Tracks of Thought

This game was on my radar for a while, but I didn't get it before because of all the bad reviews. However, well aware of the risks, I finally decided to give it a try myself. And well, I have to say that I wasn't able to finish the game... but I really wanted to, which may be why my review is positive. I had the exact same issues described in some great reviews, from the health never going down in combat to some side quests being impossible to complete. However, I didn't mind it that much since I was really enjoying the adorable art style, the astonishing character designs, the train room designs, the variety of puzzles and the fun dialogues. That was, until I got to the museum/clue room which reward (spoiler: the IOU paper) blocked my game. I still managed to play the next room (the concert one) by using the cheats one of the devs said existed in one of the comments on the forum (that you can access by pressing F1). Unfortunately, as I said, I couldn't finish the game since (even with the cheats) I couldn't do anything in which i presume is the last room of the train. Now, the studio site and their discord disappearing aren't great signs to expect for a game patch... but the thi…

Tracks of Thought, developed by Tidbits Play, is a narrative-driven, single-player adventure that takes a deeply introspective approach to storytelling. Set aboard a mysterious train where all passengers have lost their memory, the game invites players to step into the shoes of a ladybug who must navigate through various train carriages filled with other equally confused insect characters. Rather than focusing on traditional combat or exploration mechanics, the game centers its design around conversation, emotional intelligence, and personality development. It’s a game that doesn’t rush you toward action but instead asks you to consider who you are, what you value, and how you communicate in times of uncertainty. The story begins with a sense of disorientation: you and the other passengers wake up, unsure of your destination or your past. The train itself becomes a symbolic journey of self-discovery, with each carriage offering new characters, dilemmas, and philosophical questions. As you travel deeper into the train, your conversations with the passengers shape your personality and choices. What sets Tracks of Thought apart is how it frames its conflicts—not with violence or puzz…

I have decided to not finish this game. Subjectively, I did not care for the dialogue, which composes most of the game, and so why play a game where I'm not jiving with most of it? Objectively, there are mechanics to the "combat" that seem bugged. Neither me nor my "opponent" were capable of losing health, so it meant that no decision mattered. Also, There were multiple times where dialogue would suggest I had to do something that I wasn't supposed to do (find a key/key is immediately given, etc). Also, I remember this game being marketed as having decisions, but in the first 30 min there are very few. I'm hopeful to see what the developer makes next, as there are a lot of good ideas here, they just need another pass.

This games got bugs and i'm not talking about the characters. I've restarted twice because the game glitches out in some way or gives the wrong dialogue at the wrong time or simply just does not let you interact with the character or item that you need in order to progress. It's like an endless cycle of getting soft locked. Or after saving and exiting the game i'll come back and quests i completed will suddenly no longer be ticked off as completed but it also won't let me interact with anything anymore. I wanted to like it, I really did, but in it's current state I don't think it's playable at all. The concept is there and the background + character designs are lovely but this game needs a lot more work put into it.

This game is incredibly cute and charming and i am in love with the dialouge but overall cannot reccomend due to a bug that prevents you from completing the game with no real response to when or how it will be fixed. On top of that the card game play is very repetitive and doesn't quite make sense. this game could benefit with a face lift

There is a lot to like about Tracks of Thought. The art style is charming, the plot and dialogue are fun and silly with a good amount of heart that comes through when the topics get more serious in nature. I think the music and sound design were solid, and overall, I am glad I played this game. This recommendation comes with a massive caveat that from a technical standpoint, this game does have a lot of bugs (not just the adorable characters, either). I was able to get through the mainline story thankfully, but not all of the sidequests. It's a shame, and it's not likely that these bugs will be resolved. So, if you can look past many small technical issues, and you're really into cute narrative indie games that try new things, go for it, just be warned. If you can't stand bugs (the software kind, not the creatures) then you can probably safely pass on this one. I do really believe that if this game got some post-release TLC and a good patch then it would be a wholesome indie gem.