My thoughts on the game
With the Thomas & Friends Model Series playing such a huge role in my childhood, and despite not gaming near enough as much as I used to, I had incredibly high hopes for Wonders of Sodor and had to check it out. More than anything, I wanted the game to capture the nostalgia, atmosphere, and charm that made the original series feel so special to me. After playing it, I can honestly say I’ve enjoyed it — at least to an extent.
At its core, I think the game is well built, easy to play, and genuinely succeeds in recreating parts of Sodor. There’s something undeniably comforting about travelling across the island, and at times I genuinely felt like I was stepping back into the television series I grew up with. More than anything though, what stands out to me is the game’s potential. I honestly do not think I’ve ever played a game with this much untapped promise.
My biggest criticism is that I often find Sodor feeling strangely lifeless — and for me, that goes against everything the original Thomas & Friends series represented. One of the things I loved most about the television show was how alive the island felt. Engines, workers, passengers, vehicles, and machinery all seemed to play a role in a constantly moving railway world. In Wonders of Sodor, despite the impressive map size, I often feel that sense of life and activity is missing.
Part of this comes down to the current map feeling too limited. While I appreciate that the game includes the Main Line, Thomas’ Branch Line to Ffarquhar, along with several harbours and truck yards, I still feel like there’s so much more of Sodor left unexplored. Personally, I think future expansions featuring places like the Little Western, Arlesburgh Branch, Brendam Branch, and especially the Skarloey Railway could massively improve the sense of scale and variety while making the island feel far more complete.
Another major issue for me is the lack of activity across the world. I rarely encounter enough engines to make the railway feel busy, which often leaves the island feeling unusually quiet and empty. I really think the game would benefit from more trains actively travelling the network, alongside a larger roster of characters from the series. For me, that would make Sodor feel far more like a functioning railway system rather than a large but isolated map.
I also feel the environments themselves need more personality and movement. I’d love to see more pedestrians, road vehicles, buses, boats, and moving machinery throughout the island because I think it would make the world feel significantly more immersive. At times, when I’m travelling through the countryside, the scenery can feel visually sparse and lacking in the warmth and detail that gave the original series so much charm.
I also think the lack of music contributes heavily to this feeling. The classic Thomas & Friends model series was filled with warm, memorable music that gave Sodor so much personality and emotional warmth. In Wonders of Sodor, I often find the long stretches of silence feeling almost eerie. While I appreciate the ambient sounds, I personally feel the game is missing the comforting musical atmosphere that made the original series feel so alive and memorable.
That being said, I do appreciate that CPU-controlled engines can occasionally be encountered while driving, because moments like that genuinely help create the illusion of an active railway. In fact, those moments often show me exactly what the game is capable of achieving when the world feels busy and interconnected.
Overall, I genuinely believe Wonders of Sodor already has a fantastic foundation. I think Dovetail Games clearly understand the appeal and atmosphere of Thomas & Friends, but right now the game still feels like only a glimpse of what Sodor could become. If future updates expand the map, increase world activity, add more engines and characters, and strengthen the atmosphere through music and environmental detail, then I honestly think the sky is the limit. There is genuine gold in their hands right now — I just hope they realise its full potential.