Train Sim World 7 is the latest train driving instalment for lovers of the railway and people who wish to become virtual train drivers. I’ve been playing this franchise for years, and I’ve enjoyed every moment. This often annoys hardcore fans as they point out the familiar glitches, bugs, and inconsistencies with the traction, but I’m not looking for perfection. Instead, I’m focusing on a game that feels like the real deal. After all, when I’m not playing games, I drive trains for a living. Accordingly, I’m looking at this from a professional mindset.
Dovetail Games are the masterminds behind this fulfilling, demanding, and exceptional sim experience. It is a single-player game where community elements, new modes, and real-to-life driving sit at the forefront. Yes, there are a few glitches and bugs, but nothing could ruin the enjoyment I had. The routes are incredible, and I love the new live weather system. This adds a layer of realism that has been missing from its predecessors. Furthermore, if you are new to virtual train driving, the controls have been refined to make this the most accessible title to date.
Train Sim World 7 focuses on the action.
Unsurprisingly, Train Sim World 7 offers very little in the way of a story. This wasn’t disappointing as the action does the talking. With a career mode to experience, some minor tasks to undertake, and a host of new routes to enjoy, this is the biggest and best improvement to the franchise.
My mind is split on whether to explain every idea or stick with the new headlines. I want to assume that you know the basics of the series and move on from there. Consequently, I apologise if I jump ahead and you feel somewhat lost. If that happens, I have reviews of my previous TSW experiences that you can look up in the archives.
Train Sim World 7 delivers fresh routes in the UK, US, and Germany. The UK was of particular interest to me, but I was fascinated to see how ICE operations worked over the new German route. The Northern UK routes offer real-to-life driving with realistic issues, crossings, signalling, and much more. This may not impress my Northern colleagues, but I loved driving an area I rarely get to see.
It’s all about the freight.
One of my favourite elements of driving is shunting. I love the freedom to plan my moves and work with the signaller. Thankfully, this is replicated with the Freight Hauler mode. This has an element of procedurally generated action, as different products need to be hauled. Additionally, you are free to choose how you want to form your load.
This complete freedom allows virtual drivers to feel in complete control of their actions. There are no timetables, low demands, and plenty of replay value, and you never know what to expect. It is the game mode I’ve been waiting for, and I believe it is extremely well executed.
Realism and shortcuts.
Driver Only Operation isn’t fun. I don’t want to focus on passengers, and I certainly don’t want to play with the doors. Luckily, Train Sim World 7 replicates this mindset with its AI conductor. I know, AI, ohhhhh, scary! However, this virtual friend takes the sting out of the platform train interface as you focus on stopping, starting, and every fun driving moment.
The inclusion of live weather, better traction, improved performance and lighting, and insanely accurate routes makes this the most realistic train sim to date. I absolutely love the live weather mechanics. Real-world weather reports impact your driving locations. Furthermore, improvements to rain, snow, and other inclement weather adjust the conditions of the track and the way you handle your day-to-day activities.
The ugly!
I’m not saying that this is perfect, because it isn’t. A game this huge is going to have some issues. Furthermore, there are some classic bugs and problems that haunt this franchise. I’ve come to terms with the lack of perfection regardless of what hardcore fans think.
There were some frame rate drops during highly technical moments. Moreover, the camera occasionally clipped the track infrastructure, and this caused minor issues. Despite this, it is extremely well polished. The gameplay is immersive, and I’m sure the developer is working hard to polish out any issues.
Train Sim World 7 offers an exceptional world to explore.
I’ve lost track of the DLC, locations, and traction I can enjoy. Train Sim World 7 offers a brilliantly realistic sim experience that looks phenomenal. Yes, there are some bugs, but this didn’t bother me. It is mostly a raving success with ultra-realistic locations, exceptional traction, and spectacular weather conditions. The result is a game that makes you feel like a train driver.
The immersive action is supported perfectly by the well-considered soundscape. The sound effects are superb! The dynamic layers, realistic engines, and use of space deliver audio as close to perfection as possible.
A new UI and control approach.
I’m a series veteran, so refined controls were not necessary. However, I can accept that the learning curve is a little daunting for newcomers. When you consider the safety systems, routes, traction, and other complex layers, it can be a little off-putting. Thankfully, Dovetail Games offers a basic take on the control system. This helps with the learning curve and gets you into the action quicker. Alongside this, there is the exceptional driving school to help you on your way.
The sim genre keeps you coming back for more. Train Sim World 7 is no different, as there are new modes to experience, a friendlier UI to play with, and loads of new routes to drive over. In short, it’ll keep you going for hours if you want to.
Train Sim World 7 is the most realistic experience to date.
Train Sim World 7 continues to impress and prove why it is one of the most popular railway simulators available. With incredible routes, detailed traction, and authenticity gameplay, there’s enough for dedicated railway fans and casual gamers. Although its familiar edge may not revolutionise the genre, it is leaps and bounds ahead of its competitors! So I recommend buying it here! Pick a route, master the traction, and enjoy a journey that’s well worth boarding.
