Comparison

Build A Train vs googolChooChoo3D2

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Build A Train

Design and operate your own virtual train set. Choose engines and cars, then drive your creation through various environments, controlling switches and speed. Unlock new levels and enjoy a mess-free train experience.

Highlights
  • Select and customize train engines and cars
  • Drag-and-reorder car functionality
  • Drive trains in city environments
  • Control track switches and train speed
  • Pick up cargo and collect points
  • Unlockable bonus levels and maps
  • Night mode driving
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

Build A Train is the perfect virtual train set for your iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch. It's also a universal app – buy once, play on any of your devices. Even better, all future content updates are included FREE in the full version of Build A Train. PLEASE NOTE: Designed for kids aged 1-6. What parents are saying: "I got this for my train-loving 3 year old and he loves it! He loves to build the trains and fly the helicopter and my husband and I love trying to beat each other's scores! Great app!" "My 5 year old LOVES trains and he really enjoys playing this game. Thanks for the updates. The horn and bell were a big hit." "Great job with the update. My 6 year old had a great time trying to get enough points to unlock the tracks. My 2 year old loves the horn and the bell. Nice job." What reviewers are saying: "Build a Train is an entertaining app for younger children. It would be great for car rides or anytime you want to entertain your children with an imaginative game" - TUAW.com Build A Train "...proves that, when it comes to train-themed mobile games, the iOS platform rules the rails." - Macworld "Build A Train offers all the fun and excitement of a good old fashioned train set with a few added extras and the best feature of all from a mothers perspective… no mess!" - theimum.com "I was amazed at how quickly my 5 year old not only grasped the concept but became completely engrossed in the game. He didn't want to put it down for anything. He has always loved trains and this is the perfect type of app for him. It's challenging but he can still master it. As far as train games go (and well pretty much any kids games to be honest) this one is a big winner in our book! Completely worth the money." - NowWhatBaby.blogspot.com ********* Build A Train includes the following features: »»» Select an engine for your train. Choose from a variety of styles, colors and design. »»» Select the cars for your train. Configure your train as desired -- easy drag-to-reorder functionality gives you full control of your train. Simply double-tap the cars in your train to delete them. Test drive your train in a city environment. »»» Launch game mode and drive your train. Control the switches on the track to determine where your train goes. Control the speed of your train. Pick-up cargo and collect points. Celebrate by tooting a horn or ringing a bell. »»» Night mode feature lets you drive your train at night. »»» Unlockable content. Start with 20 maps to play on and then collect points to unlock new bonus levels for your train including ocean, palace, pyramids, bright lights and volcano. Want to know more? *** SEE A VIDEO REVIEW from Apps for Children with Special Needs: http://vimeo.com/21054012 *** TRY THE LITE VERSION FOR FREE: Just search for Build A Train Lite in the App Store. ***Top 10 Educational Game*** ***Named What's Hot by Apple*** ***TUAW.com App of the Day*** Featured in Free App Magic selection by MagicSolver. Interested in more features? New engines, more game mechanics or trains? More worlds? QUESTIONS? Let us know by emailing: support@playtend.com ***THANKS for all the feedback.**** Remember -- your CONSTRUCTIVE feedback helps keep quality updates coming!

About

googolChooChoo3D2

Design and build your own 3D model railroad layouts with customizable tracks, structures, and terrain. Experience your creations from various viewpoints, including the driver's seat of a running train.

Highlights
  • 3D model railroad simulation
  • Customizable track and structure placement
  • Terrain creation and editing
  • Multiple viewing perspectives
  • Automatic tunnel generation
  • Driver's seat view
Features
Read full description

googolChooChoo3D2 is a 3D model railroad simulation program. It is easy to make your own layout. You can add tracks and structures freely to the layout. You can also make a terrain on the layout. You can see the layout in 3D from driver's seat of a running train or from several other locations. New features -The terrain has become editable. -A tunnel is automatically generated. System Requirements -iOS 10.0 or later. -64bit CPU. (recommended A8 or higher)

Screenshots

Build A Train4 screens
googolChooChoo3D24 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: googolChooChoo3D2 at Free against Build A Train's $2.99. googolChooChoo3D2 also leads on update cadence (monthly vs every 3 months). Build A Train's advantage is rating (4.7 vs 4.0) and ads (none vs shown). On review sentiment, ratings volume, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

googolChooChoo3D2 is free to download; Build A Train costs $2.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Build A Train holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 69 and 34 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 82% of Build A Train's written reviews are positive against 77% of googolChooChoo3D2's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Build A Train ships an update every 3 months, googolChooChoo3D2 monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 21, 2026 and September 8, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 4 level
Build A Train versus googolChooChoo3D2: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBuild A TraingoogolChooChoo3D2
Price$2.99Free — better
Rating4.7 (69 ratings) — better4.0 (34 ratings)
Positive reviews82.2% of reviews — better76.9% of reviews
Number of ratings69 — better34
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsMonthly — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidAd-supported — better
Best chart rank#198 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS8.0 — better12.0
Further details — not scored
Size52 MB39 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperPlaytend Apps LLPKouichi Hayashi

Customer experience

Build A Train

All ratings69 ratings
Positive91.3%
Neutral2.9%
Negative5.8%
Written reviews135 reviews
Positive82.2%
Neutral3.0%
Negative14.8%

googolChooChoo3D2

All ratings34 ratings
Positive70.6%
Neutral14.7%
Negative14.7%
Written reviews13 reviews
Positive76.9%
Neutral0.0%
Negative23.1%

Bugs and requests

Build A Train

Reported bugs

7 issues
  • App crashes on iOS 9 iPad Mini
  • App crashes on iOS 8
  • Sound not working after updates
  • App not working after night mode update
  • Progress/points deleted after updates
Show 2 more
  • Trains don't pivot correctly at track points
  • No sound with new software update

Requested features

19 requests
  • More trains and locomotives (steam trains, CSX, Union Pacific, BNSF, SD-45, C44-9W)
  • Ability to build custom tracks
  • Longer trains with more than 3 cars
  • Train reversal capability
  • Cargo drop-off mechanics
Show 14 more
  • More maps and track layouts
  • Daytime and nighttime modes
  • Railroad crossings with lights and bell sounds
  • On/off button instead of switch
  • Ground-level or on-board camera views
  • Passenger trains with station stops
  • Train yard/switch yard map
  • Ability to save train designs and scores
  • Environmental elements (trees, streams, caves, bridges)
  • Video creator feature
  • More interactive sound effects and bells/whistles
  • Ability to change train colors/paint like Ramone
  • Dual engines for very long trains
  • More complex track designs with tunnels and plus-shaped intersections

googolChooChoo3D2

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Build A Train

No in-app purchases

None

googolChooChoo3D2

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Build A Train free?
Build A Train costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is googolChooChoo3D2 free?
googolChooChoo3D2 is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Build A Train or googolChooChoo3D2?
Build A Train is rated higher. Build A Train averages 4.7 out of 5 from 69 ratings, while googolChooChoo3D2 averages 4.0 from 34 ratings.
Do Build A Train or googolChooChoo3D2 have ads?
googolChooChoo3D2 shows ads; Build A Train does not.
Which is updated more often, Build A Train or googolChooChoo3D2?
Build A Train ships an update every 3 months, and googolChooChoo3D2 monthly. Most recently, Build A Train was updated on September 21, 2026 and googolChooChoo3D2 on September 8, 2026.

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