What's genius is that you can't actually win a game of Mini Metro. The gameplay itself doesn't change, but these subtle variations do shift the difficulty in different directions, albeit slightly. One has a river running through the center, another has trains that can only hold four passengers rather than the usual six, and another is busier than usual so new stations spawn more frequently than in other cities. stages) you can play, where each city has its own subway quirks. The game requires zero dexterity to play, which is an excellent design decision because this is, when you boil it down to its essence, a peaceful thinking game.Īnd in fact, learning to manipulate the automated systems is part of what makes it so interesting to play. I love that the trains are automated and the player doesn't have to 'do' anything except draw lines from station to station. Usually you can tell when a game's minimalistic approach is borne out of laziness or lack of funds, but Mini Metro makes the most of it. The minimalism fits so perfectly with the calm pace of the game, and the soft ambient music seals the deal. The entire game is just colored shapes and lines-that somehow all make sense when you see it action. The thing you'll first notice about Mini Metro is the art style: hyper-minimalistic, abstract in the truest sense. If you lose a Normal game, you have the option to switch into Endless mode and keep going from the point when you lost. Mini Metro games usually last anywhere from 10-20 minutes, but there's also an Endless mode where you can't lose no matter how long passengers have been waiting. Yet at the same time, you're always looking for spots where you can improve your subway network's efficiency, which keeps you mentally engaged. Because the gameplay is automated, you aren't actually 'doing anything' most of the time, hence the relaxing aspect. It all sounds rather simple, but that's the beauty of Mini Metro. These upgrades help you deal with the extra pressures that come as more stations pop into existence. The game also has a passage-of-time mechanic that takes you through each day of the week, and every Sunday you're given a choice between upgrades: Maybe you want an additional line, or maybe you want to add passenger capacity to a train, or maybe you need bridges so you can extend a line over a river (yes, there are bodies of water). If your network is too inefficient and waiting passengers grow impatient, you lose. Over time, more stations pop into existence, so you're constantly expanding your subway network. Each train has a passenger limit and can't take on additional passengers until boarded ones are dropped off. Here's where the puzzle elements come in:Įach line can connect as many stations as you want, but you're limited to a certain number of total lines.

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