Review: Train Sim World 6 (PS5)

Train Sim World 6 has transformed significantly since the initial entry in the series, launched in 2018.

At that time, the series appeared rough and elementary, but it has improved remarkably over the subsequent years.

This latest edition is arguably the most refined to date: its presentation – despite flaws under close examination – provides a genuine feeling of embarking on a journey, and its extensive selection of available content is nearing the realms of the unimaginable at this stage.

This is because Dovetail has been building upon the same foundational elements for several years now, and while this sixth iteration of the franchise is indisputably the finest, it also conveys a sense of being somewhat excessive.

For several years, the UK studio has been rolling out yearly updates for this franchise, enhancing the core experience without truly reinventing it. It’s somewhat akin to a sports title in certain ways.

However, the developer would justifiably contend that you don’t have to acquire this new iteration if you prefer not to: available until 11th November, a complimentary client called the Starter Pack allows you to download the update and transfer all your current content for free. Quite generous.

So, what is fresh, then? Well, the tagline for this year’s game is “anticipate the unexpected”, which is emphasized by a variables system that will influence your journeys in unforeseen manners.

Whether it’s a light malfunction, a signaling mishap, or a malfunctioning window wiper, you may encounter unexpected issues halting your journeys. The goal is to introduce variation to each trip that keeps you alert, enhancing replay value.

Considering that each path in Train Sim World 6 includes over 500 distinct schedules to complete, this addition will make every journey feel renewed. Combine this with the dynamic weather system, and you indeed have a beautifully adaptable foundation for a nearly limitless array of scenarios.

Nevertheless, the team, perhaps acknowledging that not everyone will wish to tackle these challenges, has made the random encounters an optional toggle, so you need not handle them if you wish to avoid them. That appears to be a wise choice.

The other significant new feature this time – and no minor task to incorporate, we presume – is passenger announcements. These include notifications of future stops and genuinely enhance the immersion of the experience in a way that’s difficult to articulate. Once heard, it’s tough to regress.

It’s important to mention that these passenger announcements currently apply only to new routes, yet Dovetail has expressed interest in potentially integrating them into popular previous locations, which would be delightful.

Sadly, that’s about all for the core game itself – there are several bug fixes and optimizations, but nothing groundbreaking really. The user interface – which was modified a couple of iterations ago – is largely unchanged, and all of the fundamental features from former editions remain intact.

It’s once again a focus on the same three nations that have characterized Train Sim World since its inception, but with expansion routes planned for Japan, Portugal, and the Czech Republic, it does seem like the series is finally starting to genuinely fulfill its title.

Among the three new routes, we’ve particularly enjoyed Riviera, which is a coastal path that follows the Dawlish Sea Wall and provides a scenic voyage from Exeter to Plymouth and Paignton.

This route especially showcases the enhancements to the game’s engine over the years: you’ll pass iconic red rock cliffs, seaside towns, and even amusement parks – it’s breathtaking.

We completed one schedule starting early evening, around 5 PM, during late summer. And we got to witness the sun gradually set as we traveled along the approximately 28 km line through Torquay, with the sky shifting to a soft shade of purple as day turned into twilight.

The presentation does still falter when scrutinized closely: some of the track details utilize quite basic geometry, and the framerate may stutter even on PS5 as it loads new assets.

But what it excels at is conveying the progression of time.

You can spend over an hour finishing a single timetable in Train Sim World 6, and you’ll consistently feel as though time has advanced from when you commenced to when you concluded. That’s remarkable.

Personally, we’re less enamored with the Morristown line as we’re not especially fond of the operation of American trains, like the Jersey Arrow featured here. But your experience may differ, and discovering your own preferences is part of the enjoyment.

We should also highlight the new Leipzig line that builds upon Nahverkehr Dresden from a former release. Entering the gigantic Leipzig Hauptbahnhof is, honestly, a breathtaking view – it’s among the largest railway stations in Europe.

We also greatly appreciate the ICE-T train introduced as part of this route – it’s an incredibly smooth journey.

However, we must confess, our attention is partly focused on forthcoming additions, like the previously mentioned Tadami Line in Japan.

Fans have been anticipating this one for several years now, and we suspect it will be a landmark moment for the franchise that will attract renewed interest. You will need to purchase that separately, we should emphasize.

If we had one primary critique for Train Sim World 6, apart from the notion that an annual release was not particularly warranted, it’s that with such an abundance of content in the game, it’s becoming challenging to keep track of it all.

We’re uncertain we have a solution for Dovetail really, and clearly it’s at the mercy of platform holders like Sony regarding how it disseminates all this content, but the game can come across as a bit chaotic at this stage. It’s commendable that everything carries over, but good luck managing it all.

Perhaps additional user interface enhancements could assist engaged players in better understanding everything they own and how it all connects? We’ve personally reached a point where we only keep our absolute favorite content installed.

Conclusion

When reflecting on how far Train Sim World 6 has progressed since its initial launch, it’s incredible. But when compared directly to its predecessor, this new edition doesn’t introduce many changes.

The new Riviera route is awe-inspiring, and we genuinely value the addition of passenger announcements and the random occurrences that can disrupt your journey.

However, if you’re not instantly drawn to any of the new paths, we’d suggest focusing on the free Starter Pack and waiting for some of the upcoming expansions, which will feature entirely new countries like Japan, Portugal, and the Czech Republic.