Since we announced that we're working on a level editor for Railbound, we've also been thinking about how to best handle releasing this mode. In the end we decided to release it a bit early so that you, the players, can put your hands on it earlier and help us steer this feature in the best possible direction.
Introducing - the Railbound Level Editor Open Beta:
This new mode is available for everyone who updates the game on Steam to version 3.50 (visible in the bottom-right corner of the main menu). You can access the level editor mode through the button on the left side of the main menu.
Playing & sharing
When opening the Level Editor mode you'll be greeted by a custom level browser menu - from here you can check out your own creations (on the "My Levels" tab) or play other people's designs (via "Workshop Levels") tab.
You can find new puzzles to solve over on the Steam Workshop tab for the game: https://steamcommunity.com/app/1967510/workshop/
Currently you need to restart the game in order to update the subscribed levels list in the main menu; we'll update this behaviour later to make it smoother.
Designing a puzzle
After you press the "Create Level" button in the "My Levels" tab you'll enter the level editing mode. The workflow here is split into four main stages:
In the Design stage you can determine the size of your puzzle (and modify it later if your plans change), and lay down all interactive parts of a level - locomotives, train cars, switches, immutable rails, stations and more! This mode gives you access to all of the tools we have at our disposal when designing puzzles for the game (it's just that the tools are a bit nicer that what we've used when creating Railbound).
At any time during design you can head over to the Decorate tab and touch some grass, plant some trees, set up a bunch of buildings, change the visuals on the floor and make your puzzle as pretty (or as unique) as you want.
Once you're happy with your results it's time to Test your creation - in this mode you need to show that your puzzle can actually be solved before being able to share it with the world. You'll have unlimited rails at your disposal, but when sharing the puzzle with everyone else we're using your result (the amount of tiles you laid) to limit the available rail count for players.
The last step is the Publish stage - name your level, give it a fun description, decide whether to share it with yourself, your friends or all Railbound players - and off you go!
Few things about the beta
As mentioned at the start, this mode is currently in open beta - we've shipped it earlier to get your counsel on which features we should prioritise as we're continuing work on the editor. This feature is very complex and took us a long time to develop, so expect to see some bugs, visual glitches or UI/UX issues as you're playing around with the new tools.
Some of the currently known issues that we're investigating include:
UI issues with displaying Workshop levels under some circumstances (usually fixed by restarting the main menu or game),
issues with displaying level names in edge cases,
minor UI/UX glitches when using the editor in combination with some of the accessibility features,
etc.
We hope you'll have a lot of fun with the level editor - if you run into any problems feel free to share them on our Steam Community forum, through our Discord or via e-mail (railbound@afterburn.games).
Wrapping up
Railbound was also featured during today's Thinky Direct and will be taking part in the Cerebral Puzzle Showcase from May 29th till June 5th and the Cozy & Family-Friendly Games Celebration over the weekend! We've also applied our biggest discount yet (45%) so now's the best time to give Railbound a try if you haven't done it yet.
PS. We've also just launched a big update to our latest game - Pup Champs - check it out if you haven't seen it yet :)
We've been working hard on the Level Editor mode for Railbound and can't wait to tell you all about it... tomorrow, once the Cerebral Puzzle Showcase event is live on Steam!
Tune into the Thinky Direct, streamed live from 7PM CEST on May 29th to learn more: https://twitch.tv/thinkygames
Cheers,
Railbound Level Editor arrives later this year!
This one has been by far the most requested feature we've kept receiving ever since Railbound launched back in 2022, but we can finally tease that we've been quietly working on a level editor for the game since late last year.
It was a challenge for a number of reasons - the amount of UI/UX work involved, platform-related difficulties, the distance from original release making it less likely that people will use this feature enough - but thanks to player feedback and all the positive reviews the game has gotten, we decided to give it a try.
Railbound's level editor will arrive later this year, giving players tools to design their own puzzles, decorate them as they see fit, and share their creations with other people (as long as it's solvable). We're still working on the details of how everything works, so bear in mind that everything in these screenshots and videos is subject to change (for the better, hopefully!).
At the moment we're planning to launch the editor in a public beta, exclusively on Steam in the coming months. We look forward to seeing what you manage to come up with once it's available. If you're interested in checking the editor out before everyone else, join our Discord.
PS. You can also sign up for our newsletter since we sometimes announce stuff like the level editor there earlier :)
PPS. If you haven't had the chance yet, check out the new demo for Pup Champs, our new upcoming game that we also plan to release this year!
Arrows leading off from train cars are no longer animating if Reduced Motion is enabled.
Railbound v3.06 (22 Oct 24)
v3.06 is a minor maintenance update for Railbound improving stability and adding one tiny feature that we've been thinking about for a while now :)
Patch notes for Railbound v3.06:
Updated EasySave3 from 3.4.0 to 3.5.16,
Added a new main menu panel with info about our other games,
Railbound -34% on Steam Planes, Trains, and Automobiles Fest 2024
Hi,
Railbound is currently 34% off during the Steam Planes, Trains, and Automobiles Fest 2024! The event runs from September 15 to September 23, so if you’re ready to fix some tracks and watch the trains roll, now’s the perfect time to grab your copy.
We're thrilled to announce that Railbound is part of the Cerebral Puzzle Showcase! To celebrate, we're offering a 33% discount on Railbound for a limited time. 🚂✨
But that's not all! We're also excited to introduce the demo of our newest game, Pup Champs—a tiny tactical puzzle game where you lead a football team of cute dogs to victory! 🐶⚽
Check out Railbound and Pup Champs in the Cerebral Puzzle Showcase and enjoy the puzzle fun! 🧩💡
Nominate Railbound for Steam Awards 2023 - Labor of Love
Dear Railbound Enthusiasts,
As we journey together through the enchanting world of Railbound, a special occasion beckons during the Steam Autumn Sale - the Steam Awards. It's a celebration not just of games, but of communities and the shared experiences they foster. We're setting our sights on the "Labor of Love" category. Here's a look at how Railbound has grown, thanks to your unwavering support!
By The Numbers:
Started with: 150+ levels across 8 worlds Now featuring: 240+ levels in 12 diverse worlds
Highlights of our journey:
More Than Just Puzzles - Railbound v1.21 (Petting Update) - Dec 1st 2022 Adding a touch of warmth with pettable dogs and implementing a requested colorblind mode for an inclusive experience.
New Challenges Unveiled - Railbound v2.0 (Semaphore Update) - Feb 3rd 2023 Introducing over 30 new levels, ancient-themed worlds, and the semaphore mechanic.
Optimized for Portability - Railbound v2.02 (Steam Deck Verified Update) - Mar 9th 2023 Ensuring Railbound runs smoothly for our players on-the-go, making puzzle-solving more accessible than ever.
First Anniversary - Railbound v3.01 (Birthday Update) - Sep 6th 2023 Celebrating our first year with 40 new levels, featuring levels with two locomotives, and new gameplay mechanics,
A Community Triumph: 1,000+ Overwhelmingly Positive Reviews - Nov 6th 2023 Your feedback has been our guiding star, helping us shape Railbound into a game that resonates with each of you.
Special Autumn Sale Offer:
In celebration of our nomination and to thank you for your support, Railbound is available at a special discount during the Steam Autumn Sale!
Every milestone we've achieved has been possible because of you, our incredible community. If Railbound's journey resonates with you, we would be honored to receive your nomination for the "Labor of Love" award.
With gratitude, The Afterburn Team
Celebrating 1000 Reviews
We're steaming with joy - Railbound has collected 1000 overwhelmingly positive reviews on Steam! To our puzzle-solvers, track-layers, and global travelers: your support is the coal to our engine.
Your reviews are more than numbers - they're the stories of shared adventures and challenges conquered. Together, we've built a world of cozy puzzles and heartwarming journeys.
For every track connected and puzzle solved, we thank you. Let's keep the train moving to the next thousand reviews and beyond!
With appreciation, Afterburn
Halloween Halt at World 8 Station! 🎃
🚂Greetings Spooky Crew! 🚂
The Halloween spirit has taken over Railbound! As our adventurous dog duo chug along, they've stumbled upon some eerily festive decorations in World 8. Under the cloak of night, the world takes on a different hue, making each puzzle a bewitching challenge. The path is illuminated by the mesmerizing glow of mushrooms, and skulls scattered around watch silently as you pass.
Wishing all our train enthusiasts a Rail-tastic Halloween! May your journey be filled with fun, frights, and festive flair!
