Some paid, some free. Because the people who like this thing will pick it up. Do your free base version, keep that going. Maybe change what you put in there. Rotating tracks and trains that give new people a chance to try stuff out.
But buying a new version every time, that just seems a bit too much for me, and that’s as a fan of trains and the train simulator games. It’s very hard to keep up there.
Now, there is some new content with TSW6, you’ve got a free roam mode where you can just take any train, any track and do as you please on there. I think the journey system is improved.
For anyone who doesn’t know, the journey system in Train Sim World is a kind of guided mode.
You’ll take on a train and a route and the game guides you through.
Some onboarding. Telling you a bit about the train and teaching you the route. Then you’ll get various different scenarios that you can play through. I Really like going through these personally.
The free roam mode, as I said, to do what you want. Then there’s the conductor mode. Where, instead of being the train driver, you are the conductor.You go onto the trains ask for tickets, that sort of thing.
It’s a nice little mode to add on and I’m quite impressed by it as something to sit back and relax with.
Then you have Thomas and Friends. I love the idea of this and again, it is a nice addition. Especially for kids to get involved.
But, again, it depends on what you want from the game. Why you play Train Sim World. For new people it is a good jumping in point. Grab TSW6 and ignore all the previous entries. Try the free base version to see if you like what it is. It’s got the training centre in there. I believe maybe a train or two that you can use and do some extra stuff with. But it’s a good jumping in point.
For veterans. I don’t think this is a necessity. In terms of this being a must-have game. However. Is support for 5, 4, 3 and 2 all going to stop? Something you may need to consider. But I wouldn’t say it’s a necessity right now. You can afford to wait for a sale on one of the versions.
One point to note. The install is around 144 gigabytes. There’s a lot to install. So if you are limited on storage, it’s something you need to consider. If you’re playing on a Steam Deck for example. (Perfectly playable on a Steam Deck, by the way. Which is impressive for a game this detailed.) You’ve got limited space. Something to think about.
I think it’s a fantastic game. You can’t deny that Train Sim World is a fantastic series, with Train Sim World 6 is probably the best of the lot so far. It continues to improve. It’s got extortionate amounts of DLC.
I think overall is a great series, but your jumping in point has got to be up to you.
And the price could be a sticking point for many. But once you’re in… You are well and truly in.
