Comparison

Build A Train vs Labo Christmas Train(Full)

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

Labo Christmas Train(Full)

This game allows children to build and drive their own brick trains using templates or free design. Explore railways with your creations and enjoy mini-games. Share your designs with a community of players.

Highlights
  • Train building with brick pieces
  • Template and free design modes
  • 60+ locomotive templates
  • Customizable train parts and colors
  • Railway exploration with mini-games
  • Share and download player-created trains
Read full description

Labo Christmas Train is a game for kids that can stimulate their imagination and creativity. It is an amazing train building and driving app for children. It provides a virtual sandbox where children can freely build and play with brick trains. Labo Christmas Train, children build unique trains by putting together pieces of colorful bricks like a puzzle. They can select from 60+ classical locomotives templates, which range from old steam train to powerful diesel locomotive to modern high-speed train. Optionally, they can create entirely new designs using various brick styles and train parts. Once a train has been built, the children can thus go on the railway and experience exciting adventures. Features: 1. 2 design modes: template mode and free mode. 2. Classical locomotive templates in template mode. 3. Various brick styles, locomotive parts with 10+ colors. 4. Classical train wheels, and a large number of stickers. 5. Amazing railways, built-in a variety of mini-games. 6. Share trains with other players and browse or download trains created by others online. - About Labo Lado: We develop apps for kids that inspire creativity and pique curiosity. We do not collect any personal information or include any third-party advertising. For more information, please see our Privacy Policy: https://www.labolado.com/apps-privacy-policy.html Join our Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/labo.lado.7 Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/labo_lado Support: http://www.labolado.com - We value your feedback Feel free to rate and review our app or feedback to our email: app@labolado.com. - Need Help Contact us 24/7 with any questions or comments: app@labolado.com - Summary Children love transportation games, car games, train games and railway games. Labo Christmas Train is a digital train toy, train simulator and train game for kids. It's an excellent game for kids and preschool. In the app, You will become a train builder and train driver. You can create trains or locomotives freely, or build classic locomotives from templates(George Stephenson's Rocket, Shinkansen High-Speed Train, Big Boy, Bullet, Concept Train, Monster Train, Metro, etc.). You can race your train on the railways. Labo Christmas Train is a game for train fans and locomotive fans. It's a train game that train fans. It's a game for boys 5+ and girls 5+.

Screenshots

Build A Train4 screens
Labo Christmas Train(Full)4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Labo Christmas Train(Full) at 100% against Build A Train's 82%. Labo Christmas Train(Full) also leads on rating (4.9 vs 4.7). Build A Train's advantage is chart position (#193 vs unranked) and ratings volume (69 vs 18). On update cadence, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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

Build A Train costs $2.99 and Labo Christmas Train(Full) $3.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Labo Christmas Train(Full) holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 69 and 18 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 82% of Build A Train's written reviews are positive against 100% of Labo Christmas Train(Full)'s.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 6 level
Build A Train versus Labo Christmas Train(Full): the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBuild A TrainLabo Christmas Train(Full)
Price$2.99 — better$3.99
Rating4.7 (69 ratings)4.9 (18 ratings) — better
Positive reviews82.2% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings69 — better18
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 3 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
Best chart rank#193 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS8.08.0
Further details — not scored
Size52 MB132 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperPlaytend Apps LLPLabo Lado Co., Ltd.

Customer experience

Build A Train

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

Labo Christmas Train(Full)

All ratings16 ratings
Positive93.8%
Neutral6.3%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews3 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

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

Labo Christmas Train(Full)

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Build A Train

No in-app purchases

None

Labo Christmas Train(Full)

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Build A Train free?
Build A Train costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Labo Christmas Train(Full) free?
Labo Christmas Train(Full) costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Build A Train or Labo Christmas Train(Full)?
Labo Christmas Train(Full) is rated higher. Build A Train averages 4.7 out of 5 from 69 ratings, while Labo Christmas Train(Full) averages 4.9 from 18 ratings.
Do Build A Train or Labo Christmas Train(Full) have ads?
Neither Build A Train nor Labo Christmas Train(Full) shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Build A Train or Labo Christmas Train(Full)?
Build A Train ships an update every 3 months, and Labo Christmas Train(Full) every 3 months. Most recently, Build A Train was updated on November 1, 2026 and Labo Christmas Train(Full) on October 30, 2026.

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