Trackastrophe! Review: A puzzle game on tracks
, by Enzo
The second game by a small Belgian studio of six people, Trackastrophe! presents itself as an accessible and relaxing puzzle game, though with a touch of chaos thrown in for good measure. The concept is fairly simple: you build railroad tracks across a wide variety of isometric levels to reach the exit and collect train cars along the way. It released to little to no fanfare, but the game didn’t quite manage to escape our radar. All in all, how does it stack up?
First impressions
Right from the start, Trackastrophe! wins you over with its rather unique art style. The colorful environments are reminiscent of certain ’90s cartoons, with themed worlds filled with fun little details. Each biome has its own visual identity: prehistoric jungles, strange caverns, snowy areas, and even levels inspired by more absurd dimensions.
The game features a clear isometric view that makes it easy to read the terrain right away. It’s cute and easy to follow. But behind this lighthearted appearance lies a true puzzle game, sometimes trickier than it seems. The premise is simple: correctly place track segments and interactive pieces to help your locomotive reach the finish line while collecting additional train cars.
Choo-choo, little train!
The various mechanics are introduced gradually, so you never feel lost. There are turnouts, tunnels, teleporters, and even rocky obstacles. The game showcases a certain sense of humor in its exaggerated animations and overall tone. This very laid-back approach is reminiscent of certain mobile puzzle games, but with a more polished presentation and a palpable sense of progression.
In terms of content, each of the 5 biomes features about 20 levels, including some bonus ones, through which the difficulty gradually increases, and hints are available to help you avoid getting completely stuck.
It runs smoothly, and that’s exactly what we want
Nothing to report from a technical standpoint: this is a small game that runs beautifully on all computer configurations. The experience is smooth, responsive, and loading times are virtually nonexistent.
As for the interface, it’s fairly minimalist, which makes it very intuitive and functional. We would have liked a bit more variety in the sound design over time, though, especially with even more cheerful and upbeat music, since some tracks tend to get a bit grating after several hours.
A slight lack of depth
Ultimately, what we would have appreciated is a bit more depth, given its very classic structure. We can’t really call this a flaw in the strict sense, since the game delivers on its promise and never claimed to be a broad, comprehensive experience.
Despite its various little ideas here and there, it’s an adventure that lasts only a few hours, and those hours feel relatively similar to one another. It’s a lighthearted experience, designed primarily to be a bit of casual entertainment rather than a deep puzzle game.
Tested on PC. See our rating policy here.
7/10
With its unique visual style and fun puzzles, Trackastrophe! is an interesting little indie surprise for anyone who wants to give it a try, without necessarily revolutionizing the genre or claiming to be ambitious. If you’re even slightly curious about the game, don’t hesitate to check it out.
- + Unique and appealing visual style
- + Fairly original gameplay mechanics
- + You’ll quickly get hooked
- - The formula is a bit too conventional
- - Short playtime