Steam's Train Fest, running until July 27, offers discounts on a variety of railway-themed games, including titles like Train Sim World and Victoria 3. However, for some, the most compelling experience might be found in the simulator's more mundane, and perhaps more realistic, portrayals of rail travel.
Train Sim World, particularly through its DLC such as the Great Western Express, allows players to not only drive trains but also experience the journey as a passenger. For one writer, this offered a peculiar form of escapism by recreating the often dispiriting reality of British train travel. Recalling numerous journeys from Bath to London, the experience is typically marred by delays, overcrowding, and inflated prices.
Despite the inherent flaws of real-world rail journeys, the digital recreation of a trip from Reading to London Paddington in Train Sim World proved surprisingly compelling. The game accurately models the station's layout, evoking memories of waiting for delayed connections, though the absence of a ubiquitous pasty shop was noted as a jarring omission. The interior of the train, while perhaps too clean and lacking the expected grime and rowdiness of a typical UK service, also closely mirrors reality. The ability to sit in an empty seat was even pointed out as a notable deviation from the often cramped conditions.
Watching the landscape transition from urban sprawl to the countryside through a rain-streaked window, accompanied by a podcast and a snack, the game successfully replicates the familiar, albeit monotonous, experience of being a passenger. The