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<p>If there is one thing David Jaumandreu is certain of, it’s that few experiences rival the rush of boarding a high-speed train for the very first time.</p>
<p>That exhilarating sensation sits at the heart of <em>Denshattack!</em>, the latest project from Barcelona-based developer Undercoders: the simple, chaotic joy of operating trains at breakneck speeds. Jaumandreu, who serves as the game’s director, has seen his work compared to icons like <em>Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater</em> and <em>Jet Set Radio</em>, yet the title possesses a distinct, frantic energy that defies easy categorization. It is, quite simply, the most brilliantly unhinged train simulator ever conceived.</p>
<p>The game unfolds in a grim, futuristic landscape where climate collapse has forced humanity into domed cities, linked solely by a sprawling high-speed rail network. While automotive travel stands as the leading cause of transportation-related pollution in the U.S., the rail systems in <em>Denshattack!</em> serve as a vital lifeline. Here, operators known as “Denshattackers” brave the hazardous exterior environment, pushing locomotives to their limits to ferry essential supplies across the wasteland.</p>
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<p>Jaumandreu admits the concept was born from a moment of serendipitous play four years ago.</p>
<p>“I was fiddling with a Japanese toy train, absentmindedly treating it like a fingerboard,” Jaumandreu recalled. “I thought, ‘Wouldn't it be incredible if you could pull off tricks with a train?’” The idea became an obsession, leading him to wonder how such a mechanic would translate into interactive gameplay.</p>
<p>In the game, Denshattackers are defined by their competitive spirit. They square off on the high-speed tracks, battling for both speed records and stylistic flair. This competitive tension fuels the game’s core loop: performing impossible stunts with massive machinery. Infused with vibrant anime aesthetics and a driving soundtrack from Tee Lopes (of <em>Shinobi: Art of Vengeance</em> fame), players grind, flip, and weave their trains through sprawling urban megastructures in a high-octane race for the top of the leaderboard.</p>
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<img src="https://static0.polygonimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/denshattack-screenshot-9.png" alt="A squad of Denshattackers in a stylized anime-inspired scene">
<small class="body-img-caption">Image: Undercoders/Fireshine Games</small>
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<p>“At first, my team thought it was an absurd idea,” Jaumandreu confessed. “But once we started prototyping and felt how it actually played, we realized we had something genuinely special on our hands.”</p>
<p>The reception has been glowing. Following a smash-hit demo during Steam Next Fest that garnered a 97% positive rating, <em>Denshattack!</em> has secured a prime spot on several “must-play” lists for 2026. Arriving on June 17, it is perfectly positioned to capture the spotlight just as the mid-summer gaming news cycle begins to quiet down.</p>
<p>While the premise is exaggerated, the developer's reverence for real-world locomotive engineering is undeniable. Though the trains are unlicensed, the level of detail paid to their design—drawing clear inspiration from authentic Japanese rolling stock—is impressive. From the sleek “Beppu Star” to the blade-adorned “Sunrise Pitcher,” each model features unique performance traits, balancing speed, durability, and trick potential.</p>
<p>“We’re massive train nerds,” Jaumandreu noted. “We love the aesthetic and the engineering of Japanese rail in particular, which is why this game feels like such a natural fit for us.”</p>
<p>That passion translates into the game’s effort to capture the singular, enlightening experience of high-speed travel. For many in North America, where functional high-speed rail is effectively non-existent, the concept of a train that actually arrives on time and travels at record-breaking speeds feels like a glimpse into a utopian future.</p>
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<img src="https://static0.polygonimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/denshattack-city.png" alt="A Denshattack operator racing toward a massive, surreal landmark">
<small class="body-img-caption">Image: Undercoders/Fireshine Games</small>
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<p>“It isn’t just the speed; it’s the entire culture surrounding it,” Jaumandreu added. “The station designs, the departure melodies, the meticulously curated bento boxes—it’s an entire sensory experience. You visit these stations, and everything just works. It’s mesmerizing.”</p>
<p>For rail enthusiasts, that first high-speed voyage is almost spiritual. It shifts your perspective on travel entirely, turning hours spent in gridlocked traffic or monotonous TSA lines into a distant memory. That same sense of liberation is captured within the DNA of <em>Denshattack!</em></p>
<p>“Riding a high-speed train is pure fun,” Jaumandreu concluded. “It transports you, literally and figuratively. It’s comfortable, rapid, and exhilarating. That joy is exactly what we wanted to bottle and deliver to players.”</p>
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<p><em>Denshattack!</em> launches on June 17 for Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, Windows PC, and Xbox Series X.</p>
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<img width="440" height="248" loading="lazy" src="https://static0.polygonimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/denshattack.jpg" alt="Denshattack">
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</div>Source: Polygon
