Cosmic Express combines trains, space, and aliens to create a delightful puzzling experience. Each Alien has somewhere they need to go but there this only so much space to lay down railroad tracks. It is your job to figure out how to utilize the space given to you to accomplish this task. It is a relatively simple concept but as you progress you'll be introduced to a few new gimmicks that will challenge you to think in new ways. As someone who has always enjoyed a good puzzle game I had wonderful playing through Cosmic Express, even when it occasionally got quite difficult. It may be a simple little indie game but there are many layers that feed into this game's success.
The goal of each level of Cosmic Express is simply to deliver all the aliens to their prospective destinations. Your train always starts on one side of the planet and usually must exit at one specific location. It is up to you find a way to lay down railroad tracks that can pick and drop off all the aliens in a way that will allow the train to exit to the next stage. Some stages will actually have two exits which provide unique opportunities for the player to discover multiple solutions, each of which will open up a different stage. These split path levels, combined with occasional shortcuts to different clusters, help give you options in case you get stuck on a stage that at first appears too challenging.
Each different cluster of planets in this game introduces a new twist on the gameplay that adds unique challenges. For example your trains start with just one car attached but eventually you'll have up to three seats available. Then there are things like black holes and crossed tracks which let your trains pass through in all four directions. You better watch out for smelly aliens because once they ride on a train no one will dare ride in that same seat. Each of these clusters has about 12 levels which slowly teach you these concepts until you master each one. There are several clusters to play through which make for great variety but also helps make sure each new idea gets it's own spotlight.
These colorful planets and the aliens that inhabit them do a lot for Cosmic Express. This game could have easily been a drab game about laying pipes instead this is a great example of how a little creativity goes a long way. Watching the train go around to deliver aliens is not only useful for testing paths but its fun to watch and the sound effects are a satisfying treat. There is music in the background but it is easy to tune out because it is so chill. The calming music goes a long way to help you keep your cool as you get stuck on the more difficult puzzles for an extended period of time.
I totally adored this clever puzzle and was surprised to see just how much it hooked me right in. The level layouts are incredibly clever and I love the theme of delivering aliens via a train. Each new element is added in a way that is easy to understand and very gradually becomes more challenging stage by stage. I'm proud to say I got through all but the very last cluster (which I was too burnt out to even attempt) without looking up any walkthroughs. That said some of these stages where incredibly challenging and took well over a half hour to solve. Clocking in about 12 hours, even without trying the bonus stages, I can easily recommend to anyone who enjoys puzzles.