Hi everyone! First off, I just spent a few cozy afternoons with Islands & Trains, and I’m excited to share my laid-back thoughts. If you love stress-free sandbox builders, adorable trains, and tiny dioramas, stick around.
Overall Impressions
To begin with, Islands & Trains offers a truly chill, rule-free island sandbox. Essentially, you design terrain, plop tracks, and place cute buildings. In other words, there are no timers or distracting objectives—just pure creative freedom. Honestly, it reminded me of Townscaper’s creative calm, but with trains. Likewise, I also felt echoes of the mini-railway toys I loved as a kid. Above all, the concept really shines in its simplicity: just you, the island, and a little locomotive.
That said, a few clunky placement rules and limited color variety did dim the shine slightly. Compared to other cozy sims, Islands & Trains feels a bit less polished, but at the same time, it has a fresh, heartfelt vibe. If Future Friends Games continues to support this passion project with updates, it could definitely become a standout title in the genre.
Gameplay Mechanics
First, building tracks and shaping landscapes truly anchors the fun here. For example, I loved watching my train chug through tunnels and over bridges I crafted myself. Although placing pre-made pieces makes layout quick, it lacks the free-form rail dragging that some players might crave. In fact, one user summed it up perfectly: “I wish I could stack terrain parts for more creative depth.” And I totally get that. Adjusting each diagonal tile by hand can feel tedious. Consequently, a quick-rotate or soft-brush terrain tool would be a welcome addition.
Moreover, the pickiness of object placement can sometimes frustrate. For instance, you can’t plop a building over a rock—you have to bulldoze first. Even more, there’s no undo button, so I found myself restarting entire sections on occasion. A pipette tool and smoother snapping would go a long way in boosting the creative flow. That said, patient fiddling still rewards you with neat setups. In fact, I lost track of time fine-tuning a train yard under a palm grove. Those little serene moments truly made me smile.
Story and Characters
Although Islands & Trains doesn’t offer a scripted narrative or named characters, the world you build becomes the story. In fact, my solo train felt like the main character on an island adventure. Each time it passed a seaside villa or a mountain lookout, I’d imagine passengers waving out of the windows. In this way, the game invites emergent storytelling, which works remarkably well if you love creative play. On the other hand, if you prefer structured plots, you might feel some emptiness here. Personally, I enjoyed naming my engine and weaving mini-tales around each diorama. In short, your mileage may vary based on how much freeform play you enjoy.
Visuals and Graphics
The low-poly, pastel aesthetic feels cozy and toy-like. Tiny details—bench seats, signal lights, even a station clock—add charm. Yet the overall palette leans drab at times. Greens and browns dominate, with fewer bright or moody options. A day/night cycle or color grading slider would let us paint different atmospheres. One reviewer even suggested a darker scheme to ease eye strain. I hope post-launch updates bring more palettes and perhaps seasonal themes.
Sound and Music
I found the soundtrack soothing. Soft marimba tones and gentle chimes set a relaxed pace. Train whistles and ambient beach waves filled my headphones without ever jarring me. No voice acting exists, but you don’t miss it here. Each click of track placement and gentle horn blast feels purposeful. If you enjoy calm indie game soundscapes, you’ll likely appreciate Islands & Trains’ audio design.
Difficulty and Replayability
This game sits at the easiest difficulty tier. There are no challenges or penalties—only creative possibilities. That makes it ultra-accessible for all ages. Replayability comes down to how deep you want to tinker. After a few builds, you might crave more track types, multi-train setups, or a larger map. Several players wish for multiple trains to run simultaneously. I agree—watching two little engines share a crossing could be delightful.
Still, I plan to return. The small price tag and developer’s promise of updates give me hope. If they expand object variety, improve QoL tools, and let islands grow bigger, I can see myself rebuilding and sharing new dioramas for months to come.
Trivia and Behind the Scenes
Islands & Trains started as a solo passion project by developer Akos Makovics. Future Friends Games stepped in to publish and support early access. The dev team actively gathers feedback on their Discord and Steam forums. They’ve already teased new track pieces, terrain brushes, and quality-of-life updates in upcoming patches. It’s heartening to see a small team listen to their community. I can’t wait to see where they take this cozy railway sandbox next.
Final Score: 3.5 / 5 Stars
Islands & Trains has a warm-hearted concept and charming visuals. It nails relaxation and creative freedom. Clunky placement controls, limited palette, and lack of advanced tools hold it back. But as a budding cozy gem, it shows real promise. If you want a calm ride with cute trains and an island to call your own, this game is worth a look—especially at its modest price. Keep an eye on future updates, and you might just witness a little sandbox railroad grow into something extraordinary.
