Thomas the Tank Engine: Trouble on the tracks

In Thomas Friends: Trouble on the Tracks, children ages three and up hone listening skills, follow directions, use spatial relationships, and practice mouse skills while rescuing and repairing the derailed passenger train James. Joining characters from the Thomas the Tank Engine books and television series, kids play eight games set on the Island of Sodor.

Games can be played individually from the island screen or in story mode, with the option to switch modes at any time during gameplay. In story mode, players follow Thomas as he and the other trains find and rescue James, deliver coal from a mine, replace train parts, and load cargo. Most activities feature three difficulty levels. For example, the "Locate James's Lamp" activity requires matching different lamps on a shelf with their shadows: level one shadows match exactly, but levels two and three include more lamps, many of which are rotated, making the task more difficult.

In addition to reward certificates for each completed activity, color or outlined pictures and jigsaw puzzles featuring scenes from the game can be printed from Sir Topham Hatt's office. After all chores are done, the player prepares James for his run by filling his tender with water and coal. Games are saved automatically under the user's name upon exit from the game.