Is Wonders Of Sodor Starting To Flop?

A very bold title I have here, but hear me out!

Yesterday marked three months since Wonders of Sodor launched. First off, congratulations to Dovetail. I'm genuinely happy this game exists and made it to release.

That said, I think the lack of communication and community engagement is becoming a bigger issue. I understand Dovetail has other games to work on, but communication is important. Players need a reason to stay invested, and right now many of us are left guessing about the future of the game.

Wonders of Sodor has a great foundation, but it still feels like there's a lot of untapped potential. The timetable system can become repetitive, some areas could use improvements, and many fans are hoping to see more of the classic Awdry-era characters added over time. I don't think people are asking for every engine in the franchise—just the iconic ones that helped define the series. I would be just happy if we got the main engines from 1-12, plus Daisy, Mavis, Bill and Ben.

My biggest concern isn't even the lack of content. It's the lack of clarity. The updates we do get often feel vague and don't really tell us what's next. If content is a long way off, I'd rather hear that directly than be left guessing. While Dovetail has given us the Switch release and a patch, I feel like they've relied heavily on the initial hype surrounding the game. The problem is that hype can only carry a game for so long before players start wanting something new. The honeymoon phase is over, and naturally people want more content, more communication, and more reasons to keep coming back. That's not fans being picky or ungrateful—it's simply how games and businesses work. If players are invested in your product, they're going to want to know what's next.

Some people will probably say I'm being impatient, entitled, or asking for too much. I disagree. You can be patient and still express concerns. Wanting more from a game you enjoy isn't a bad thing—it's a sign that people care. I have an abundance of ideas that could be added to the game, and I've shared them quite a lot, but it just proves that I really do want this game to be big. This is probably deluded, but it could be bigger than the show that's coming up.

This isn't meant as an attack on Dovetail. I appreciate the work they've put into the game, and I want it to succeed. But after three months, I think it's fair for fans to ask for more communication, more engagement, and a clearer idea of where Wonders of Sodor is headed.

 

The 'Is this game a flop?' thread was premature.

This thread is quite pertinent.

And for the reasons you have stated. I agree.

I haven't dealt with Dovetail before. When I first bought WOS, I thought maybe TSW would be worth an investment. I'm not so sure now.

 

Yeah, this is probably the most unique answer I've heard. Through all marketing, this game is a train simulator made by Dovetail, the same company that has made Train Simulator World. Since this game is complex not only for the lack of content, but also for just the usual bugs that a lot of people are complaining about. The signals, the glitches, the lags, everything about it has started to maybe shift my opinion about how this game is going to turn out for the future, and it sucks because I really wanted this game to go far.

 

It’s 20% off (£31.99 for the deluxe edition) on Xbox - the first time it’s been on sale, the Thomas version of TSW6 (both Thomas DLC’s and West Somerset Railway) is 50% off (£17.49) too

I’m not writing off WOS, I feel like it’s just beginning, however I would like a roadmap announcement

 

I do agree with your sentiment completely. While I am worried about Wonders of Sodor and Dovetail's commitment, I'm not really letting go of this game. I already bought it, so I'm not going to give up. Besides, I don't really see myself playing another train simulator game if I want to play Thomas and friends characters. I only see Wonders of Sodor as good because it seems easy. Just boot up the game and bam, you got Sodor.

I'm not trying to discourage anyone nor slander Dovetail; I am just expressing how I feel about this game. But I never said I was going to give up on the game. However, I will hold off on it until we get more updates. Other than that, that's just how I feel.

 

I don't think the game is dead. I think the next update is a big patch. That must be why it's taking a while. The platinum trophy saids "base game" trophies so more content is definitely coming. Otherwise it wouldn't make sense for the platinum trophy to say this

 

Exactly. It’s pretty clear this isn’t the “final” version of the game, they clearly have plans to expand and add more. Just give it time, I’m sure we will hear updates on a DLC/expansion soon. They wouldn’t be outright mentioning several characters that aren’t in the game or showing spur tracks that go nowhere in the game if that weren’t the case.

 

DTG dont add dlc trophies anymore and havent done since TSW 5. I wouldn't get your hopes up either, as this is the time of year they work on the next TSW and everything else gets pushed aside until a later date, usually around October time.

 

Id love more achievements/trophies

TSW is a different beast with new versions being released every year and lots of legacy DLC’s. WOS is a standalone game so it’d be more akin to them adding achievements with an old TSW DLC for that version of the game which they certainly have the capabilities to do without causing issues

 

Not sure 3 months tells us much tbh. Just enjoy it for now and fingers crossed for the future.

 

I think that's pretty obvious. Wonders of Sodor doesn't feel complete in its current state, and I believe Dovetail knew that from the start. The game was likely designed as a foundation to build upon over time. With only six engines and one branch line, players were always going to want more. The patches, achievement list, and available character slots all suggest future content was planned. The real question is whether Dovetail delivers the characters, routes, and features needed to make the game feel complete.

 

I'm not saying three months determines whether a game is a success or a flop, but it's a reasonable time to start communicating what's next. The honeymoon phase is over, and players want to know what they can expect. While my speculation may have been a bit over the top, the main point remains: Dovetail has given very few clues about future content, and at this stage, some kind of roadmap or teaser would go a long way.

 

I don't think the game is a "flop", but it seems that people have already run out of things to do, and with no new information perhaps people are starting to run out of things to say, which, only 3 or 4 months on is somewhat sad.
To say again, as beautiful as the game looks it's very much "Rinse & Repeat" and without any other tasks in the timetables or especially without any other traffic to pass us by in Explore mode, it feels very empty very quickly and isn't even half the fun it should be.
Hopefully, once more characters and more routes are released and hopefully a much bigger randomized set of tasks in the timetables will help to breathe enough life into the game that people play it for years, not months.
As for the emptyness of Explore mode, even a simple "If/Then" approach would be perfect... IF Emily reaches this point on the up line THEN Gordon or James (random) will pass her on the down line, just like in timetable mode.
We only need to see another train for about 10 seconds untill we've passed them or they've passed us, or however long we have to wait at a station or signal.
As I've said on a previous post, I thought that Explore mode would be where the real "meat" of the game was be so I don't know why it has been kept so lonely.
So for me, I think the game needs a couple more shovels of coal to stop it running out of steam too quickly!

 

I think calling the game a flop was an overreaction on my part. Wonders of Sodor has a fantastic foundation, and I'm grateful it exists. My concern isn't that the game has no future—it's that players are already reaching the limits of what the current content and gameplay systems can offer.
The lack of AI traffic, restrictive signals in Free Roam, repetitive timetables, and limited roster make the railway feel emptier than it should. More engines, routes, dynamic traffic, and greater timetable variety would go a long way toward making the world feel alive and keeping players engaged.
I'm not calling Dovetail lazy or saying the game is doomed. I want the game to succeed. That's why I think feedback like this is important. The foundation is excellent, but it needs continued support and improvements if it's going to keep players invested for years rather than months.
I also agree that Free Roam should be the main attraction of Wonders of Sodor. It was the first mode I wanted to play when I bought the game, and it's still the mode I spend the most time in. However, the lack of AI traffic and the overall emptiness of the railway make it feel like it's not living up to its full potential. I think Free Roam could truly shine if future updates made the railway feel more alive and active.

 

I think DTG might be in a bit of a damned if they do situation there though - if they'd brought out too much DLC it would have felt like an unnecessary strain on wallets. I expect we'll get something soonish and then there'll be a regular stream of releases.

 

Bear in mind they have had to get the switch version out of the way. As uninspired as it was; I’m curious who did the port for that blurry effort and why they chose the original switch.

 

I agree with what you're saying completely. I feel like if Dovetail were to release the DLC's right there on the spot, it would be so much strain on my wallet, and I would be completely broke and living off of pennies. I do feel like we should get at least DLC's at least one at a time, but you are right. Too much DLC's all at one time would just be too money hungry and overwhelming.

 

Yeah, I've noticed that too. I don't own a Switch, but I do feel for the players who waited for that version. My concern is that many people believed DLC and major updates were being held back until the Switch release. Now that it's out and reception seems mixed, I'm worried Dovetail may have to spend more time improving the port before focusing on new content, which could mean a longer wait for updates and DLC.

 

Steam DB shows a very sad result of 37 currently in game with a maximum of 45 concurrent at any one time in the last 24 hours. I know that isn't the whole picture but contrast to the TSW numbers which are 1429 and 1584 respectively.

 

I'm sorry, I don't think I understand those numbers. I'm usually talking about content and communication wise with Dovetail and this game, not really about the numbers.

 

The titles a bit of a misnomer. A games success is nothing more to DTG than how many units they sold. Current play levels are not relevant in any way.
What it does show is interest has gone and there’s nothing left to do but repeat things.

with no DLC yet and quite a slim offer of activity on release I wouldn’t really expect anything else.

you can’t really measure its current health state against an established brand with an established following and a DLC library. But flop; i doubt it, I suspect its been highly profitable in sales.

 

I sometimes do wonder with hindsight whether this would, after all, have done better as a DLC for TSW (with the incentive of the core game free for those not owning it). That would have made it far easier to run the route with the real trains from TSW rather than the simplified Thomas models, maybe even make up our own scenarios or the skilled players who can use the UE4 editor produce a more varied timetable.

 

It means very few people are playing the game, compared to their core product TSW. The player numbers are very low by any standards and while they would inevitably go up with a DLC or two, it is going to be a factor before DTG decide to spend 10’s if not 100’s of £thousands on developing more content.

 

TSW 6 has been around longer and it's flooded with DLCs from previous versions. Wonders of Sodor is a stand alone game that hasn't gotten a new train in almost four months. Seems unfair to compare the two with steam charts.

 

Maybe calling it a flop is a bit much, but for a game that launched with so much hype, going almost four months without any official word on new content isn't a great look for Dovetail. Even a simple update would reassure a lot of players.

 

if it was a DLC we probably only get Percy and Gordon with the main line and Ffarquhar route, Thomas would require the purchase of the previous DLC, maybe a second pack with James & Emily but after that the focus on TSW6 routes and I don’t see any more Sodor content

 

“Son”, I think it’s a bit premature to draw conclusions based solely on player numbers when the game has only been available for around three months. By most accounts, the reception to the game itself has been very positive, and long-term success for a title like this is typically judged over a much longer period.

Additionally, new DLC releases tend to drive both returning players and new purchases, so it’s reasonable to expect player activity to grow as more content is released. Given that additional content is likely already in development, I don’t think the current player counts necessarily reflect the game’s long-term potential.

It’s also worth noting that Thomas & Friends remains an extremely strong commercial brand, as evidenced by its continued merchandising success and the strong demand for products tied to the upcoming 2026 reboot. The game doesn’t need to reach Train Sim World’s player numbers to be considered successful. Based on public comments from the developers, it appears the game is performing in line with their expectations, which is ultimately a more relevant benchmark than comparisons to DTG’s flagship title.

 

i am still hoping for more
it is a great game
it could use a few more patches with tweaks and whatever else
and some DLC's

 

I agree it's too early to judge the game's long-term success, but it's also too early to dismiss concerns about player numbers. A game's launch window is important for building and retaining a community, and declining activity can be a warning sign if post-launch support is slow. DLC can absolutely revive interest, but only if it's released consistently and adds meaningful content. The Thomas & Friends brand may help attract buyers, but a strong brand alone doesn't guarantee a successful game. Ultimately, whether the game succeeds will depend on how well Dovetail supports it over the coming months, not just on the strength of the license.

 

It can’t be too early for both surely.. using that term on both sides of the argument doesn’t make much sense. I’m guessing you meant “ but it’s not too early re player numbers.

I think the main point here is a flop has little to do with player numbers. It’s simply how many units were shifted on launch.
One slight hiccup though has to be the lack of physical editions available on launch but I doubt it’s a flop in DTGs eyes and let’s be honest DLC isn’t going to break the bank development wise. It’s more a case of can they be bothered to waste time on it when they have lots of other plates to spin.

 

That’s fair, and I agree that post-launch support will ultimately determine the game’s long-term success. My point is more that I don’t think the current player numbers are especially alarming given the circumstances. The game has only been out for around three months, it’s targeting a more niche audience than Train Sim World, and Dovetail themselves have publicly stated that it’s performing in line with their expectations.

I also think Thomas & Friends is somewhat unique compared to many licensed games. It’s a brand with decades of staying power and a massive merchandising presence, which gives it a broader audience to draw from over time. If Dovetail delivers a steady stream of quality DLC, I think you’ll see both returning players and new buyers continue to come in. At this stage, I’d say it’s simply too early to treat current player counts as a reliable indicator of the game’s long-term viability.

It should be worth noting that Train Sim World had years to build its audience and content library. Expecting a brand-new Thomas game to be operating at that level after only three months doesn’t seem like a particularly fair comparison.

 

I actually agree with this. A game can have modest player numbers and still be commercially successful if it hit its sales targets. That’s especially true for a niche title attached to a major brand like Thomas & Friends. Three months in, I think it’s far too early to label it either a success story or a failure based solely on concurrent player counts.

 

That's a fair point, and I agree that comparing a three-month-old game to Train Sim World isn't an apples-to-apples comparison. That said, I don't think anyone is expecting Wonders of Sodor to match Train Sim World's numbers. The concern is whether Dovetail can maintain momentum. Strong post-launch support and communication will be key. If they release meaningful DLC on a consistent basis, the player base can absolutely grow. Until then, I think it's reasonable to remain cautiously optimistic while acknowledging that early player engagement is still one piece of the overall picture.

 

That's true, but sales targets and player engagement aren't completely separate. A game can meet its initial sales goals yet still struggle if the active player base declines quickly, especially if the developer plans to support it with DLC. Strong player retention helps sustain future content and ongoing investment. Three months isn't enough to reach a final verdict, but it's also not unreasonable to look at early engagement as one indicator of the game's long-term health.

 

Well DTG aren't renowned for forward planning but you would think in this case there would already have been a couple of DLC's waiting in the wings to follow (say) six and twelve weeks respectively from release. Significant too, with substantial extra route miles and extra trains/characters.

 

I’ve got a feeling they started work on the Brendam branch before launch but either decided to hold it back as dlc or didn’t have time to finish it before release, other routes would take much longer to create

 

what’s the feeling based on?

 

I think I speak for most when I say we appreciate this input from DTG, we haven't had communication like this since release.

Y'all

 

thanks for the update Candice.

 

Glad this can finally be put to rest. Even though it was obvious from the start, it’s great seeing more official confirmation. Thank you Candice!

 

Thank you so much, Candace, for taking the time to join my discussion and provide clarification and reassurance that additional content is on the way. I truly appreciate you making the effort to engage with us as players and address our concerns.

While we may not always see eye to eye, I am very grateful that you took the time to respond and provide some reassurance to the community. That kind of communication means a lot, and I appreciate you taking the opportunity to help give players a better understanding of what to expect moving forward.

 

thanks for the update even if you’re not allowed to say as much as we’d like (and probably yourself!)

 

Hello everyone,

I am a fan from Belgium, so I apologize for my english.

I was wondering where this game is going to. I have finished 95% of the game, and I am trying to give myself some time to finish.

What is next? Are there coming some DLC features?
New routes?
New engines?
New stories?
New other stuff?

I hear that there are not so many players playing the game, so it looks like it isn't a succesful game...but the little content we had is already played out by everyone.
The game is already 4 months old...

Personaly I love the game, but I would like some more: Branchlines and the original characters from the modelseries and the books, original rollingstock like the flying kipper, Toad, Tony's coach,...

I was a big fan of the modelseries, with legendary voices and tunes. Maybe we could get some tunes as well..

I would like to end with something positive: what we have so far is great, I loved everything about the game, the scenery, the stories, timetable mode, ....
Thank you Dovetail Games for the wonderful creation that this game has become. Thank you very much.

 

This is exactly why so many fans are frustrated. The game has an amazing foundation, but after four months, many of us have already finished most of the content and are wondering what's next. Sodor still feels incomplete, and while I understand bug fixes and licensing take time, even a small update or roadmap would give the community something to look forward to. We keep asking because we genuinely want this game to reach its full potential.