Miyuki Aizawa

You know me. I like games where you sit back with a cup of tea, putting YouTube on your second monitor, and simply relaxing.

Apocalypse Express...

is not one of those titles.

From the very first minutes, the game basically tells you:

"Train operator, get to work!"

And honestly?

I loved it.

🚨👉 Disclosure:👈🚨

🚨👉I received a free review copy of this product from KeyMailer ! Thank you ^^👈🚨

If you've played games like SCAD or Vampire Survivors, you probably know what to expect from the reverse bullet hell genre. Apocalypse Express takes that familiar formula and adds something I hadn't seen before.

A train.

Instead of controlling a single character running across an open map, your entire adventure takes place aboard a constantly moving train. As you travel through a post-apocalyptic world, you expand your locomotive with new wagons, each serving a different purpose.

That single idea is enough to make the game stand out.

That single idea is enough to make the game stand out.

Your objective isn't simply to survive endless enemy waves.

You also have to keep the furnace filled with coal.

Operate your defensive turrets.

Switch railway tracks whenever obstacles appear.

Collect supply crates scattered alongside the rails.

Repair damaged train components.

Sounds like a lot?

Because it absolutely is.

I've seen plenty of Steam reviews criticizing exactly this aspect, saying there's simply too much happening at once.

Personally, I completely disagree.

That controlled chaos is precisely what makes Apocalypse Express feel fresh instead of becoming just another Vampire Survivors clone. Every second you're making decisions. Should you refill the furnace? Repair the train? Change the tracks? Grab that supply crate before it's gone?

There is never a dull moment.

That also means this isn't the kind of reverse bullet hell where you can casually watch YouTube on your second monitor.

The game constantly demands your attention.

A few seconds of distraction can easily end an otherwise great run.

The game also features co-op.

It's local co-op, so I didn't get the chance to test it myself, but from gameplay videos it appears that the second player simply helps manage the train and share the workload. Thanks to Steam Remote Play Together, however, online play is also an option.

Like any good roguelite, every expedition rewards you with permanent resources used to upgrade your train.

And here's one piece of advice.

Upgrade your turret.

And your armor.

Trust me.

I learned that lesson the hard way.

Another pleasant surprise is the price.

Apocalypse Express is one of the more affordable games in the genre while still introducing genuinely fresh mechanics. Running across your moving train, managing its systems, and defending it at the same time gives the game a unique identity.

Is it cozy?

Absolutely not.

This is the kind of game that sends your cortisol levels through the roof.

But that's exactly why every successful run feels so rewarding.

If you enjoy reverse bullet hell games and you're looking for something that dares to do more than simply copy existing formulas, Apocalypse Express is absolutely worth checking out.

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