i have loved model railroading since I was a kid. I had a small layout until my mid-twenties and RL got in the way. I've played a few PC train sims and got a lot of enjoyment from them. Railroader scratches my itch in a different way from the other PC games I've played. It reminds me of how I set up my model railroad to serve different industries, run passenger trains on a schedule and assemble trains in the yard.

This is just early access but it is very enjoyable now, in its current state. As the team continues to add to the game it should only get better and better. It's the most fun I've had with a train sim in some time.

This is not a train driving simulator though. It is more like running a small railroad, like you would on a model railroad. You are dispatcher and manager, conductor and engineer. AI helps run trains from point to point but you have to do the switching. You can drive from the cab or 3rd person (which I prefer).

Because it is early access, at the time of this review some assets like industry buildings, road traffic, etc. are not yet baked in. But the railroad itself is functional and ready to run.

You can run in company mode which has you managing your railroad, expanding it, building profit so you can buy rolling stock and engines, paying for repairs, hiring staff, etc. You begin with a small portion of the line and acquire the rest through purchases and by performing tasks.

Or you can run in sandbox mode with the entire line opened up and no need to buy stock. Just serve the industries and have fun!

Do I recommend this game? Yes! If you love trains you probably will like it. If running trains is not your thing, then of course you might be better off with something else.

i have loved model railroading since I was a kid. I had a small layout until my mid-twenties and RL got in the way. I've played a few PC train sims and got a lot of enjoyment from them. Railroader scratches my itch in a different way from the other PC games I've played. It reminds me of how I set up my model railroad to serve different industries, run passenger trains on a schedule and assemble trains in the yard. This is just early access but it is very enjoyable now, in its current state. As the team continues to add to the game it should only get better and better. It's the most fun I've had with a train sim in some time. This is not a train driving simulator though. It is more like running a small railroad, like you would on a model railroad. You are dispatcher and manager, conductor and engineer. AI helps run trains from point to point but you have to do the switching. You can drive from the cab or 3rd person (which I prefer). Because it is early access, at the time of this review some assets like industry buildings, road traffic, etc. are not yet baked in. But the railroad itself is functional and ready to run. You can run in company mode which has you managing your railroad, expanding it, building profit so you can buy rolling stock and engines, paying for repairs, hiring staff, etc. You begin with a small portion of the line and acquire the rest through purchases and by performing tasks. Or you can run in sandbox mode with the entire line opened up and no need to buy stock. Just serve the industries and have fun! Do I recommend this game? Yes! If you love trains you probably will like it. If running trains is not your thing, then of course you might be better off with something else.