Rail strategy game?

[alexl92]

I currently play Trainz occasionally which I really enjoy, but having enjoyed strategy-type games like Theme Hospital and historical strategy games I wondered if there is anything similar for Railways, set in the UK? Something where you start maybe with a small stretch and a loco and have to expand your network and your fleet and operate it successfully?

I know there was a Railroad Tycoon-type thing years ago but I seem to remember it being quite US-focussed and not that great in general? Is there anything newer that fits my bill?

Thanks!

 

[Y961 XBU]

Would Train Simulator not count? you buy routes and get missions to complete on them, Some easy and some hard

 

[philabos]

You might try Open TTD .

 

[madjack]

Yes, OpenTTD is showing its age e.g. in graphics (you might argue that's part of the charm) but is probably the best choice - lots of detail to get involved with and it's free. For me it loses its challenge once you have some profitable lines set up, but you can still have fun building complex networks.

I don't have Windows, but if I did I'd have a look at ATrain 6 - I played the original ATrain a lot in the 90s but it's probably too simple now. Mashinky, also only on Windows, is a new game which looks promising. Train Fever is another option but didn't grab me for some reason. I've got high hopes for Voxel Tycoon which might come out in 2018 if we're lucky . Although none of those games is specifically UK-focused, they're more random worlds. The challenge with all of these games is to move passengers and cargo to the right place. You could check out some demos on YouTube and see if they grab you.

I'm always surprised that there aren't more suitable games for train fans with the right level of complexity - I guess they're difficult to get right.

 

[philabos]

Transport Fever on steam is another one with better graphics.

 

[Lrd]

It's not quite what your after but take a look at Mini Metro, I've spent too many hours playing it, both on PC and Android

 

[Iskra]

Railroad Tycoon II is the closest you will get. But in terms of graphics, it’s worth noting that I used to play it on PlayStation1. It’s available for PC and it’s on Steam, probably quite cheaply.

There is a Railroad Tycoon III, but it doesn’t work with Windows 9 onwards, which is a shame as it was a good game.

 

[martian boy]

Railroad Tycoon II was not a bad game for its time in it self. The graphics are a little basic to say the least. I've played it on both PlayStation 1 & 2. The main problem with the game is when the train stops at the station, everything is unloaded. Therefore you can't carry freight through to another destination. Example:- Station A, (loading) passengers, mail, food, steel.
Station B, (loading) passengers, mail. (requires) passengers, mail, food.
Station C, (loading) passengers, mail, goods. (requires) passengers, mail, steel (steel required to make goods)

The train leaves station A loaded with two passenger coaches, one mail coach, two food wagons and two steel wagons. It then stops at station B. ALL COACHES AND WAGONS ARE UNLOADED. The train then proceeds to station C. Has the train now has no steel, no goods are made to be picked up. You either have to run the train from A-B-A-C, or run a separate train from A-C. The same would apply on the return journey from C-A if you went via B. This was a big let down that really spoilt a good strategy game, graphics aside.

The graphics on the Dreamcast version were far superior IIRC.

 

[D365]

It's not quite what your after but take a look at Mini Metro, I've spent too many hours playing it, both on PC and Android

I've been trying to collect the Steam achievements but the difficulty of these just seems to shoot up after a point.

Train Fever (predecessor to Transport Fever) I have collected all but two achievements for, the final two seem to be my sticking point...

 

[Iskra]

Railroad Tycoon II was not a bad game for its time in it self. The graphics are a little basic to say the least. I've played it on both PlayStation 1 & 2. The main problem with the game is when the train stops at the station, everything is unloaded. Therefore you can't carry freight through to another destination. Example:- Station A, (loading) passengers, mail, food, steel.
Station B, (loading) passengers, mail. (requires) passengers, mail, food.
Station C, (loading) passengers, mail, goods. (requires) passengers, mail, steel (steel required to make goods)

The train leaves station A loaded with two passenger coaches, one mail coach, two food wagons and two steel wagons. It then stops at station B. ALL COACHES AND WAGONS ARE UNLOADED. The train then proceeds to station C. Has the train now has no steel, no goods are made to be picked up. You either have to run the train from A-B-A-C, or run a separate train from A-C. The same would apply on the return journey from C-A if you went via B. This was a big let down that really spoilt a good strategy game, graphics aside.

The graphics on the Dreamcast version were far superior IIRC.

I believe you are incorrect on that. There is a way to leave goods on the train- it is to do with the coloured flags when you build consists for a train.

 

[itznonbine]

Railroad Tycoon II is the closest you will get. But in terms of graphics, it’s worth noting that I used to play it on PlayStation1. It’s available for PC and it’s on Steam, probably quite cheaply.

There is a Railroad Tycoon III, but it doesn’t work with Windows 9 onwards, which is a shame as it was a good game.

windows 9 dosent exsist

 

[Monty]

Transport Fever all the way, it's the sequel to Train Fever and allows for more complex and realistic railway networks. It has a large community too with tons of additional content.

 

[matt]

Transport Fever all the way, it's the sequel to Train Fever and allows for more complex and realistic railway networks. It has a large community too with tons of additional content.

Another vote for Transport Fever. I'm enjoying now I've learnt how to make a profit.

 

[D365]

Another vote for Transport Fever. I'm enjoying now I've learnt how to make a profit.

I found the same with Train Fever, but I often struggle to keep rail lines turning a profit beyond 2020.

Didn't realise Transport Fever was so popular here!

 

[Lrd]

Didn't realise Transport Fever was so popular here!

Looks like I'm gonna have to give it a try.

Is it free?

 

[D365]

Looks like I'm gonna have to give it a try.

Is it free?

Sadly not, but it's a very in-depth game, definitely on the same level as Transport Tycoon. Can be picked up for under £20 during Steam sales, or the aforementioned Train Fever I've seen at a bargain-basement £3.

It looks like Transport Fever is a definite improvement, only reason I haven't picked it up yet is because I'm trying (very slowly) to complete my last remaining achievements.

http://store.steampowered.com/app/446800/Transport_Fever/
http://store.steampowered.com/app/304730/Train_Fever/

 

[alexl92]

Thanks everyone. I'll give OpenTTD a shot and if not I may wait for an upcoming steam sale to have a go with one of the fever games.
Appreciate everyone who's taken the time to reply.

 

[alexl92]

Hi all,
I downloaded OpenTTD and built a few lines between towns etc, bought some trains and gave one orders to go to the next station, but I can't find how to set a timetable or set the train actually going. I know it's gonna be something stupidly simple but I can't figure it out! Any help gratefully appreciated - thanks!

 

[itznonbine]

Press the green button in the depot or press the bar which says stopped also you dont need to set a timetable just have from one station to another and it should set automatically

 

[itznonbine]

I hope you signalled properly as well

 

[Trainfan344]

Keep bankrupting myself in Open TDD at the moment! This site is invaluable for information https://wiki.openttd.org/Main_Page

 

[martian boy]

I believe you are incorrect on that. There is a way to leave goods on the train- it is to do with the coloured flags when you build consists for a train.

A bit of a late reply, I've been offline for a while.

There is no coloured flag on the PlayStation version.

 

[whhistle]

Another one worthy of mention is Traffic Giant.
Old, doesn't run on Windows 10 as far as I know (my Gold Edition doesn't).
Is the "before Transport Fever" game.
I'm sure I used to play Transport Fever but just couldn't get on with it. Train Fever was even worse.

 

[D365]

I'm sure I used to play Transport Fever but just couldn't get on with it. Train Fever was even worse.

What didn't you enjoy about it, out of interest?

 

[whhistle]

Once you've learned one game, it's hard to tranfer to another.
I learnt Traffic Giant. Once I understood it, it was great. Grahpics are old school and I never really got past the first few train cities. I must invest some time trying to get it to work on Windows 10...

It's like Paint Shop Pro and Photoshop. I learned the former, and so when trying to use the latter, it's frustraiting as some key controls don't do what I expect. For example using the wheel to zoom in and out is so easy instead of using stupid keyboard shortcuts all the time.

So when I came upon Train Fever, I couldn't really understand it very well. The game play was very slow at the start - don't you have to mess about with signals? It also seemed unrealistic. In Traffic Giant, you could get a bit of profit fairly easily. Not so muc h in Train Fever - even with a money cheat, I watched my dosh going down and down.

Transport Fever was very similar.
I couldn't understand the implimentation of how Tube lines worked - none of which made profit despite there being loads of scope to use it.

Meybe I should revisit both - haven't played either in years.

 

[GusB]

I'd never heard of Transport Fever until now, but I'd be interested to have a look - what spec does it require?

 

[GB]

New one out is Railway Empire. Haven't played it but looks to have very similar mechanics to Transport Fever but also has tycoon style management. USA based and a bit pricey tho.

 

[mithril]

We are creating a rail network management and operations simulation game that will be quite different from games mentioned above. It is still in early phase of development (just "operations" part is quite finished). If interested, read more in https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/rail-route-a-rail-network-simulation-indie-game.163193/

We are going to publish an early free-to-play demo soon.

 

[The Ham]

If anyone is looking for a board game with strategy then Ticket to Ride is good. I'd suggest getting the Europe version target than the US version. There's a UK expansion, but you need either the US or Europe version first (unless you buy coloured trains that you need separately, which you could do, which would be a cheaper way of doing it if you only wanted the UK version).

 

[IanBanks-Jones]

You could give Hellfire 3 a (if you'll pardon the pun) bash. Haulage bashing, like trainspotting on steroids. Only the unpleasentness of not sleeping properly for a week, having to pay a huge amount for an All line rover, and freezing your wotsits off in some godforesaken town have been left out. It's set in 1981, and really is a long burn strategy. Proper hunting is required for a HA 26xo, or a LA 37xo. There's even a package available to give each loco its own period photo!