With Train Sim World 6, Dovetail Games once again expands its ever-growing library of routes and trains, this time adding a mix of American, British, and German settings to the PlayStation 5 version. The new installment is ambitious on paper, offering everything from commuter lines through New Jersey suburbs to the scenic English Riviera and a stretch of Germany’s oldest long-distance railway. New features such as random events, conductor mode, and expanded free roam are pitched as steps forward for the series, but as with previous entries, the execution doesn’t always live up to the promise at launch.
The strongest part of TSW6 remains its authenticity. Trains feel weighty and distinct, whether you’re handling a sleek ICE-T at high speed or coaxing a tired commuter unit through stop-and-go services. The routes themselves, particularly the Riviera Line along the Dawlish Sea Wall, capture a sense of place that train enthusiasts will immediately appreciate. These journeys are immersive, and the addition of small touches like in-train announcements helps give them more life. Yet while the sense of realism remains a highlight, not all of the new systems hit their stride.
Random events, one of the flagship features, are a clever idea designed to make journeys less predictable, but they often feel underdeveloped. Signal delays and faults add variety, though they can also disrupt the flow in ways that come across as frustrating rather than exciting – especially when they happen too often. Similarly, conductor mode – checking tickets and managing passenger doors – adds novelty but isn’t as fleshed out as it could be, quickly becoming repetitive. It feels like these ideas need more time to mature before they can meaningfully expand the core simulation.
Performance on PS5 is a mixed bag. While routes generally look impressive from a distance, with detailed trains and atmospheric lighting, closer inspection reveals rough textures, pop-in, and occasional glitches. The series’ visual presentation continues to walk a fine line between impressive and inconsistent, reminding players that while authenticity is valued, polish still lags behind.
Controls, meanwhile, are largely unchanged from previous entries. On the DualSense, they remain functional but can be overwhelming for newcomers, especially when tackling complex locomotives with multiple systems to monitor. For veteran players, the consistency is welcome, but for a game marketed as the “next step” in the franchise, it doesn’t feel like a dramatic leap forward. Instead, TSW6 feels iterative – comfortable for existing fans, but unlikely to draw in many new ones unless they’re deeply curious about trains. On the plus side, DLC content from Train Sim World 5 carried over for free.
At its best, Train Sim World 6 offers the familiar pleasure of settling into the cab, learning the quirks of each locomotive, and losing yourself in the rhythm of long-haul journeys. The variety of new routes helps maintain interest, and for enthusiasts, the prospect of building a personal collection of trains and scenarios remains appealing. Yet for all its authenticity and passion for railways, the game can’t escape the sense that its changes are iterative at best, with new features that lack polish and technical issues that undermine the experience. For fans of the series, it’s another solid addition; for those hoping for a transformative new entry, it may feel like just another stop along the same track.
Score: 6.8/10
Press Play Media 