# John Allen's Timesaver Puzzle — user reviews > 35 indexed App Store user reviews of John Allen's Timesaver Puzzle by Scott Lagaly, rated 4.70/5 from 91 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/john-allens-timesaver-puzzle/id1050764647/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/john-allens-timesaver-puzzle/id1050764647.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 77 · 4★ 11 · 3★ 0 · 2★ 0 · 1★ 3 ## Newest reviews (14 of 35) ### 5/5 — Beautiful *2022-04-18, version 1.0.4* If your looking for an addicting time waisted this is it, love it ### 5/5 — Excellent Game (for the right person) *2020-12-27, version 1.0.4* If you are looking for an action game, or one with a great deal of variety, this game is not for you. As described, it is a puzzle game set in a railroad environment. With minor variations, all of the 100 included puzzles are set in the same scene. It is about solving the puzzles, not about a story or beautiful, changing backgrounds. Having said that, this is an excellent rendition of the classic switching game. The train movement is perfect! Very impressive! I would highly recommend this game for those who enjoy such puzzles. ### 5/5 — Love it! Very realistic *2020-05-24, version 1.0.4* It’s almost like the real thing! I like everything about it. Wish there was more simulation games out there similar ### 5/5 — Great “mental gymnastic” *2020-05-11, version 1.0.4* Really would like to see how the “pros” are do this in usually half the time it takes me!😀 ### 5/5 — I’m building one on a shelf *2020-04-05, version 1.0.4* After playing John Allen’s Timesaver in the app, I am more than ever determined to build one. I sat down and designed the very same configuration on my the layout software I use. You’ll be hooked, enjoy switching and shunting. ### 5/5 — I love it but maybe add some stuff *2020-03-19, version 1.0.4* I want to see if you all could possibly add more engines yes yes the game is fun but maybe you could choose the engine before the mission ### 5/5 — deceptively simple *2020-02-14, version 1.0.4* I have been into model railroads for most of my life and am familiar with this particularly notorious switching puzzle. This game is faithful to the original and just as challenging. Very entertaining ### 5/5 — You’re going to want to build one! *2019-03-10, version 1.0.4* I had one years ago, forgot how much fun it is. Now I have to build one again! Nice work. ### 5/5 — True to the Original *2019-02-23, version 1.0.4* This game is realistic and fun. I’d love to see the designers make it in 3D and provide many more track arrangements maybe from certain famous locations. ### 5/5 — Realistic and fun *2019-01-30* Very enjoyable and well written faithful rendition of the classic timesaver puzzle. All controls and movements are smooth, intuitive and responsive and the train and engine inertia feels just right. Penalties insure careful technique. Although the industries and loads are the same at all levels, a great many separate puzzles are created for each of several towns. Challenges increase at higher levels. The last towns are quite challenging. Well done. Thank you. Update: finished the last puzzle tonight. Wish there were more. Wish list: Inglenook option. Lighter colors. I need to crank up the backlight to distinguish some of the loads and industries which draws down the battery. Especially the night towns. More prototypical throttle. A means to record and play back a solution. Option at higher levels for normal uncoupling instead of modeler’s “magnetic” style. Add headlights on the loco in the night towns. One time I accidentally went back into training mode and found no way to avoid doing it all over again. Maybe I just didn’t see the way out. ### 5/5 — Great Game, but I can’t go any further *2018-12-29, version 1.0.4* I enjoyed this great game while it lasted but I got stuck on level 75 way too far long after trying a million different ways, I’ll leave this game to people who can figure this out better then me, Enjoy ### 5/5 — Very entertaining *2018-12-21, version 1.0.4* The classic revived in a well crafted app. ### 5/5 — Just like the classic *2018-10-29, version 1.0.4* Just like the classic Timesaver. I think John Allen would have been proud. Look forward to more switching puzzles - maybe Inglenook? ### 5/5 — So much fun *2018-08-02* Having played on a real HO timesaver module in my youth I was longing to have another go at it. This app version is super well done to recreate the real version’s challenges. Early levels are more automated but as you progress, more & more control is in your hands! Get it, play it, love it! ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Doesn’t work on any of my lPads *2024-01-03, version 1.0.4* Nice program but only works on my iPhones. But my iPhone screen is to small. I want to use it on one of my iPads but it crashes after I go through the training yard. I have tried it on 2 of my iPads, one is an original 9” running ios 9.4 and another is my 12.9” Pro running ios 17.??? ### 1/5 — Stopped working *2023-10-18, version 1.0.4* Cannot uncouple cars any more. Bug? ### 1/5 — Developer unresponsive *2021-05-17, version 1.0.4* This is a great puzzle and I throughly enjoyed playing it up to #72. When I went to start #72 it crashed. It wiped out all my scores and put me back to novice. Although I could access all puzzles it still kept me as a novice and I had no controls for the engine or turnouts. It’s not my device that’s at fault because I have the same issue on both my iPad and iPhone. The biggest issue is I’ve emailed the developer a few times through the help and support section of the application and have not had any response for over two months. I really enjoyed playing Timesaver but I’m very frustrated that I’m ignored by the developer. I hate having to write a negative review but all I want is a response about the issue. ### 2/5 — Great Code, Great Game, LACKS CONTENT *2017-03-03, version 1.0.1* The entire game playing field is exactly the same for all twenty or so "Freight Yards." all that is different is now the freight platform s where the tank car stop was... like moving the houses on a monopoly board. So, no track variety, extremely limited rolling stock... and god forbid you have two train cars connected together... they wont fit... this is more a repetitive puzzler than a train game... though again, what graphics are there look decent, the game plays smooth, the model train model engine runs pretty true to life. just disappointed how fast i went from excited and purchasing to...wait... its the same all the way thru with the slightest variations? just move ths car here and that there this time, next ti e do the opposite... this game got boring fast. ### 4/5 — Please save training *2021-03-10, version 1.0.4* After completing the training for managing points, the “certification” is not saved if the app is closed. ### 4/5 — Great game *2020-10-14, version 1.0.4* I’m still in the rookie stage, but enjoying the game. I would like to be able to turn my own switches but maybe it is available in a more advanced level. The font on the instructions is really small and hard to read but after you recognize the cars and destinations you don’t need to read them. It would also be nice to be able to pick different locomotives, but maybe in advanced levels. There should also be a rating on the number of moves and time as you don’t know how efficient you were. Overall I love the game. ### 4/5 — Fun game - more tracks please *2018-09-28, version 1.0.4* Having fun with this game. Would like to see different track configuration in each town. Sound not working, but maybe something not set right on my iPad. ### 5/5 — Old app, but it works! *2025-11-16, version 1.0.4* Great app, that gets harder the longer you play. I don’t understand the high scores that seem impossibly fast, but other than that, it’s a great implementation of Allen’s classic puzzle!! ### 5/5 — Fun *2025-07-15, version 1.0.4* A great digital version of John Allen’s Timesaver switching game. I think the Wizard of Monterey would approve . ### 5/5 — Fun *2025-02-15, version 1.0.4* Love the challenge of unsubscribing the puzzles ## Most praised reviews (7 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — good learning opportunity *2025-02-15, version 1.0.4* Optimizing switching operations is what’s learned from the Timesaver . Sidings are short, so strategic moves save time in putting the cars where they need to be. ### 5/5 — Very calming and rewarding app *2024-09-17, version 1.0.4* After getting the hang of how things work with a gentle start the mechanics lend themselves to being thoughtful and calm. Pretty much perfect for me to unwind with. ### 5/5 — All aboard *2023-12-18, version 1.0.4* Neat little game for those who want to challenge themselves. Not as easy as you think. Love it. Hope there’s another version with more tracks ### 5/5 — Great puzzle game for train lovers! *2023-10-19, version 1.0.4* Lots of fun, and you can play levels over to look for more efficient ways to improve your time. A must for any train lover, especially modellers. ### 5/5 — Nice switching puzzle *2023-09-15, version 1.0.4* Really nice app which is a good switching puzzle for Railroad fans. The only thing I would like to change would be to allow manual operation of the turnouts so that it’s even immersive and realistic. ### 5/5 — Dazed but confused *2023-05-16, version 1.0.4* If you like logic problems, this game is lots of fun. The only prob I’ve had is that I bought the full version years ago and I’m still not able to play it. Mega disappointed. ### 5/5 — One suggestion *2022-04-21, version 1.0.4* A better Diesel locomotive sound would be nice 👍 --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-07-07.*