Railroader

Tutorial needs to be scrapped and redone, you assume too much about people knowing anything about railroading before hand, it should be painfully obvious that you need to code in Highlights for throttle and brakes WHEN DOING THE TUTORIAL, i shouldnt have to move my cursor constantly trying to figure out what is what, this problem has been solved since the early 2000's, When you guys talk about selecting the hopper part of the tutorial to select some sort of submenu HIGHLIGHT THE DAMN ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ THING its not difficult ITS A TUTORIAL.

Takes a lot of getting started but gets more and more compelling as you play. Once you are used to the controls and gameplay its an absorbing game. Downside is the tutorial which has no skip through and is, in my opinion, less than useful. That said the game is definitely worth having.

The detail is fantastic. The tutorial is very detailed and really helps you get started. There is a lot to do. The engine controls are really fun to use.

Best cargo train game I know. Rough around the edges, but it doesn’t diminish the fun. I’ve barely played a game in my life where time passes this fast. “Just gonna do this one thing.” Boom, two hours gone. Shortcomings are mainly visuals and performance. The whistle sounds could also use some improvement. But that’s about it. If you like trains, this should be the first game you get.

Railroader is a detailed and immersive train simulation game that appeals to both enthusiasts of rail transport and fans of management and strategy games. From the moment you dive into the game, it becomes clear that Railroader offers a meticulous level of detail and realism, aiming to recreate the complexities of running a railway empire. The game’s interface is designed to provide intuitive control over various aspects of train operations, from track laying and scheduling to managing freight and passenger routes. The graphics are functional and straightforward, focusing on clarity and usability rather than flashy visuals, which suits the game’s focus on strategic planning and operational management. One of the core strengths of Railroader lies in its robust and comprehensive management system. Players are tasked with designing intricate rail networks, balancing the placement of tracks, stations, and junctions to optimize efficiency and safety. The game emphasizes the importance of planning ahead, considering factors such as terrain, traffic flow, and potential bottlenecks, which adds layers of strategic depth. As the game progresses, players can expand their rail empire, introducing new routes, upgrading locomotives, and managing resources to grow their network. The simulation includes a variety of train types and cargo options, allowing for a diverse range of logistical challenges that keep gameplay engaging and dynamic. The realism in Railroader extends beyond just track and route management. The game incorporates detailed train physics and operational constraints, such as acceleration, braking, and fuel management, which add authenticity to the experience. While these mechanics can be complex, they contribute to a sense of immersion that appeals to players who appreciate technical accuracy. The game also features a day-night cycle and weather effects, which influence visibility and operational conditions, further enhancing the simulation aspect. Additionally, the game offers different difficulty levels and scenarios, catering to a wide range of player skill levels and allowing for both relaxed sandbox play and more challenging campaigns. Despite its depth, Railroader can sometimes feel daunting for newcomers, especially those unfamiliar with train operations or management simulations. The learning curve is steep, and the game’s menus and options can be overwhelming at first. However, the developers have included tutorials and in-game guides to assist players in understanding core mechanics. The community surrounding the game is active and helpful, often sharing tips, custom maps, and mods that enhance the base experience. These community resources help extend the game’s longevity and provide opportunities for creativity and experimentation. Overall, Railroader is a meticulously crafted simulation that offers a rewarding experience for those willing to invest the time to master its systems. It successfully combines technical realism with strategic gameplay, making it a compelling choice for train enthusiasts and simulation fans alike. Rating: 9/10

A train simulator I can confidently say I enjoy. There's enough realism here to make it engaging during long play sessions, but it's not so realistic that it loses out on being fun. For an early access game at the time of writing, it's very impressive and a clear love letter to trains. The good: Actual progression: The company mode, while incomplete is very well structured. Locations and what goes where is easy to understand. Progression is slow, but not so slow that it becomes a grind if you are taking advantage of new locations. Old equipment can be sold, and eventually requires repair or overhaul after extensive use. Trains: There's a fair variety of them with some very inspired choices ranging from turn of the century to the mid 1950s. Model work is generally quite good. Locomotives look good, and are very pretty in motion with fully animated brake rigging. There are plenty of neat interactive elements on most locomotives and cars like doors, windows and hopper hatches. Actual railroad practice: Cars dropped off at the interchange have automatic waybills and destinations. Waybills can also be assigned to cars you own for your own use as well. Cars require air to actually be connected and have air flowing to them to operate their brakes, and cars can be shoved off air assuming the handbrake is off and the brakes are fully bled. Locomotives operate on both independent and automatic brakes, with a bail off function for the independent. Cars have to be oiled, otherwise you risk damage through hotboxes, and equipment takes damage that effects performance if you derail or take curves too fast. Accessibility: The game has numerous options for customizing how you want the game to be played. If you'd like cars to arrive at the interchange already grouped by destination you can set that. If you enjoy switching more you can set it to be fully random. There is a setting to make the brakes less effective, as well as a simpler control panel with single slider control. If you want to be quicker getting up and going, you can remotely set handbrakes, bleed, throw switches, and couple and tie the air brakes with one click. Got motion sickness? You can disable the rocking or tone it down. Don't want to bother oiling stuff all the time? You can increase the amount of time between oiling. The game can also be entirely played from first or third person. Your experience can be something truly tailored to your tastes. Multiplayer: Multiplayer works extremely well and operates with minimal bugs. No bug we ever found was ever game breaking, and most were just minor positioning things that resulted in some very amusing moments. Optimization: I run this game on a laptop, and it manages a solid 40 fps most of the time even with 3 locomotives and 2 dozen cars on screen zoomed out. It's extremely well optimized, and frame dips are minimal. The okay: Sound design: Fairly strong with locomotives, but noises made outside of them is generally sort of lacking. I personally feel some additional car sounds would go a long way. Train handling: The game has both automatic and independent brakes, but there's really no option for punishment for poor train handling. Bail off, while a cool feature, really doesn't do much. Customization: There are options for most equipment, but it generally boils down to number and single solid color. There's only one paint group for the whole car, body and one group for the text. Steam locomotive colors can be in any color you'd like, as long as it's black. Whistle customization on the steam locomotives is excellent. The world: The world is good, but not excellent. There are some spots on the map that look a bit bland, and it doesn't feel very lived in. Apart from some grass swaying and a moving train, there is minimal movement. The bad: The tutorial: The tutorial is a massive wall of text that is more of a read not do sort of action. It does teach you the basics of the game, but it requires minimal movement and wants you to just figure it out. This has been updated slightly, but parts of it are still just reading. Interactive elements: Some locomotives have openable cab roof hatches, fireboxes, windows, and doors, but this doesn't apply to all of them. Not all locomotives need these features, as they differ from loco to loco, but the P-18 pacific is a great example, as the firebox, cylinder ♥♥♥♥, and even the bell cannot be operated from first person in the cab. Some controls also tend to be a bit strange, as one locomotive has a whistle cord that seems to have to be pulled a different time every time in first person. This is still an early access game, so many things will likely change in the future, and I wouldn't be surprised if some of the faults are already being addressed. Even with these faults, the game is well worth the entry price, especially if you have friends to play with. Looking forward to seeing where this is taken in the future!

I'm not going to write much because so many other's have. If you like the idea of running your own shortline railroad. If you like large modding communities that are invested in the game and are turning out great content. If you like small Indie dev teams that even now are sinking plenty of time in to making their game greater. This is the railroading game for you.....