This fall, I discovered something delightfully spooky and surprisingly clever: Spooky Express — a charming yet brain-twisting puzzle game where you design the routes of a ghostly train through a world full of supernatural passengers. Developed by Draknek Limited — the studio behind indie hits like A Monster’s Expedition and Cosmic Express — this game blends cozy Halloween vibes with satisfying puzzle-solving in a truly unique way. Remember to visit our reviews every day!
Spooky Express – The Perfect Halloween Puzzle Game for iPhone & iPad
Spooky Express: A Haunted Puzzle Adventure
Spooky Express captures the spirit of Halloween in a heartwarming, thought-provoking way. You take on the whimsical role of a train conductor navigating the eerie land of Trainsylvania, making sure otherworldly riders — vampires, zombies, demons, and all sorts of spooky creatures — get to their destination safely. Your job is to guide them along perfectly designed tracks while keeping the humans out of harm’s way. No jump scares, just clever mechanics and charmingly creepy atmosphere.
The concept combines logic puzzles with the Halloween theme beautifully. Each level challenges you to draw out the train’s route in advance — the tracks can’t cross, and only one passenger can ride at a time. As you progress, puzzles grow more intricate, rewarding both newcomers and puzzle veterans alike.
The visual design is enchanting. Each area of the world — from the Pumpkin Patch to the Morbid Manor and the Impish Inferno — feels like a handcrafted miniature diorama. Subtle lighting, pastel shades, and a soft, toybox aesthetic make every map a treat for the eyes.
The hauntingly delicate soundtrack by Priscilla Snow deserves special praise. Her compositions create an atmosphere that’s spooky but never chilling — perfectly matching the game’s mix of calm concentration and ghostly charm. It’s the kind of audio design that makes this game enjoyable year-round, not just in October.
I tested Spooky Express on an iPhone 17 and an iPad Air 5, and both experiences were buttery smooth — quick loading times, intuitive touch controls, and crystal-clear visuals. The app is lightweight and perfectly optimized for iOS, ensuring even older devices can handle it without a hitch.
Spooky Express isn’t just for puzzle fans — it’s also for players who love creativity, planning, and a touch of Halloween magic in their downtime.
Clever Route Design & Strategic Challenge
This game’s core challenge lies in drawing the perfect track. The train carries one passenger at a time — whether vampire, zombie, or demon — and every move must be carefully planned. Tracks can’t cross themselves, which makes later levels wonderfully complex to solve.
Your task is to deliver each creature to its matching destination — vampires to coffins, zombies to graves, and humans to safety — without overlaps or chaos. Levels grow steadily in difficulty, introducing new mechanics and obstacles that require both creativity and logic.
Some stages feature gentle hints if you get stuck, offering subtle guidance without spoiling the fun. The touch-based controls make drawing routes an intuitive joy, especially on mobile devices.
Don’t be fooled by the friendly visuals — Spooky Express can get seriously tricky! You’ll often find yourself redrawing routes, experimenting, and learning from mistakes. But that’s exactly what makes it so satisfying — each level feels like a small victory.
Technical Details & Platform Availability
Spooky Express runs beautifully on both iOS and Android. The lightweight design and well-optimized performance make it accessible to nearly every modern device. Visuals remain crisp, animations smooth, and touch interactions precise — all essential for a drawing-based puzzle experience.
The game is free to try, with a one-time purchase unlocking over 200 levels of ghostly fun. It’s the perfect model for mobile gaming: test it first, then upgrade once you’re hooked. Available on the App Store and Google Play, Spooky Express has quickly become one of the most charming indie puzzles around.
Languages include English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Japanese, and more — reaching a truly global audience. While it’s simple enough to play without much reading, the localization options make it even more accessible for international fans.
One thing I appreciated most is how balanced the difficulty curve feels. The easy levels invite you in, while advanced ones push your logic to the limit. There’s no stress, just rewarding moments of “aha!” when everything clicks into place. Add in the soothing soundtrack and cute Halloween visuals, and it becomes the perfect meditative experience.
Tips & Tricks for Playing Spooky Express
For the best experience, embrace patience and creativity. Each puzzle is a brain teaser that rewards experimentation and careful planning. Here are a few tips to help you along the way:
- Use the built-in hint system subtly if you get stuck — it offers guidance without spoiling the challenge.
- Always check your tracks for overlaps before starting the train — one small mistake can derail your plan!
- Try alternative routes if something doesn’t work. Redrawing paths is part of the fun.
- Play with the sound on — the ambient music completes the cozy Halloween atmosphere.
Download Options
At around 440 MB, it’s compact but packed with content — over 200 handcrafted stages with endless replay value. Frequent updates keep things fresh and ensure stability across the latest devices. It’s a shining example of how indie puzzle design can be both fun and relaxing.
Verdict: Spooky Express is a must-play for puzzle fans and Halloween lovers alike. Its spooky-cute atmosphere, clever design, and satisfying progression make it one of this year’s most enchanting mobile puzzle experiences. Whether you’re curled up with your iPad on a rainy evening or taking a break between work sessions, this ghostly train ride is bound to put a smile on your face.
Spooky Express Walkthrough: Ghoulish Graveyard
The Ghoulish Graveyard is the first major world where you’ll guide your spooky passengers safely to their resting places. Here’s a step-by-step outline to help you solve the earliest and some trickier puzzles:
Level 1-3: Getting Started
- Objective: Deliver each creature to their matching target (vampires to coffins, zombies to graves).
- Tip: Plan your route carefully — remember, tracks can’t cross and only one passenger rides at a time.
- Solution Highlights: Draw straightforward lines along the shortest path, avoiding doubling back or intersections.
Level 4-6: Increasing Complexity
- Challenge: Introduces track switch points and multiple routes.
- Strategy: Focus on laying tracks to isolate each passenger’s route, preventing overlap.
- Trick: Use the edges of the map to create natural barriers that stop paths from crossing.
Level 7: The First True Puzzle
- Problem: Multiple passengers require overlapping destination zones.
- Solution: Draw a path that loops carefully so each passenger travels one after another without collision.
- Tip: Sometimes it’s best to draw the route in sections, testing one passenger’s path before adding the next.
General Tips for Ghoulish Graveyard
- Use the hint system sparingly; it can nudge you in the right direction without solving the puzzle outright.
- Redraw routes as often as needed — trial and error is part of the fun.
- Watch for visual cues; creatures need to be placed on their exact matching destinations.
Mastering these levels will set a strong foundation for tackling the more challenging worlds like Pumpkin Patch and Morbid Manor. If you’d like, more detailed walkthroughs of these next worlds can be prepared as well!