Railroad Corporation

About

Railroad Corporation is a single player and multiplayer strategy game. It was developed by Corbie Games and was released on November 18, 2019. It received neutral reviews from critics and mostly positive reviews from players.

"Railroad Corporation is a tycoon-style game that lets you build your own railroad empire across 19th century North America. Develop new technologies, complete missions based on historic rail networks, and strategize to outmaneuver competitors. Construct tracks, dig tunnels, and manage resources to connect settlements and establish new industries."

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72%

Audience ScoreBased on 848 reviews

story22 positive mentions

stability28 negative mentions

The game offers an absorbing and challenging experience, especially for fans of railroad management.
It features a more accessible gameplay style compared to other railroad games, allowing players to focus on building tracks and managing trains without excessive micromanagement.
The game includes a dynamic economy where prices fluctuate based on demand, adding depth to the gameplay.

The game suffers from significant pathfinding issues, with trains often getting stuck and not utilizing available tracks effectively.
There is a lack of essential features such as signaling and the ability to manage train routes, which can lead to frustrating gameplay.
The campaign missions can feel repetitive and the overall experience lacks the depth and complexity found in other railroad simulation games.

story
210 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
10%
86%
4%
The game's story is primarily conveyed through its campaign missions, which feature a mix of engaging and challenging objectives. While the early missions are generally well-received for their fun and diversity, later missions often present frustrating difficulty spikes and bugs that detract from the overall experience. Players appreciate the potential for strategic gameplay but express a desire for a stronger narrative and more accessible mission design.
- “The campaign has a very likable storyline that flows throughout the game.”
- “The missions in the game are very short in comparison to other games in the sim/management category.”
- “The campaign missions feel like a tutorial to prep you for competitive play.”
- “The missions are quite hard especially with so many bugs, so I suggest you wait for the game to become half price or wait until bugs are fixed.”
- “At this time, if you like management/simulation games, I would say to get it but would wait for a sale as full price for a few missions is way too much for the current game and few challenging missions via campaign.”
gameplay
124 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
60%
9%
The gameplay of the game is a mixed bag, with some players finding it engaging and addictive due to its variety of mechanics and campaign missions, while others criticize it for being overly simplistic and lacking depth. Many appreciate the graphics and immersive experience, but note issues with certain mechanics, such as track laying and management, which can lead to frustration. Overall, while the game offers a fun and rewarding experience, it also has significant room for improvement in its gameplay design and complexity.
- “I really enjoyed having to do something different for a single mission and it was good that the different mechanics didn't overstay their welcome.”
- “The gameplay is captivating and addictive.”
- “With its engaging gameplay and attention to detail, it's a solid choice for fans of strategy and simulation games, as well as those interested in the history of rail transportation in the United States.”
- “Some of the mechanics are quite poorly thought out - the HR department is rather useless (employees just give out some global perks), the lobby department is also quite random (some perks on buying/selling some merchandise) and overall it's just a tad bit too frustrating.”
- “It's lacking some of the most basic gameplay functionalities you would expect from a train logistics game.”
- “The lack of proper instructions or guidance for anything outside the basic mechanics was disappointing, but having said that, there is a sense of achievement when your little railroad empire is running like clockwork though, knowing that you’ve done so with minimal assistance.”
graphics
104 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
37%
58%
5%
The graphics in the game receive mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the charming and well-crafted visuals that suit the game's style, while others criticize them as basic and outdated compared to modern standards. Performance issues are noted, particularly when rendering complex scenes, and some users express a desire for more graphical polish and options. Overall, while the graphics are generally considered decent, they fall short of expectations for a game released in 2019.
- “The visuals in Railroad Corporation are charming and well-crafted.”
- “While the graphics may not be on par with some AAA titles, they suit the game's style and thematic setting.”
- “The graphics are great and the gameplay keeps you immersed.”
- “The graphics are austere, the minimum acceptable for a 2019 game, even for a train tycoon game. The UI is outdated but does the job, even though it can take up the whole screen when you select a train with a complex route.”
- “Graphics are ugly by today's standards (look at the Anno series to see how it should look...) and you can't turn off that annoying chromatic aberration filter!”
- “The graphics are reminiscent of mobile games trying to appeal to your inner child.”
music
45 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
49%
7%
The music in the game is generally well-received, with many players appreciating its relaxing and atmospheric qualities. However, there is a common critique regarding the limited number of tracks, with some players expressing a desire for more variety as the single looping soundtrack can become repetitive. Overall, while the sound design and effects are decent, the music could benefit from additional tracks to enhance the gaming experience.
- “The sound design is equally commendable, with the clatter of train wheels, steam hissing, and the immersive background music contributing to the atmosphere.”
- “Addictive and smart, in a wonderful musical atmosphere.”
- “The game is quite visually beautiful, the music is very nice and the gameplay is absolutely excellent.”
- “One single soundtrack looping for almost an hour doesn't feel good.”
- “For music, there's only one song playing on repeat and you'll get tired of hearing it.”
- “The problem is that it is the only background music that loops forever, without even being a loop.”
optimization
29 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
69%
14%
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players experiencing significant performance issues, particularly during track laying and when managing a large number of trains. While some users noted decent performance on lower settings, others reported severe lag and crashes in late-game scenarios, indicating a need for improved optimization and user interface adjustments. Overall, while the game has potential, its current performance problems detract from the experience.
- “It was odd to me that I didn't have any graphics problems playing the game generally, but laying the track over the same graphics made a huge performance difference.”
- “Overall a very nice game but could use some more UI optimization and better controls.”
- “Another great railroad management sim, it has its downsides with performance and bugs, but the mechanics are well executed.”
- “Don't get me started on the optimization, why does the game have a stroke every time I try to lay down a track?”
- “Once you reach over 50 trains, the performance starts to drop significantly. The autosave also kills it and will start to freeze your game a few seconds before it even tells you it autosaved. If you play long enough, your game will eventually crash to the desktop; it's not a question of if it will do it, but when.”
- “Sadly, I don't see this team taking performance very seriously. Adding new content and features is worthless if the end game will just lag out and become unplayable.”
stability
29 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
10%
97%
The game's stability is a significant concern, with numerous users reporting frequent crashes, freezes, and various bugs that hinder gameplay, particularly as the number of trains increases. While some players have experienced fewer issues, many describe the game as feeling unfinished and lacking essential features, leading to frustration during play. Overall, the game shows potential but requires substantial improvements in stability and polish to enhance the user experience.
- “The game runs great even on my older laptop.”
- “I haven't experienced any crashes or bugs during my playtime.”
- “The performance is smooth, and I can play for hours without any issues.”
- “It is surprisingly buggy for a game that has been out as long as it has.”
- “The game also loves to crash/freeze a lot and 'save scumming' won't save you; if you have a round where it freezes in a certain year, it will still freeze in that year even after you reload the game!”
- “Game is unplayably buggy.”
grinding
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
7%
14%
79%
The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being tedious and lacking effective tools for managing complex networks, leading to a frustrating experience. Players find the micromanagement of locomotives and track building cumbersome, with many feeling that the game becomes slow and unengaging as it progresses. Overall, the lack of meaningful choices and the grindy nature of achievements contribute to a sense of monotony and boredom.
- “Trains run on their own and will wait at intersections - no tedious signals and signal setting, which becomes nearly impossible with even a mildly complex network.”
- “Not to mention the crazy grindy achievements... nothing valuable was added to the genre since the railroad tycoons.”
- “However, the game becomes increasingly tedious due to the lack of tools to coordinate an ever-expanding fleet of locomotives and the nebulous systems surrounding them.”
- “It lacks some mechanics to aid you once you grow bigger, so micromanaging in this game becomes tedious and tiring.”
replayability
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
34%
33%
Overall, the game's replayability is viewed as limited due to a lack of diverse scenarios and a basic map editor, which hinders player creativity. While some users appreciate the volatile markets as a source of replayability, many feel that the game does not offer enough content to warrant repeated playthroughs. Recent updates have improved playability, but persistent bugs and a high price point compared to replay value remain concerns.
- “Volatile markets provide a lot of replayability and I would enjoy seeing similar content in the future.”
- “It definitely has high replayability, even with the current bugs.”
- “Edit: after a recent update on 5/29, the game is much more playable, although there are still some bugs where the big objective isn't getting counted.”
- “That, combined with the limited set of scenarios and the pre-set maps (versus the randomly-generated buildings based on weights method of RT2/RT3), ultimately limits the game's replayability.”
- “The map editor barely worked for me and was lacking in a lot of features necessary to really increase replayability.”
- “Not much replayability - it's a pretty basic game, with very basic maps.”
atmosphere
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised, characterized by commendable sound design that includes immersive train sounds and background music, alongside a visually appealing art style. Players find the combination of these elements creates an engaging and addictive experience, enhancing the overall ambiance.
- “The sound design is equally commendable, with the clatter of train wheels, steam hissing, and the immersive background music contributing to the atmosphere.”
- “Addictive and smart, in a wonderful musical atmosphere.”
- “The art style is nice and the music (though limited at present) adds some nice atmosphere.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is highlighted by its absurd scenarios, such as the illogical placement of the industry far from resources and cities, and the clever yet comical train signaling that leads to amusing collisions. These elements contribute to a lighthearted and entertaining experience.
- “Another funny thing is that the industry is located in the middle of nowhere, not near the raw materials and not near the cities.”
- “The funny part is that the signaling is so intelligent in this game that as the oncoming train is pulling into the station, the waiting train literally pulls in front of it, causing the oncoming train to stop.”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization of "Railroad Corporation" is criticized as a cash grab, with users feeling it lacks the completeness of similar games like "Railway Empire." Players express frustration over the presence of ads and the perceived emphasis on profit over gameplay quality.
- “This is yet another scam that is nothing but a cash grab.”
- “I played last year, sorry for ads, 'Railway Empire' and it seemed like a more complete and finished game than 'Railroad Corporation', but it didn't have the ability to buy industry.”

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50%Critics’ scoreBased on 1 critic reviews

Railroad Corporation Review – Chugging along
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50%

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23h Median play time

191h Average play time

8-60h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 12 analyzed playthroughs

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Skip FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Railroad Corporation is a strategy game.

Railroad Corporation is available on PC and Windows.

On average players spend around 191 hours playing Railroad Corporation.

Railroad Corporation was released on November 18, 2019.

Railroad Corporation was developed by Corbie Games.

Railroad Corporation has received neutral reviews from players and neutral reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its stability.

Railroad Corporation is a single player game with multiplayer and local co-op support.

Similar games include Railway Empire, Transport Fever, Railway Empire 2, Transport Fever 2, Voxel Tycoon Pre-Alpha and others.

Railroad Corporation

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