Review: Train Sim World 6 (PS5) – This Scenic Ride Rarely Surprises

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Train Sim World 6 has evolved dramatically since the first game in the franchise, released in 2018.

The series used to be rough around the edges and basic, but it’s improved dramatically over time.

This latest version is arguably the most refined so far. While not perfect upon close inspection, it effectively creates the feeling of being on an adventure, and the sheer amount of content available is incredible.

Dovetail has been steadily improving its core features for years, and while this latest version is the strongest yet, it doesn’t feel like a necessary upgrade.

This UK-based studio has been consistently releasing yearly updates to the game for several years now. These updates refine what’s already great about the game, but don’t drastically change it – it’s similar to how annual sports game updates work.

The developer is offering a free ‘Starter Pack’ until November 11th, so you don’t have to buy the new version if you don’t want to. This pack lets you upgrade and use all your current content without any cost – a really nice gesture.

What’s new this year? The game’s motto is “expect the unexpected,” and that idea is brought to life with a new system that will make each player’s experience unique and unpredictable.

Unexpected problems like broken lights, signal malfunctions, or even a faulty windshield wiper can disrupt your travels. This adds variety to each trip, making the game more engaging and encouraging you to play again and again.

As a Train Sim World 6 player, I’m really excited about the new update! Each route already has tons of different schedules – like over 500! – which means every trip feels unique. And when you throw in the changing weather, it basically creates endless possibilities for different scenarios. It’s awesome because it keeps things feeling fresh and unpredictable, making each playthrough totally different.

The developers realized not all players might enjoy these challenges, so they’ve made random encounters optional. You can turn them on or off, which is a good decision.

One of the biggest improvements in this update is the addition of passenger announcements. These announcements, which tell you when the next stop is coming up, significantly enhance the feeling of actually being there. Once you experience them, it’s difficult to imagine playing without them.

Currently, these new passenger announcements are only available on new routes. However, Dovetail has suggested they might add them to popular, existing locations in a future update, which would be a welcome addition.

That pretty much covers the main game updates – it’s mostly bug fixes and performance improvements, nothing drastically new. The user interface hasn’t changed much since the last update, and the game still has all the same features as before.

If you buy the Standard Edition, you’ll unlock three new routes to play, each featuring unique trains: Morristown in the USA, Riviera in the UK, and Dresden in Germany.

As a long-time fan, it’s felt like Train Sim World has always focused on the same few countries. But I’m really excited about the new routes they’re planning for Japan, Portugal, and the Czech Republic! It honestly feels like the game is *finally* starting to become the worldwide train simulation experience it always promised to be.

We’ve been particularly enjoying the Riviera route out of our three new options. It’s a beautiful coastal path that follows the Dawlish Sea Wall, offering stunning views as you travel from Exeter to Plymouth and Paignton.

This route is a great example of how much the game’s graphics have improved. You’ll drive past famous red rock cliffs, charming coastal towns, and even lively funfairs – the scenery is truly beautiful.

We finished a schedule starting around 5 PM one late summer evening. As we worked along the roughly 28-kilometer route through Torquay, we enjoyed watching the sunset, with the sky fading to a soft purple as twilight approached.

While generally good, the game’s presentation isn’t perfect upon closer inspection. Some of the track elements look quite simple, and the game’s frame rate can occasionally drop, even on the PS5, when loading new content.

But what it does brilliantly is convey the passage of time.

Creating a single timetable in Train Sim World 6 can easily take over an hour, and it always feels like time has passed while you’re working on it. This is a really good thing!

To be honest, I’m not the biggest fan of the Morristown line – I just don’t really love how those American trains run, like the Jersey Arrow they use. But hey, everyone has different tastes, and figuring out what *you* like is half the enjoyment, right?

The update also includes the Leipzig line, building on the Dresden local transport network from our earlier version. Arriving at Leipzig Central Station is truly impressive – it’s one of the largest train stations in Europe.

We also really like the ICE-T train added as part of this route – it’s such a smooth ride.

However, we’re also eagerly anticipating future expansions, such as the Tadami Line in Japan, which has already been mentioned.

People have been anticipating this release for years, and we think it could be a turning point for the series, attracting a whole new audience. Just to clarify, it will need to be purchased as a separate item.

Our biggest issue with Train Sim World 6, aside from questioning whether a new version is needed every year, is that the sheer amount of content is starting to feel overwhelming and hard to manage.

We don’t currently have a clear fix for the issues with Dovetail, and how content is released largely depends on platform owners like Sony. Right now, the game can feel disorganized. While it’s good that your progress is saved, keeping everything managed can be challenging.

Making the user interface more polished could help players better manage and understand their in-game items and how they work together. We’ve found ourselves only keeping the content we really enjoy installed because it’s become too much to manage otherwise.

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2025-10-10 22:08