Mini Metro

Genre: Puzzle / Simulation

Players: 1-4 Co-Op (Local)

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Review:

Mini Metro is a great example of a game with an efficient, elegant design that does exactly what it needs to do with absolutely nothing added that doesn’t need to be there.

The premise is that you are controlling local transit routes for a subway or light rail in a growing city (based on real-world city maps). As the game progresses, more stops are added to the city and it is your job to connect them to the lines to ensure that passengers get where they want to go.

You have a limited number of lines and trains, and a limited number of tunnels to go under waterways. In addition, each stop has one of a select number of symbols, and each passenger wants to go to a specific type of symbol.

Within these restrictions, you are enlisted to create and change the routes to ensure that passengers don’t start piling up at the stations.

It’s a simple concept, but it can become hectic before long, as your number of stops grows and the number and variety of passengers begins to explode. You may well find yourself racing to reroute trains to new stops, swap out one line for another, or scurry to add another carriage to a train on a busy route.

That isn’t to say that the game will fray your nerves – the presentation is delightfully calming, with soothing musing, and extremely simple but clean visuals designed to look like a subway map. This game is a perfect example of how you don’t need cutting edge graphics to deliver the perfect visual experience for the gameplay – I cannot think of a more appropriate aesthetic for this game.

The game lets you share the burden by getting up to four players to play co-op locally, with extra hands onboard to help work on the same map. It’s an interesting concept, though I would have liked more options to play competitively.

If I had one complaint for this game, it’s that the controls are stiff and a bit frustrating on the controller. It works, but you do feel a bit like you’re fighting it the entire time. You can also use a Joycon’s motion-sensing gyro for a more fluid experience, but ideally this is a game that should be played in handheld mode, because the touchscreen controls are absolutely perfect for this game.

All in all, this is an excellent, unique puzzle game with a fantastic presentation. It’s not a game that will instantly dazzle anyone, but it will lull you into a daze with its addictive gameplay and relaxing presentation.

tl;dr – Mini Metro is a superb puzzle/sim game that has you drawing the map for a subway/lightrail as more stops and more passengers demand to be delivered swiftly to their destination. Add in a clean, simple graphical interface perfectly suited for the game, and a soothing soundtrack, and you have a real winner here. The only thing that’s keeping this from puzzle perfection is a lack of options and stiff controls.

Grade: A-

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