Thomas & Friends alternatives

Users are looking for alternatives to Thomas & Friends due to significant changes in character design, frequent bugs, and a paywall that locks content behind in-app purchases. Many prefer the classic Thomas aesthetic and a more stable, less monetized experience.

Why users look for alternatives to Thomas & Friends

The app's recent update changed the beloved classic Thomas characters to the new 'All Engines Go' cartoon style, which many users find babyish and disappointing.^R3^R4^R6^R18
Users report numerous bugs and glitches, including freezing, characters not moving, and camera issues, which disrupt gameplay.^R1^R5^R16^R17
A major complaint is the aggressive monetization, with many features and characters locked behind in-app purchases, making the game feel too expensive and like a 'cynical cash grab'.^R8^R10^R12^R14
Some users who previously made in-app purchases found their purchases reset or lost after the update, forcing them to buy content again.^R6^R8^R20^R42

The alternatives

My Talking Tom 2

4.4★ · 858,466 ratings · Free

There are not enough user reviews for My Talking Tom 2 to provide a reliable pitch or determine who it suits better. The available reviews are too few to draw conclusions.

Better for: There are not enough user reviews for My Talking Tom 2 to provide a reliable pitch or determine who it suits better.

Head-to-head: Thomas & Friends vs My Talking Tom 2

PAW Patrol Rescue World

4.3★ · 565,820 ratings · Free

There are not enough user reviews for PAW Patrol Rescue World to provide a reliable pitch or determine who it suits better. The available reviews are too few to draw conclusions.

Better for: There are not enough user reviews for PAW Patrol Rescue World to provide a reliable pitch or determine who it suits better.

Head-to-head: Thomas & Friends vs PAW Patrol Rescue World

MultiCraft

4.5★ · 387,698 ratings · Free

There are not enough user reviews for MultiCraft to provide a reliable pitch or determine who it suits better. The available reviews are too few to draw conclusions.

Better for: There are not enough user reviews for MultiCraft to provide a reliable pitch or determine who it suits better.

Head-to-head: Thomas & Friends vs MultiCraft

The Wizard of Oz Magic Match 3

4.7★ · 137,169 ratings · Free

There are not enough user reviews for The Wizard of Oz Magic Match 3 to provide a reliable pitch or determine who it suits better. The available reviews are too few to draw conclusions.

Better for: There are not enough user reviews for The Wizard of Oz Magic Match 3 to provide a reliable pitch or determine who it suits better.

Head-to-head: Thomas & Friends vs The Wizard of Oz Magic Match 3

Budge World

4.3★ · 56,789 ratings · Free

There are not enough user reviews for Budge World to provide a reliable pitch or determine who it suits better. The available reviews are too few to draw conclusions.

Better for: There are not enough user reviews for Budge World to provide a reliable pitch or determine who it suits better.

Head-to-head: Thomas & Friends vs Budge World

Stick with Thomas & Friends if

You should stick with Thomas & Friends if you enjoy the 'All Engines Go' art style and characters, as some users appreciate the remake and find it fun . It might also be suitable if you are satisfied with the free content and do not mind the in-app purchase model for additional characters or features .

Evidence note: My Talking Tom 2, PAW Patrol Rescue World, MultiCraft, The Wizard of Oz Magic Match 3, and Budge World have too few user reviews to provide a meaningful recommendation.

Frequently asked

Why did Thomas & Friends change its character design?

The Thomas & Friends app updated to feature the 'All Engines Go' art style, which replaced the classic Thomas characters with a new, more cartoonish look ^R3^R4^R6^R18.

Are there many in-app purchases in Thomas & Friends?

Yes, many users report that the game requires frequent in-app purchases for characters and content, with some describing it as needing to pay for 'EVERYTHING' and feeling like a 'cynical cash grab' ^R8^R10^R12^R14.

Does Thomas & Friends have technical issues?

Yes, users have reported various technical issues, including constant freezes on iPad, glitches where characters don't move, passengers not getting into trains, and camera problems ^R1^R5^R16^R17.

What reviewers actually said

Built only from these 50 real reviews (foreign ones translated). Superscripts jump to the quote here. Apple has no per-review links, so [ref] opens that app's reviews on the App Store.

[R3] Thomas & Friends 3/5 · GB Doesn’t give me tingles: When I first downloaded the app when I was 6 I was in love the graphics and gameplay were amazing but now when I wanted to play it again for the memories I was let down by how the engines looked ‘THEY TURNED THEM INTO CARTOONS !!’ that was my reaction but at least the gameplay stayed the same
[R4] Thomas & Friends 1/5 · GB NO: I hate that this is new Thomas new Thomas is so bad made it old Thomas - leo
[R6] Thomas & Friends 1/5 · GB Disappointed it has changed: Sad to see that a game that we loved has changed to the new style Thomas characters. My son finds them a lot more babyish and no longer enjoys this game because of the changes. Frustrating particularly as we had made some in app purchases in the past.
[R18] Thomas & Friends 1/5 · GB WHYY MATTEL WHYY: Look at how they massacred my boy…
[R1] Thomas & Friends 1/5 · GB Creepy spencer: When I was doing that passenger mini game a creepy spencer popped up and the camera went crazy and blacked out
[R5] Thomas & Friends 5/5 · GB What a glitch…: When I will jump over the bridge it goes to the wrong way and did not move and this is happening forever!
[R16] Thomas & Friends 2/5 · GB Constant freezes on iPad: Very annoying constant freezes on iPad. Can’t move cows/passengers. The app is just stuck.
[R17] Thomas & Friends 4/5 · GB Bugs: This game has got bug. In one of episode passengers can’t get in to train
[R8] Thomas & Friends 1/5 · GB The update is rubbish and here’s why: Ever since the game told me to update it I knew it was rubbish from the start the graphics are to 6 and under like and it reset all my purchases it is a rubbish app and I am deleting it Thanks for listening P.s sorry if you dont agree is my opinion
[R10] Thomas & Friends 2/5 · GB My review: I do like the game and the tasks while once you have done all the toys with Thomas the only way you can continue is by paying real money for other characters. If it was once you collect all toys, you unlock the next character
[R12] Thomas & Friends 1/5 · GB To expensive: Everything is money
[R14] Thomas & Friends 1/5 · GB Good but then bad: The app was good at the start but then you have to pay for EVERYTHING and it kind of ruins the game because they could have made it good. :(
[R20] Thomas & Friends 1/5 · GB ALL ENGINES NO!!!: Magic tracks was such a good game that my son a lot of fun on. And you’ve butchered it. I can fully understand that it might not have been your decision to fix it into the all engines go art style, but have you tried adding a feature to have the original game back, and the purchases, I purchased all the characters in the game and now I have to buy them again, a minimum you cou
[R42] Thomas & Friends 1/5 · GB Bulls horns are bulls horns: It’s now terrible the all engines go update ruined it. It got rid of so many good characters and the only all engines go realism is in the first mini game the engine of your choice swerved off track and back on in my opinion it’s now bad. It also reset the £18 I payed for all engines unlocked >:(

Synthesized from 50 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store