Trainyard

Review

Common Sense Media says

Route trains to correct stations in this innovative stumper.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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Learning4
Best: Really engaging, great learning approach.
Very Good: Engaging, very good learning approach.
Good: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
Fair: Somewhat engaging, okay learning approach.
Not for Learning : Not recommended for learning.
Not for Kids: Not age-appropriate for kids; not recommended for learning.

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Parents say

Not yet rated

Kids say

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What parents need to know

Parents need to know that Trainyard is a color-based puzzle game that is easy to learn but hard to master. The game is simple enough that a young child could play the easier levels, but the more advanced levels will challenge puzzle-loving adults. There is some connection to social media, particularly with submitting solutions, but that is optional (and requires a password for Facebook or Twitter access).

  • Ease of use4
    Short, text-heavy tutorials are spaced out throughout the game, appearing as new elements are introduced. The levels are well-designed to increase the difficulty gradually but steadily.
  • Violence1
    If the trains run off the tracks or into the wrong station, they "crash," but it's fairly abstract; all players see is a puff of smoke.
  • Sex0
    Not applicable.
  • Language0
    Not applicable.
  • Consumerism1
    A "Rate It" button on the credits screen sends you to the App Store to submit a review. Occasionally when you start the game you will get a pop-up window requesting that you rate the game as well, but this can be ignored. Once in the App Store, it's possible to purchase additional apps.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking0
    Not applicable.
  • Privacy & safety4
    Some privacy concerns. The game allows players to share solutions on the Trainyard website, as well as on Facebook and Twitter. Players have the option of submitting a name, but otherwise are not identified on the Trainyard website. In addition, players can opt in to Apple's Game Center to track scores and achievements, and for some games, challenge friends. Players can send and receive friend requests using an email address or Game Center nickname, revealing the first and last name associated with each party's Apple ID and, in the case of email requests, the sender's email address. Players can opt to have a private or public profile, which can include a photo. With a public profile, your real name is visible to all other players, and Game Center will recommend you to other players using your real name. With a private profile, only your friends can see your real name, and Game Center will not recommend you to other players.
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What kids can learn

4

Kids can learn real railway concepts like switching track, train car merging, crossovers, and collisions. Geometrical concepts like symmetry and asymmetry, timing (based on counting squares), and color mixing make for a concept-packed experience. Levels named after Canadian provinces provide a bit of geography icing on the top. Though trains crash, kids won't be tempted to smash 'em up just for fun ('cuz it isn't). Trainyard is a superb combination of real-world learning and play for train enthusiasts or anyone who loves a challenge.

Subjects
  • Language & Reading
  • Math
    counting, geometry
  • Science
    engineering, motion
  • Social Studies
  • Arts
  • Hobbies
Skills
  • Thinking & Reasoning
    analyzing evidence, applying information, hypothesis-testing, logic, prediction, solving puzzles
  • Creativity
    combining knowledge, developing novel solutions
  • Self-Direction
  • Emotional Development
  • Communication
  • Collaboration
  • Responsibility & Ethics
  • Tech Skills
  • Health & Fitness
See more details

What's it about?

Kids create and test track configurations on a grid background until they find one that works. Trains run from outlet stations to goal stations at variable and easily controlled speeds. If the trains crash, players have to go "Back to the drawing board!" Double tap to switch connections, and use erase mode to get rid of unwanted track. Sometimes kids have to send their trains on an indirect path to merge or crossover at just the right time.

Is it any good?

 

TRAINYARD has a simple goal: get the color-coded trains from their outlets to their correct stations. Players draw tracks on the screen with a finger, and then send the trains on their way. However, as the game progresses players encounter new obstacles and techniques: combining trains to mix the colors, creating branching tracks that send trains into different directions, and stations that re-paint the trains into different colors. With short tutorials spaced out throughout the levels, Trainyard is very easy to learn and has a good learning curve. But with about 150 levels, the harder stages can stump even puzzle-loving adults.

The graphics are clean and attractive, and the interface is well-designed without a lot of distractions. There's even an option for color-blind players to label all the elements with letters. The game keeps track of the progress of two players, which is a nice touch, although it would be nice to be able to change the names on the profiles. All in all, Trainyard is a fantastic puzzle game that uses some basic ideas in a very innovative way that both children and adults can enjoy.

This review of Trainyard was written by

What kids can learn

4

Kids can learn real railway concepts like switching track, train car merging, crossovers, and collisions. Geometrical concepts like symmetry and asymmetry, timing (based on counting squares), and color mixing make for a concept-packed experience. Levels named after Canadian provinces provide a bit of geography icing on the top. Though trains crash, kids won't be tempted to smash 'em up just for fun ('cuz it isn't). Trainyard is a superb combination of real-world learning and play for train enthusiasts or anyone who loves a challenge.

Subjects
  • Language & Reading:
  • Math: counting, geometry
  • Science: engineering, motion
  • Social Studies:
  • Arts:
  • Hobbies:
Skills
  • Thinking & Reasoning: analyzing evidence, applying information, hypothesis-testing, logic, prediction, solving puzzles
  • Creativity: combining knowledge, developing novel solutions
  • Self-Direction:
  • Emotional Development:
  • Communication:
  • Collaboration:
  • Responsibility & Ethics:
  • Tech Skills:
  • Health & Fitness:

What's it about?

Kids create and test track configurations on a grid background until they find one that works. Trains run from outlet stations to goal stations at variable and easily controlled speeds. If the trains crash, players have to go "Back to the drawing board!" Double tap to switch connections, and use erase mode to get rid of unwanted track. Sometimes kids have to send their trains on an indirect path to merge or crossover at just the right time.

How kids will learn

The top-notch tutorials walk kids through each new skill step by step. Challenges are simple at first, then quickly get more and more interesting and difficult. The app definitely requires a high level of fine motor skills, so younger kids might need to wait a couple of years. Color blind kids can add letter labels to the different color stations (G for green) and can learn about mixing primary colors through a tutorial (though slightly later than needed).

How parents can help

  • If your kids love trains, seek out books or documentary films about trains for them. If possible, take them to see a real train up close.
  • Make Trainyard a team effort. Let your kids take the lead and then help them come up with solutions when they get stuck.
This review of Trainyard was written by
Teen, 14 years old
March 23, 2011
AGE
8
 
Marvolous puzzer is tricky, but fun to play.
Theese puzzles are not a bit easy and you will have to think to solve. But it is a fatastic puzzle game that is deffently worth a try.
What other families should know:
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Adult
October 23, 2010
AGE
8
 
Love the progressively harder logic puzzles.
Was this review useful?
Helped me decide (13) | Had useful details (16) | Read my mind (19)
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This review of Trainyard was written by
Topics:trains
Category:Puzzle Games
Platforms:iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android, Kindle Fire
Price:$.99-$2.99
Size:7.70 MB
Publisher:Matt Rix
Version:1.66
Release date:September 1, 2011
Minimum software requirements:iOS 3.0 or later; Android 2.2 and up
This review of Trainyard was written by

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