Positives:

1) It's obviously made by people who both love and understand railroading. This is important, because it means that the game isn't just a cutsy animal crossing-type platform with trains layered on. It's more the opposite: a train game that happens to be cute.

2) The train actually has some weight to it. Momentum will carry you places you don't necessarily want to go.

3) Maps are spacious and appealing. I really love the design of lineside structures.

4) There is a lot of signage and various things to watch out for as you roll along. This keeps you paying attention to the action, and not simply zoning out as you drive.

5) There's a fair amount of variety in the rolling stock present in the game.

6) Sound design is good. It sounds like a proper steam locomotive.

7) Controls are very easy to use, and WSAD is set up right out of the gate.

Negatives:

1) After spending 5 minutes on it, I could find no obvious way to adjust the resolution. Ideally, I would like to play this on a higher setting, and thus make the train a bit smaller (and the field of view larger). If this setting is there, I couldn't locate it.

2) The music is a bit much. I would describe it as kind of sickly-sweet. Mercifully, it can be diabled.

3) You have to be a *teensy* too precise on the water stops for my taste. The 'window' is not the length of the tender, but really something even shorter than that.

4) I find your lack of a water tower in Catail to be disturbing. They're practically underwater. Let me fill up.

Things that should be improved:

1) I want more locomotives. The 2-4-0 is adorable, but it was disheartening to see that all progression was tied to other variants of it. I'm not asking for a Big Boy or a 4-8-4... but surely a 4-4-0 and 4-4-2 or 2-8-0 wouldn't ruin the charm. In fact, on the first tutorial, you see a 0-4-0 NPC passenger tram. I'd like to drive that, please.

2) Similarly, I'd like slightly larger rolling stock, and a bit longer trains. If we upgrade our engines, the rolling stock should get a bit chonkier, too. I understand there is a fine line between losing the plot on "cute" (which is important), but I want some more variety than this 4-wheel stuff.

3) Finally (and most importantly), I'd like to see the developers work towards some internationally-themed DLC. Japanese, New Zealand, Australian, German, French, and - above all else - BRITISH trains would work very well with this theme. The UK, in particular, has so many real-life, charming, tiny locomotives and short passenger cars that would work all-too-well with A Bumpy Ride. A "European" DLC with castles and European arcitecture should be a long-term goal.

Overall, though? Great, great, great little game. 5 stars.

I usually dont write reviews, but this game deserves one. It is one of my most anticipated games since I learned of its existence. Imagine zelda, spirit tracks, but without the janky canon and without the loading screens between areas. You cant leave your train, but the atmosphere is extremely similar to spirit tracks passenger missions. I am planning to play way more of this game, but my first impression is very very good, job well done cosmoporium games, you have indeed delivered.

OH MY GOD, this game instantly brings back warm memories of my carefree and enjoyable childhood when I played Zelda Spirit Tracks!

A DIVINE DIAMOND!!!!! Thanks to the Steam recommendations!!!💖💖💖

And also a special thank you to the developers for using chibi animals as passengers instead of just boring chibi people😸