Railroader

Train go choo choo

Railroader is a train game for those who enjoy the management aspect of a railroad, plain and simple. The game lets you loose on a 'you-choose' style of expanding, with milestones and contracts being unlockable based on the player's free will. As such, the game thrives off this aspect, with the balance between contracts and their higher tiers leading to a differing view on how one chooses to divide and conquer, whether running multiple trains or having one "Super-Mixed" to provide a fun and versatile challenge that the player can make their save as hard as they choose it to be. Railroader is not, however, a game for those who want to run a steam locomotive. The game gives you 4 controls for a steam locomotive, nothing short of a simplified version of the challenges of operating a steam locomotive. As such, the game suffers from a operating aspect that can be described in one word: mundane. Eventually, the lackluster driving controls the game gives you leads to a constant use of an AI engineer, however, it is useful if you're trying to run multiple trains at once. This lack of excitement can especially be noted when the eventual end-game is unlocked, with the constant same-ness of trains leading to a game that feels more like a job. So, the game gets carried by the modding community. However, future updates do seem to be leaning towards fixing this issue, so there's definitely excitement still in the air. Although this review may seem negative, Railroader is still a great game when compared to other cash-grabs within this genre, the love in this is evident from the start. The best way to play this game is to challenge yourself from the start, take out big loans and try to repay them, operate on a shoestring budget, and make the most out of every moment and penny. As such, this game has taken hours of my time by experiencing it in a way that makes the most out of it's management aspect, and yes, the multiplayer is great!

amazing game with a great community would 1000% recommend

Like having a massive model train set to play with!

10/10

Отличная графика и интересный геймплей. Правда сценарий коротковат и баги есть...

Ok this whole thing might sound a little silly but it was fun to do so I am sharing. So, I have this stalled C-55 pulling 3500 tons at 1% grade on Cowee with the direction towards Sylva. Tough spot, I was expecting a stall so I stationed the C-40 at Dillsboro as a banker. C-55 stalls, C-40 goes to the rescue, double heads, pulls. Result is 1mph up the grade without any fluctuation. That was extremely slow. A little later I decoupled the P-43 from the passenger service repairs at Dillsboro to send it to the aid of the other two. At this point it starts feeling like Interstellar. P-43 approach to couple while the slow uphill mammoth of a train approaches was easy at 1mph as I practically stop it, and it just rolled on to couple. Speed picked up to 11mph and the train had enough momentum. However, I wanted to return the P-43 to the service. So I get this idea to close the air pressure, and make decoupling easier, but I have to switch to manual camera because the follow camera can't get close enough. I do it. I follow the train coupling on manual camera ... now it's full Hans Zimmer vibes at the back of my head and try to close the pressure valve, so that I won't have a leak. Note, both trains are running on manual with no intention of stopping. Dillsboro is close, this could mean an accident with the cars parked there if I'm not fast enough. *Click* Damn, I decoupled by accident, ♥♥♥♥! The P-43 starts to move ahead, pulling the gladhand out. Pssssssss. ♥♥♥♥! Now it's more important than ever to close those valves! I focus on the mega train first, concentrate and match camera speed, mouse hovering carefully, I see the "open" and snap it, with one single move it moves back to "closed" - YES! did it. Quickly onto the P-43, still leaking but moving away, still manually controlling the camera. First attempt, no. Second attempt, YES! Both trains are on their way the P-43 smoothly cruising ahead, I switch the tracks to avoid the crashes, send the P-43 to service and the C-40/C-55 continue their 3600ton trip to Sylva. "Did I pull a slingshot with that P-43?" I am wondering.

This game simulates how operating a railroad by yourself is difficult, and I love it for that reason. It gives a challenge to maintain a reputation and to not overspend.