A 25-Year Wait for the Driver’s Seat
If you grew up during the peak Thomas the Tank Engine era of the late ’90s and early 2000s, you likely spent hours pushing wooden trains across wooden tracks, dreaming of what it would be like to actually step into the cab of that iconic blue tank engine. Back then, video game technology was barely walking on two legs. The idea of exploring a fully realized, 3D Island of Sodor from a first-person perspective was pure science fiction.
Fast forward more than two decades, and the simulation experts at Dovetail Games—the developers behind the incredibly popular Train Sim World franchise—have finally made that childhood dream a reality.
Released last month, Thomas & Friends: Wonders of Sodor is not just a cheap, throwaway kids’ game. Powered by Unreal Engine and Dovetail’s proprietary Simugraph technology, this is a fully fledged, remarkably detailed railway simulation wrapped in the wholesome, nostalgic charm of the classic television series. Currently sitting at a “Very Positive” rating on Steam, the game has captured the hearts of 30-something railfans and 4-year-old newcomers alike.
Grab your conductor’s hat. We are heading to the North Western Railway.
A Beautiful Return to Sodor
The absolute first thing that will strike you when loading into Wonders of Sodor is just how gorgeous the game looks. By utilizing Unreal Engine, Dovetail has crafted an Island of Sodor that feels vibrant, lived-in, and wonderfully polished.
The lighting engine does some heavy lifting here, casting beautiful morning sun rays across the tracks of Knapford Station and creating an incredibly cozy atmosphere as you pull into Tidmouth Sheds at dusk. But the true stars of the show are the engines themselves. The character models for Thomas, Percy, Gordon, Emily, and Diesel are exquisite. Rather than opting for flat, cartoonish textures, the developers added tasteful, realistic, riveting, and metallic sheen to the engines, making them look and feel like massive, heavy, real-world steam locomotives.
Whether you are hurrying express passengers over the crest of Gordon’s Hill or peeping your whistle down Thomas’ branch line to Ffarquhar, the environmental design oozes with the charm of the original Britt Allcroft and HIT Entertainment model series eras.
The Timetable: 4 Ways to Be Really Useful
Dovetail Games structured Wonders of Sodor to cater to a variety of playstyles, offering four distinct modes of gameplay:
- Stories: The crown jewel for nostalgia seekers. This mode offers 8 bespoke narrative missions that recreate classic tales inspired by the Railway Series books and TV show (such as Thomas & Gordon and Percy’s Troublesome Day). The absolute best part? Every single story is fully narrated by the legendary Mark Moraghan, providing the ultimate storytelling immersion.
- Timetable: Taking a page directly from Train Sim World, this mode lets you run trains on a regular daily schedule up and down the line. If you want to squeeze 20+ hours of gameplay out of this title, this is where you will spend the bulk of your time, seamlessly transporting freight and passengers as part of a living, breathing railway ecosystem.
- Mini Games: A collection of surprisingly challenging Shunting missions that test your ability to navigate the rail yards.
- Free Roam: A creative sandbox mode allowing you to spawn trains and explore the island at your own pace while hunting for hidden collectibles.
Riding in the cabs, managing the throttle, and experiencing the sights and sounds of Sodor from the driver’s perspective is incredibly surreal. It strikes a beautiful balance: approachable enough for young children to enjoy with their parents, but detailed enough to keep adult fans engaged.
Strict Signalmen and Missing Engines
Despite the overwhelming wave of nostalgia, Wonders of Sodor is not without its frustrating roadblocks.
The most glaring omission is the game’s launch roster. While the core team of Thomas, Percy, Gordon, Emily, and Diesel is great, the absence of franchise mainstays like Edward, Henry, and Toby is deeply felt by long-time fans. Furthermore, locking James—arguably one of the most iconic characters—behind a Day-One $10 DLC or the $50 Deluxe Edition feels like a slightly scummy monetization tactic for a game aimed heavily at families.
On the gameplay front, the “Free Roam” mode has a massive, glaring flaw. In a mode designed for creative sandbox exploration, the railway’s signalmen are completely unforgiving. If you dare to accidentally drive past a red signal, the game will instantly fail you and boot you back to the main menu. For a game that encourages you to relax and explore, this strict adherence to real-world railway safety regulations completely kills the fun of free-roaming.
Finally, players have noted a handful of technical bugs. The track points during Shunting challenges can occasionally glitch, launching your train miles into the sky. Additionally, hardcore railfans have pointed out that some cab gauges (such as steam pressure dropping unrealistically at full speed) lack the hardcore simulation depth found in Dovetail’s mainline titles.
The Good, The Bad, & The Troublesome
| The Good | The Bad | The Ugly |
| The Visuals: Beautiful lighting and highly detailed, realistic train models bring the Island of Sodor to life perfectly. | The Roster: Missing classic engines like Henry, Edward, and Toby leaves the North Western Railway feeling a bit empty. | Free Roam Fails: Getting instantly booted to the main menu for passing a red signal completely ruins the “Free Roam” sandbox experience. |
| The Narration: Having legendary voice actor Mark Moraghan narrate the story missions is an incredible touch for long-time fans. | DLC Practices: Locking a core character like James behind a day-one Deluxe Edition paywall feels slightly greedy. | |
| Timetable Mode: Running the daily schedule provides hours of relaxing, immersive simulation gameplay. | Simulation Nitpicks: Lacks the deep, hardcore mechanical simulation (like manual whistles and complex brake systems) of Train Sim World. | |
| Family Friendly: Accessible controls make this a brilliant game for parents and children to play together. | Shunting Bugs: Occasional physics glitches when coupling to cars can launch your train into the stratosphere. | The Visuals: Beautiful lighting and highly detailed, realistic train models perfectly bring the Island of Sodor to life. |
Should You Buy It?
Yes, if you grew up loving Thomas the Tank Engine, want a beautiful and relaxing train simulator, or are looking for a fantastic, wholesome game to play alongside your children.
No, if: You demand hyper-realistic, hardcore physics simulation in your train games, you are easily frustrated by strict fail-states in sandbox modes, or you refuse to play a Thomas game that doesn’t include Henry or Edward.
Recommended for fans of: Train Sim World 4, Derail Valley, Planet Coaster, Microsoft Flight Simulator, Disney Dreamlight Valley.
Thomas & Friends: Wonders of Sodor: Thomas & Friends: Wonders of Sodor is a brilliant, heartwarming piece of childhood wish fulfillment. While the overly strict Free Roam fail-states and the absence of classic engines like Edward and Henry leave room for improvement, the core foundation of this game is rock solid. The visuals are stunning, Mark Moraghan’s narration is a massive treat, and the sheer joy of blowing Thomas' whistle from inside the cab never gets old. Whether you are a parent looking for a fantastic bonding experience with your little ones, or simply an adult looking to heal your inner child with a cozy, gorgeous train simulator, Dovetail Games has delivered a ticket worth buying. We just hope they expand the roster soon. – Flare
