Purpose is a fairly important element. This holds true for gaming as well. Why do we play games? Some are drawn in by grand narratives, while others pick up a controller for flashy action. Of course, a clear objective isn't strictly necessary. As someone once said, "Why do you need a reason to play a game?" Many people enjoy games simply because they are fun, or because they love the chaotic, lively time spent chatting with friends. Regardless, we always manage to find our own purpose within a game.

The purpose of 'Unrailed 2', which entered Early Access on November 7, 2024, is extremely simple. Much like George Mallory, who famously replied "Because it's there" when asked why he wanted to climb Mount Everest, the reason is simply because the tracks are there.

The player's mission is singular: lay tracks to ensure the departing train reaches the next station without derailing. The problem is that you start with nothing but a pickaxe and an axe—no tracks in sight. Since you must combine wood and ore to craft rails, you have to diligently mine rocks and chop trees to clear a path while simultaneously gathering materials to churn out track segments. It might sound like a peaceful resource-gathering game, but if it were, the word 'derail' wouldn't be in the title. Even as the player scrambles frantically, the train continues on its way with a cold, relentless indifference.

Players must navigate each stage while comprehensively considering all sorts of factors: how far the train has traveled, whether there is a surplus of track materials, and whether the path ahead is a one-way street. Get distracted for even a second? That's the end. You might head off to find wood, leaving a mountain of ore behind, only to return and watch with sad eyes as the train explodes because you couldn't find your way back in time.

That's not all you have to worry about. This train is a steam engine, after all. If you don't cool it down in time, it will overheat and catch fire, so you must periodically fetch water in a bucket and douse the engine. On top of this, a variety of environmental obstacles add to the fun. If a river flows in front of the tracks, you must lay wooden planks to cross, and sometimes pesky wildlife will block the train or interfere with your gathering.

Fortunately, you have companions to join you on this journey, which could otherwise become a lonely labor. The AI bots you can summon at any time are quite capable. If you are busy mining ore with a pickaxe, they will automatically chop wood. While they may not handle every situation with perfect intuition, they efficiently manage the repetitive tasks that make up a large portion of the game, making the difference between having a bot and not having one truly night and day.

Of course, the bot is merely an auxiliary tool to ease the loneliness of playing solo. The true charm of 'Unrailed 2' explodes in multiplayer. While any game is more fun with others, this one operates on a different level. The repetitive labor of 'resource gathering and track construction,' which can feel somewhat dry when playing alone, transforms into a hilarious and tense party the moment you play with friends.

The six procedurally generated biomes make this chaos even more exciting. The early meadows are peaceful, but as you progress to later biomes like deserts and volcanoes, the environment becomes harsher and the wildlife more aggressive. Creatures that initially just blocked your path will later start spinning webs to trap the players, actively sabotaging your progress.

With resources becoming increasingly scarce, you have to use your brain in the later stages, unlike the early levels where you could gather resources leisurely. Only by working together as one team—planning optimal routes and dividing roles seamlessly between those hauling resources and those laying tracks—can you barely make it to the station.

The various upgrade systems also have more depth than the previous title. The train, which crawls like a snail at the start, gets faster with upgrades, and the amount of resources it can carry increases. You can attach cars that boost resource gathering speed or add cars that produce dynamite to blast through terrain for a clear path.

However, blind upgrading isn't always the answer. If the train gets too fast, the risk of derailing before you can lay tracks increases, and as the train gets longer, you may face the misfortune of being cut off from your teammates depending on the map layout. From gathering and cooperation to upgrades, successfully getting the train to its destination requires careful strategic judgment behind all the laughter.

Ultimately, 'Unrailed 2' is a game designed to create synergy when played with family or friends. Conversely, this means the density of the fun drops significantly when playing alone. Even if the bot runs around diligently to assist with strategic play, laying tracks solo is, in the end, little more than an extension of monotonous labor.

In summary, 'Unrailed 2' is a party game that is only truly complete when played with friends. If you've been feeling on edge from competitive games with friends lately, or if you're feeling fatigued by heavy stories and cinematic direction, why not lose yourself in this simple, intuitive world for a while? Even if it is just repetitive labor laying tracks, the moments you spend huddled together with friends, screaming in panic, will provide the best kind of fun.

7.5

Unrailed 2: Back on Track

Unrailed 2: Back on Track

• Genuine fun that erupts when playing with friends
• Gameplay inherited and improved from the predecessor
• Gameplay that naturally brings a smile to your face

• Might be a little—or a lot—boring if played alone
• Content composition leaves something to be desired for a party game

Review Platform: PC (Pre-release review build)

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