The third week of March saw a flurry of activity on Steam. Pearl Abyss' 'Crimson Desert' smashed past 240,000 Concurrent Players, while the PC version of 'Death Stranding 2' launched to a wave of 'Very Positive' reviews. Amidst the heavy hitters like 'Everwind' and 'The Cube Save Us', one title stood out from the crowd: 'Thomas & Friends: Wonders of Sodor' (hereafter 'Wonders of Sodor').

Usually, titles based on animated series are best avoided, often suffering from a lack of polish that earns them a drubbing from players. Yet, 'Wonders of Sodor' is currently chugging along quite nicely with a 'Very Positive' rating. While trains are the core of the experience, the game kicks off by letting you pick a train driver avatar, whom you then control directly to get things moving.

'Wonders of Sodor' is, at its heart, a train simulator. You, the driver, are in the hot seat. It isn't trying to be a brutally complex simulation, mind you. You interact directly with your character to pull the steam levers on the likes of Thomas, and stepping on the brakes gradually slows your momentum. Since the speed changes with a deliberate, leisurely pace, your timing is everything.

Beyond just moving, you’ve got the usual trappings of the genre: picking up passengers and flipping rail switches. To get passengers aboard, you’ll need to manually open the carriage doors, and coupling your engine—be it Thomas or his mates—requires a delicate touch as you approach at low speed. These tasks can be performed manually by walking your character around, or if you’re feeling less hands-on, handled via the map and simulation modes.

Once everything is set, your goal is to drive to your destination. You can view the action from the first-person perspective inside the cab, or pull the camera back to admire the scenery as you roll along. And yes, you can sound that iconic whistle. If you manage your speed as you approach the station, those early missions will be a breeze.

The game offers both a Story Mode and a Free Mode. In Story Mode, you’ll wander around the island of Sodor completing various missions, assisting familiar faces like Gordon, Percy, Emily, and Diesel. It isn't all plain sailing, though; you can fail. If you push a freight car too hard and collide with another train, you'll be treated to a comical animation of Thomas spinning off the tracks in a classic derailment.

If you just want to mess about, Free Mode lets you place any engine, carriage, or track layout you fancy and explore to your heart's content. Want to hook up a massive train with Gordon? Be my guest. You can even tinker with the weather and time of day. Just remember, if you’re planning to haul a long line of carriages, you’ll need someone with the power of Gordon to get the job done.

For those of us who grew up with Thomas and his friends, this is a bit of a treat. You get to visit iconic locations like Tidmouth Sheds, Knapford Station, and the windmills that fueled our childhood imaginations. With eight scenario missions—including classic moments like playing pranks on Gordon or racing Bertie—it’s a genuine trip down memory lane.

'Wonders of Sodor' is holding steady with a 'Very Positive' (88% positive) rating on Steam. Fans are singing its praises: "If you grew up watching Thomas, this is a must-play," "It’s well worth the 42,000 won price tag, now bring on the DLC," "Mark Moraghan’s narration takes me straight back to the past," and "I’m waiting for Edward and the rest of the gang to join in."