Train Sim World 3 review

Whether you appreciate attempting to get thousands of commuters to work on time or hauling massive amounts of freight up precarious gradients, it’s time for some rigorous ‘training’.

Sure, the car is the dominant method of personal transportation in the US. But as someone lucky enough to have lived in cities with robust passenger rail lines, trains will always be my favorite way to get around. As such, I tackle nearly every locomotive simulation I can get my hands on. Some like Railway Empire and A-Train 3D: City Simulator let you become a rail magnate who is tasked with building a profitable company from the ground up. But the most immersive ones, such as the Japanese Rail Sim series, place you in the role of an engineer, safely shuttling commuters or cargo between cities.

With the release of Train Sim World 3, UK-based Dovetail Games continues its legacy as one of the dominant developers of locomotive simulations in the West. But before heading into their latest effort, there are a few things to know. First, is that they take an iterative approach to their efforts, with each version building on the foundations of its predecessor, much like the annual sports game. So instead of reinventing the (rail) wheel, they gradually refine it, adding elements to modernize the visuals and polish the user interface.

Power, Speed, and Class

For owners of 2020’s Train Sim World 2, that means the standard edition adds a requisite selection of new trains and locales. You’ll (literally) climb into GE Transportation Systems’ ES44C4, a diesel-electric behemoth with 4,400 horsepower. Ideal for hauling heavy loads, you’ll be able to navigate the Cajon Pass, where steep grades contributed to at least four derailments in the last forty years. A taste for speed can be satisfied with Germany’s ICE 1, where you’ll enjoy simulated 280 km/h sprints across tunnels, bridges, and the Bavarian countryside. Rounding out the highlights is London’s Hitachi Rail 395 SEB, where you’ll ensure commuters between the capital city and Kent all make it to work on time.

Pleasingly, there is delight in the game’s selection of classic engines, as well. The SD40-2 might have been retired from service in 1989, but Train Sim World 3’s dynamic weather offers a scenario where you take the mighty freight hauler down to San Bernardino in a pouring rainstorm, navigating around landslides that have besieged rail lines. For those who enjoy steam engines, there’s the LMS Jubilee and Stanier 8F that will send you back to pre-war Liverpool. Scenarios range from taking these old-timers in for service to navigating around a group of cows determined to graze near the tracks. If all this seems like word soup to you, a few days with the game will probably make you quite fluent. At the very least, the game’s extensive training center will familiarize you with the operation and controls of each locomotive.

Premium-Priced Seats

But here’s the other proviso before thinking about beginning a new career as a virtual train engineer: it’s an exceedingly expensive hobby. While DLC from Train Sim World 2 can be imported, know that there are more than $1500 worth of adds-ons. So, if you’re the type of person who is compelled into buying everything, know that it’s possible to drop a month’s worth of rent into this pastime. My bank account hopes that Dovetail Games never secures the rights to Japan’s JR East rail networks.

But if you are fortunate enough to have mastered self-restraint, there’s still a few weeks’ worth of rail-time found in the $50 Standard or $60 Deluxe editions. You’re encouraged to begin your journey at the aforementioned training facility. Here, Train Sim World 3 provides a succession of interaction lessons, that range from the principles of driving a locomotive to learning the distinct nuances of each engine. The one disappointment is found in the main menu’s ‘video tutorials’ component. Instead of impressive, in-house crafted seminars, Dovetail Games merely curates YouTube videos made by streamers. Some of them aren’t even helpful, with a “Top Funny Moments” compilation that’s neither amusing nor assistive. While we’re on the subject of annoyances, the developer goads you into registering for an account. While the upside is cloud-based progress saves, I would have rather seen Steam Cloud implementation and done without the inevitable advertising push.

But get past those annoyances, and you’ll appreciate how methodical and relaxed the lessons are. You’ll begin walking around the Training Center or on a train platform as a lesson begins and Train Sim World 3 does a commendable job of escorting your around. The modules here are well structured and thoroughly assistive. Text and a heads-up display that highlights mechanisms can be interacted with using either the keyboard, a mouse, or a controller. Elegantly, there’s rarely any ambiguity. Even when you graduate from training, Train Sim World 3 extends text reminders, speed warnings, and visual indicators of crucial information. It’s not all punitive either. You’ll earn virtual points for completing basic tasks, which can feel like mild flattery.

Weathering Through It All

Taking the trains out reveals Train Sim World 3’s new features. The game’s day-night cycle and variable weather can introduce some much-needed unpredictability during commuter or freight hauling runs. From light showers to tumultuous storms, you’ll be spurred into learning how to operate the wiper blades on most engines. Thankfully, the 2D skies of previous Train Sim World entries have been retired, making for a much more immersive experience. Occasionally, the volumetric clouds coagulate, obscuring the tail of your train, and might even offer a bit of lightning. Meanwhile, bloom effects are evident as you exit tunnels, and it will take a second or two for your simulated eyes to adjust to the profusion of light.

While you’re free to walk around stations, through passenger railcars, and even along the track to manually interact with switches, being in the cab is the definite highlight in Train Sim World 3. Boasting the type of modeling offered by the best automotive sims, every button, switch, and dial for each engine is meticulously modeled. Revisit the game’s steam locomotives and you’ll witness a labyrinthine network of valves, gauges, and the firebox, all dutifully rendered.

Outside the cab is where things fall apart, though. Test the physics system by standing on the path of a racing locomotive and there’s a notable deficiency in collision detection. Typically, you’ll become wedged inside the engine leading to a game crash. This type of bug isn’t uncommon. Although there is a visual demonstration of derailments, other types of mischievous behaviors would consistently bring up an Unreal Engine crash report. Thankfully, things are more stable when you’re playing more like an actual engineer. But even when you are behaving, the first couple seconds inside the cockpit habitually exhibit serious performance issues. Undoubtedly, additional commuter models would help sell the simulation, although period-specific attire is pleasing.

Conclusion

From 33 preset scenarios, nearly 1000 timetables to test your skills, and a scored rail trek in each of the Deluxe Editions 5 locales (4 for the Standard package), Train Sim World 3 extends an abundance of activities. Like any respectable simulation, there’s enough instruction to adequately prepare you for all the undertakings. But mastery only comes through hours of practice. Conquering taut commuter schedules or transporting a stretched procession of rail cars up steep grades requires expertise and you’ll probably develop a newfound appreciation for real-world engineers. That seems like a worthwhile ambition for any simulation and it’s one that Train Sim World 3 achieves when it is staying on the rails. If Dovetail Games can fix the crashing issues, railfans will be delighted.

Train Sim World 3 was played on PC with review code provided by the publisher.