Thomas & Friends: Wonders of Sodor rolled onto PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC on 17th March 2026. Developed by Dovetail Games and priced at £29.99. You may recognise Dovetail from titles like Train Sim. I was fortunate enough to get the £39.99 Deluxe Edition which included James as a playable character.
As a child on the spectrum, I was completely enamoured with Thomas and his adventures. Stepping into Sodor felt like a pure childhood dream brought to life. There is something special about finally seeing the island realised in a fleshed out console game, not locked to a handheld, not tied to a plastic peripheral (eye-toy), and not forcing you to dust off a SNES just to revisit The Adventure Series from 1993.
But does it take you on that nostalgia train, or does it leave you stuck at the signal causing confusion and delays ?
All Signals Green
The origins of Thomas the Tank Engine trace back to the 1940s, when the Rev. Wilbert Awdry began telling railway stories to his son when he was ill. These stories were inspired by real steam engines and the railways of Britain, eventually forming the basis of The Railway Series. The character’s popularity lead to a television adaptation Thomas & Friends in 1984, Originally narrated by The Beatles drummer Ringo Starr, the show cemented Thomas as a childhood icon.
Gameplay
If you’ve played a Dovetail game before, the controls are immediately familiar and easy to pick up, which makes sense for the younger audience. Underneath that, though, there’s a layer of simulation that doesn’t always sit comfortably with the rest of Thomas & Friends: Wonders of Sodor. Managing speed, signals, and routes adds a sense of authenticity, but it can feel a bit restrictive and surprisingly advanced for the age group.
I ran a signal I shouldn’t have, and the game didn’t hesitate. Instant fail, straight back to the menu, like I’d just committed a full-blown railway crime. It felt harsh, even if I was driving a big, snobbish blue engine. The physics are crazy and can lead to some genuinely hilarious moments. At one point I messed up a points switch in free-roam and Gordon went flying off the track straight into a row of semi-detached houses. Accidents like that are memorable throughout the TV series, and including elements of them shows the potential for fun in Thomas & Friends: Wonders of Sodor.
What stood out to me on the other hand is how caught in the middle the game feels. It clearly targets younger players, yet some of the simulation elements might frustrate them. At the same time, it’s too shallow to stay engaging for long for older players. It doesn’t fully commit either way, and that holds it back.
Graphics & Audio
Visually, Thomas & Friends: Wonders of Sodor does a solid job of bringing Sodor to life. As someone who only watched the first eight or nine series of the show, locations like Tidmouth Sheds and Knapford Station look exactly as I remember. It genuinely feels like stepping into the show, which is exactly what it should do. The trains have had some design changes since my time, the biggest being the switch to CGI rather than the practical models used originally. The graphics really shine in places, especially with how faithfully the train models have been brought into the game. Mark Moraghan, who narrated the series between 2013 and 2017 returns to voice the action.
The trains themselves are where the game really shines. They feel weighty, and the sound design carries a lot of the experience. Each engine has its own unique familiar whistle. Alongside the sounds of nature and the clatter of the tracks, it combines to add a real sense of authenticity. You can tell Dovetail knows trains.
There are a few small issues though. Some environments feel a little empty, like someone forgot to finish decorating. I’m not sure if it’s a hidden joke, but one location has a five-a-side football pitch where cows play against pigs with a donkey as the referee. The music is great, but sometimes the silence in between makes certain moments feel oddly quiet.
Longevity
There is a decent amount of content in Thomas & Friends: Wonders of Sodor. You can take control of five engines (six if you own the deluxe edition). These include Thomas, Percy, Gordon, Emily, Diesel & DLC entry James. With each train, you can complete a schedule, a full day’s driving sequenced into small bite sized chunks.
You can take on missions that pull directly from the classic series, which itself leans on the original books. Others shift into more original stories or even challenges like shunting trucks in the correct order. Each station across the island hides collectables too, from whistles to paintings, with the odd conductor hat thrown in for good measure. There’s a surprising amount here, easily stretching into hundreds of hours if you really want to get lost in it.
Final Thoughts
At first, Thomas & Friends: Wonders of Sodor really hits that sweet spot. Sodor feels comforting, the sights and sounds are exactly what you want. There is a simple joy in pretending you are a very useful engine with everything under control. Even as things start to fade, I still found myself enjoying parts of it. There is a charm here that keeps you going, even when it feels a bit rough around the edges. It just about does enough to stay on track, and I was glad to take the journey.
That said, the cracks do start to show. The gameplay never really evolves and the world feels a little underdeveloped. It’s stuck between being a proper simulation and a simpler experience. It is enjoyable in small doses, but it never quite pushes itself as far as it could have.
It’s a nostalgic ride that doesn’t quite go the distance before stopping short, but I’m still glad I climbed aboard. And so I am giving Thomas & Friends: Wonders of Sodor the Thumb Culture Silver Award.
Disclaimer: A code was received in order to write this review.
YouTube | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Discord | Podcast