Review by Jon Donnis
Train Valley Origins is a charming and quietly clever entry in the long-running train management series from Flazm. While its name hints at something nostalgic, Origins is no lazy rehash. It strips the formula back to its basics, capturing what worked in the earlier games and leaving behind the fussier mechanics that bogged down its immediate predecessor. The result? A clean, focused, and highly replayable puzzler that delivers satisfying strategy in bite-sized doses.
The setup is instantly familiar. You're looking down on a colourful world, laying tracks and managing switches to shepherd trains from station to station without causing mayhem. It sounds easy until it isn't. With multiple trains on the move, limited track space, and a growing list of constraints to juggle, things get hectic quickly. But the design is tight, and the rules are clear. There's rarely a moment where you feel cheated by the game, just bested.
Each level offers a self-contained puzzle, often with extra challenges layered in. Some ask you to complete the map without ever stopping a train. Others tempt you to take on bonus deliveries while keeping everything on schedule. It's these optional objectives that bring out the obsessive side, pushing you to replay levels until you've nailed that elusive perfect run.
Visually, the game leans into a clean, minimalist style. Bright colours, neatly animated locomotives, and clear interfaces make everything easy to read, even when things get hectic. It may not be a visual showcase, but it's thoughtfully designed. The aesthetic feels more functional than flashy, but it's undeniably charming in its own right.
One of the game's best features is the variety of settings. You move through four distinct historical periods and locations, from the dusty grit of the Wild West to the frosty terrain of Norway. The trains evolve with the eras, and there's genuine pleasure in unlocking new models and viewing them in the game's Shed, a kind of virtual garage that adds a subtle collecting element.
What Train Valley Origins does especially well is keep you engaged without overwhelming you. It avoids the over-complication that turned some players away from Train Valley 2, sticking instead to a more accessible core loop. That simplicity is what makes it sing. It's a game that trusts its mechanics and doesn't try to overextend them.
There are drawbacks, though. The lack of significant innovation over the first game is noticeable, particularly if you've spent a lot of time with the series already. At times, it can feel like a reworked version of Train Valley 1 rather than a full evolution. And while the upcoming level editor promises longevity, it's not here yet. That means the game currently lives or dies on its built-in content.
There's also the matter of presentation and price. For some, the game's browser-like look and mobile-style pacing might make the near £10 price point feel steep. It doesn't have the polish or scale of a full PC title, and if you're not already into this genre, it might be a harder sell.
Still, for puzzle fans, transport sim lovers, or anyone who enjoyed the earlier Train Valley titles, this is a very easy recommendation. It's focused, fun, and easy to lose an hour in without realising it. Most importantly, it's the kind of game you find yourself booting up again the day after you've sworn you were done with it. And that says more than any feature list ever could.
Score: 8.5 / 10
Train Valley Origins is a delightful return to form. It's simple, satisfying, and full of personality. Once the level editor arrives, it might just be the best in the series.
Out now on Steam
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