David Huamandreu, Game Director of Tram Rush, recently shared insights into the game's development journey. Japanese rail travel, arcade games, and anime and manga from different eras collectively shaped the gameplay and visual style of this tram action game.
Developed by the Spanish indie studio Undercoders and published by Fireshine Games, Tram Rush was released on July 15 for PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch 2, launching simultaneously on Xbox/PC Game Pass. In an interview, it was mentioned that the game has sold 150,000 copies and reached over 300,000 players; Huamandreu stated that about a month and a half after release, the Steam positive review rate remained around 98%.
The game is set in a dystopian world inspired by Japan. Players take on the role of a "Tram Attacker," driving trams from the suburbs of Kyushu through tracks designed with references to Osaka, Tokyo, and Hokkaido. They can perform skateboard-style tricks like ollies, kickflips, and grinds, ultimately confronting the massive corporation "Miraido."
Huamandreu stated that the Japanese theme was determined from the very beginning of the project concept. The original idea stemmed from his childhood experience with Plarail toys: flipping a toy train over gradually evolved into gameplay centered around trains flipping, grinding rails, scoring, and physics-based mechanics. Since his first trip to Japan in 1998, he has long traveled across the country using rail passes, incorporating his interest in Shinkansen, local lines, and沿途 culture into level design.
In terms of gameplay, Jet Set Radio served as a major reference for this title, with its extreme sports elements, cel-shaded visuals, music, and theme of individuality influencing the team. Titles like Sega Rally Championship, Crazy Taxi, Out Run 2, and the Densha de Go! series influenced the sense of speed and arcade atmosphere; rhythm games such as Beatmania and Dance Dance Revolution also provided ideas for level pacing, button inputs, and musical synchronization.
The visual design blends elements from various generations of Japanese anime and manga. The team referenced the line work of Trigger studio productions, the Persona series influenced the UI design, while Hi-Fi Rush, Perfect Wave, and Dragon Ball FighterZ served as references when studying cel-shading styles and 3D animation presentation. During development, the studio also invited individuals familiar with Japanese culture and language to playtest and review relevant content.
Undercoders' current core team consists of 11 people, with sound effects, UI, music, and some 2D animation handled by external collaborators. Huamandreu stated that the studio will prioritize supporting Tram Rush and maintaining team stability at this stage, without rushing to expand its size or start multiple projects simultaneously.