Train Sim World 5 review

There has never been a better time to get started with the Train Sim World series. Dovetail Games has once again delivered on what is, at its core, an impressive, exciting, and even oddly relaxing train driving simulator, suitable for first-timers and enthusiasts alike. But, for some returning fans — myself included — the features introduced with this release cycle hardly amount to a meaningful refresh. Still, it's good fun, but do we really need a new game?

Routes

Nonetheless, a new game means new bundles, and this year's standard edition is solid. It will take you from London Euston to Milton Keynes in the UK, Frankfurt am Main to Fulda in Germany, and Los Angeles to San Bernardino in the USA. Having seen countless British, German, and US routes in recent years, the line-up is decidedly formulaic, but this happens to work in favour of some long-time players, or at least those with larger collections.

See, if you already own DLC from these countries, there is a chance you'll find yourself with extra locomotives to drive along the new routes. This interaction between DLCs is known as layering. For example, if you own the London Overground Suffragette line add-on, and then acquire the West Coast Main Line add-on, you can suddenly drive timetabled Class 710 services between London Euston and Watford Junction.

This just so happens to be the full length of the London Overground Lioness line, stations and all. So, it seems I just got two routes for the price of one. (Or, perhaps more accurately, three routes for the price of two.) In this sense, it feels somewhat rewarding to purchase DLC with locomotives that layer into other routes in my collection. That said, this only benefits some players, because it of course requires certain add-ons; outside of free roam, you won't be finding, for instance, a German ICE train thundering down the WCML.

On the other hand, new players need not worry about feeling left out, because plenty of trains are packaged with each route before layering factors in. The Frankfurt to Fulda add-on is a great example of this — even if it is your first ever DLC, you will still be getting your hands on five different types of rolling stock, plus freight and passenger wagons.

Within the included British and German routes is a great deal of variety in terms of both passenger and freight services. If you find yourself pressed for time, you can head direct to the other end of the route with no intermediate stops in a high-speed intercity train. Then there are the semi-express and stopping regional services, that take more time but allow you to better appreciate the surroundings. Plus, on top of that are a number of depot moves to check off the timetable.

Alas, the same cannot be said for the San Bernardino line. To access freight, you will need the Cajon Pass DLC, which, you guessed it, layers into this route. Even for passenger services there is little variety, although this is very much a reflection of the real-life timetable. On the other hand, this add-on has some of the longest services of the three, and can make for an enjoyable couple of hours on the railways. Or should I say railroad?

I have generally avoided US routes in Train Sim World, with the only ones I own being bundled in with the standard editions of previous games. It isn't because the routes are bad — the San Bernardino line, for one, is well put together with pleasant scenery — rather, I take less interest in American railroads than I do those of the UK and Germany. Similarly, I far prefer modern rolling stock than I do steam locomotives.

Nevertheless, this year's selection of bundled routes has raised the bar for the series. They certainly represent greater replayability, with more options for gameplay in terms of locomotives and timetabled services. For example, I hardly found myself coming back to the stretch of the East Coast Main Line included with Train Sim World 4. It was simply too linear, without enough intermediate stops to maintain my interest.

Given that we are now, for better or worse, into the fifth iteration of the series, there is a sizeable catalogue of route add-ons available from previous release cycles. When looking for something new, I value being able to explore a diverse variety of routes... or what would be if only Germany, the UK, and the USA existed. Granted, country representation has improved in recent years, but it is not all there yet. Even so, I am holding out faith for Train Sim World 5 in this respect, with Dutch (Spoorlijn Zwolle to Groningen) and Japanese (Tadami Line) routes in the works, both of which I am looking forward to.

Experience

Anyhow, it's about time we take to the rails, and I am pleased to report that actually driving a train remains a delightful experience. This is what you would likely expect from a game called Train Sim World, but it means that the fundamentals are there. Unfortunately, it at times seems that only the fundamentals are there, but I will touch on this shortly.

I had plenty of fun getting to grips with the new locomotives, particularly the ICE-T and Class 390 Pendolino, both of which are tilting electric multiple units. The latter is reserved for owners of the deluxe edition, although it can be purchased separately; as is the vibrant Flixtrain BR 193 Vectron, which made for a welcome change from the sea of red courtesy of Deutsche Bahn's livery.

The in-game sounds of the units introduced with Train Sim World 5 are great, whether you're pulling out of a station or blazing through another, full tilt at 125 mph. This is something that stood out to me throughout my gameplay — the game sounds as fast as it looks, and that goes a long way toward making you feel like you are in the driver's seat.

However, this cannot be said for all locomotives. The crisp audio of the Class 350 makes switching to the Class 377, a train that has been in the game for far longer but was also included with the WCML route, borderline unpleasant. The horn seems to be distorted and I would rather drive without having to listen to the safety systems. It is particularly bad — most other old locomotives, in terms of when they were added to the game, sound at least OK, but this is not up to scratch for a simulator released in 2024.

Now I that I've mentioned it, if you would rather drive without safety systems, that's totally allowed. Even with them disabled, there is plenty still to enjoy. The sky, albeit overexposed during the day, looks fantastic, especially considering that this is a train game that has the player firmly planted on the ground. It is a key component of the dynamic weather system that brings variety and a level of uncertainty to timetabled services.

Besides, it can be difficult to learn the safety systems in the first place, and this is very much relevant to some of the German safety systems (looking at you, PZB). Train Sim World's training centre provides very little useful information on this, contrary to the tips on the loading screens which themselves don't even show up half the time. You are more or less told to go and look it up on the internet. This is also despite the fact that these systems have been simulated in-game for years now. I also found that several video sections within the training centre were missing.

On another note, some locomotives have their suspensions simulated, and it certainly helps to bring the game toward the immersive experience that Dovetail Games is looking to provide. However, it was removed before release from a handful of units, including the Class 350, owing to unresolved bugs. (It is due to be reintroduced for the affected units in a later update.) Plus, this is not exactly a new feature; indeed, it was starting to be included with Train Sim World 4 DLCs.

The graphics are good but no better than that. The game looks very similar to its predecessor, so there is little to get excited about in this category. The scenery has also caused me some trouble, as their shadows pop into view but too late (i.e., as you are passing them) — this is not something I recall being such an issue with Train Sim World 4 and can be quite distracting. In-game lighting can be jarring, too, with it sometimes feeling like the cab is utterly disconnected from the world around it. It will randomly illuminate mid-tunnel, and is far too bright when stationary at London Euston. Similarly, when driving on an overcast day, stations often appear far brighter than is reasonable.

New to Train Sim World

So far there has been little to suggest that Train Sim World 5 is anything more than the previous release but with a few new routes and a new number. That said, there are new features that are worth talking about, even if only briefly. Briefly, because, even though there are new features, there aren't that many.

Conductor mode is perhaps the headline addition to the series: on certain services you can to ride on board as a train guard or conductor — relatively self-explanatory. Between stations you're tasked with checking tickets and clearing the aisle of any rogue luggage that may be a safety hazard. Points are awarded for completing these tasks successfully, and there are penalties for failing to spot an invalid ticket or not checking a passenger's ticket before they alight.

My first impressions after watching the developer preview livestreams were positive, and I welcomed the variety it added to the game, but I also found that the novelty wore off quickly. The mode consists only of opening and closing the doors at stations and the on-board ticket and luggage tasks. Naturally, it becomes repetitive after a few stops. Some players will enjoy taking the backseat for a change and watching the scenery fly by, but at that point I would rather be the one driving the train.

Dovetail Games also implemented fast travel and updated the live map, which you can access through the pause menu or by pressing 9 on a keyboard. If you find yourself frustrated at a red signal, the latter allows you to find out exactly what service is ahead of you and what the hold-up was caused by. If you pass another service and want to know where it's headed, you can do that too. Truthfully, I have hardly used the live map, but I do anticipate fast travel being helpful for finding all of the collectibles on a route.

I am more interested in the relatively minor addition of route hopping, a feature that lets you switch more seamlessly between route add-ons if they pass through a common station or area. The transition isn't immediate — you do still have to wait on a loading screen — but it is far better than remembering the approximate time, exiting to the main menu, and re-entering another route at that time.

It means that I can plan marathon in-game journeys across multiple routes, such as Eastbourne to Milton Keynes. In this case, I would start on the East Coastway into Brighton, hop onto the Brighton Main Line to London Victoria, before hopping to London Euston to finish the journey on the West Coast Main Line. It is far from a game-changer but it simplifies continuous, prolonged play sessions.

Verdict

For players not already immersed in the franchise, Train Sim World 5 is an excellent entry point with one of the best route line-ups in the series. Dovetail Games has nailed the fundamentals, as the core simulation experience feels realistic and refined yet still engaging. However, the game is undoubtedly let down by components that are more periphery but nonetheless crucial to gameplay, such as graphics, in-game lighting, and the sound design of previous generation locomotives.

The new conductor mode and features like route hopping and fast travel add variety, but Train Sim World 5 remains conspicuously similar to its predecessor — long-time fans of the series will find it an incremental, and potentially underwhelming, upgrade. Dovetail Games has succeeded in delivering a solid train simulator, but not in justifying the 'new release' label and associated price tag. Train Sim World simply does not sit in the category of games — typically sports games — more easily forgiven for their yearly release cycle.

I feel strongly enough about this to use my last remark in a review about Train Sim World 5 to talk about its successor: I really enjoy the series and what it allows me to do, but I sincerely hope we do not see Train Sim World 6 in 2025.

The review was edited on 26 September 2024 to correct a typo. The US route runs from Los Angeles to San Bernardino, not from Las Vegas to San Bernardino (as was mistakenly written).