Railroad Tycoon II Platinum

About

"Railroad Tycoon II Platinum" is a railway-themed simulation game to build and manage your own railroad empire, spanning from 1804 to 2000 across various real-world locations. With a focus on authenticity, the game offers period-specific details, real-life opponents, and actual maps enhanced by satellite photography. Ideal for train enthusiasts seeking a realistic railroad experience.

Genres & Tags

Strategy

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

92%

Audience ScoreBased on 981 reviews

graphics28 positive mentions

grinding5 negative mentions

A classic tycoon game that has stood the test of time, offering deep gameplay and strategic management of railroads and finances.
The stock market mechanic adds an engaging layer of complexity, allowing players to manipulate their competitors and grow their wealth.
Despite its age, the game remains addictive and enjoyable, with a nostalgic charm that keeps players coming back for more.

The graphics are dated and may not appeal to modern gamers, potentially detracting from the overall experience.
The user interface can be clunky and unintuitive, making it difficult for new players to grasp the mechanics without a proper tutorial.
There are frequent technical issues, such as crashes and display problems on modern systems, which can hinder gameplay.

graphics
141 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
70%
11%
The graphics of the game are widely regarded as dated, reflecting its age from the late 1990s, with many users noting that they do not meet modern standards. However, despite their simplicity, the visuals are often described as charming and functional, allowing players to focus on the deep and engaging gameplay. Overall, while a graphical remaster would be welcomed, the game's enduring appeal lies in its strategic depth rather than its visual presentation.
- “The graphics are obviously old, but the style largely holds up.”
- “A classic tycoon game with beautiful graphics.”
- “The terrain graphics were state of the art in 1998 and hold up well today.”
- “The graphics are obviously dated, but the game runs great on Windows 10, and, unlike with most games this old, multiplayer on the local network required zero troubleshooting whatsoever - started the game up, created a game, we were playing within five minutes.”
- “The graphics are too dated for it to be playable.”
- “I give you fair warning, the graphics aren't going to blow you away, not by a long shot, but the complexity, detail and the intense addictiveness of the game should tickle you if you're prone to being tickled by a game of this type.”
gameplay
74 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
39%
57%
4%
The gameplay of this game is praised for its depth, complexity, and addictive nature, offering a rich experience that balances strategic management with economic challenges. While the graphics are dated, they do not detract from the immersive and engaging mechanics that encourage players to learn and master the game over time. Many reviewers highlight the intuitive user interface and the variety of difficulty settings, making it accessible for newcomers while still providing a challenge for seasoned players.
- “Do not let the retro graphics fool you, this game has quite the depth when it comes to running your company. If you wish, you can also tone down the difficulty by simplifying the mechanics when you start a scenario.”
- “The GUI is intuitive, the economy is responsive, and don't let the old-school graphics fool you, because the gameplay is wonderfully immersive.”
- “The gameplay is truly 'easy to learn, difficult to master'.”
- “The game explains very little in regard to its mechanics.”
- “It takes some trial and error to actually learn the nuances of the game mechanics.”
- “More tellingly, although RT3 brought much improved graphics and better track laying, the gameplay was hardly improved over RT2.”
music
42 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
48%
7%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, particularly for its engaging blues and bluegrass soundtrack that enhances the overall experience and immersion. Many players appreciate the unique sound design, which includes elements like hammers and trains, contributing to the game's nostalgic and thematic atmosphere. However, some users noted that the limited number of tracks can become repetitive over extended play sessions, and the volume can be excessively loud at times. Overall, the soundtrack is often cited as a key reason to purchase the game.
- “The soundtrack consists of hammers, saws, bells, and trains, which is so much better than death metal, flutes, and mandolins. You never feel that you can't just get up and put the kettle on for tea at any time before returning to the game.”
- “The blues soundtrack is peaceful and, with the volume down a bit, stands up well when playing for many hours at a time. Together with the lusciously steam-themed UI, it really contributes to immersion.”
- “One of the most satisfying classic management games with a wonderful bluegrass soundtrack.”
- “The game runs and briefly shows a black screen with blues music then minimizes.”
- “Fun to kill time with and learn how to manage trains and cargo... starts to wear on your nerves with the music.”
- “If there is a hell, this game's music will be playing there 24/7.”
replayability
23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
43%
13%
The game boasts exceptional replayability, with diverse strategies, numerous scenarios, and a comprehensive map editor that keep players engaged for years. While it has some minor stability issues and outdated graphics, its depth and challenge ensure that it remains a favorite among tycoon enthusiasts. Overall, players appreciate the game's balance and sandbox mode, contributing to its enduring appeal.
- “One strategy does not fit all, which is precisely why this is eminently replayable.”
- “Complex and satisfying with endless replay value.”
- “It can be a little unstable on newer versions of Windows, and the old flaws and hassles still remain (no ability to reorder stations within a schedule!), but the campaign mode is awesome, the map editor comprehensive, and the game is still very much replayable years later.”
- “The campaigns alone have a ton of replay value as there are bronze, silver, and gold win conditions.”
- “It is reasonable in difficulty, graphics did not age too terribly and while it is simplified a bit, the correlations between products and different buildings spawning on the map through time give it endless replayability.”
story
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
54%
23%
The story aspect of the game is characterized by a mix of historical missions and a light-hearted narrative that enhances the gameplay experience. Players appreciate the depth and complexity of the missions, although some find the pacing awkward and certain challenges unintuitive. Overall, the campaign serves as an engaging sandbox for players to explore the game's mechanics while enjoying a nostalgic storyline.
- “Old gold with a jolly little storyline along with it.”
- “Playing through the campaign missions (especially the early ones) gives you a great sandbox to work through the quirks and understand the general mechanics.”
- “Practically unlimited maps, outstanding industrial and financial models, historical missions: 21 years after release, this is still one of the best business simulators available.”
- “About my only complaint with RRT2 is some missions suffer from awkward pacing issues where you're trying to save up $5 million $50k at a time.”
- “It's not easy and some of the missions can be a little unintuitive but in terms of depth it's still got what it takes.”
- “Still the best railroad game ever made... tons of industry, tons of industry supply chain, tons of locomotives, real historic missions, historically accurate, yada yada, multiplayer... man.”
stability
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game's stability is mixed, with some users reporting frequent crashes and glitches, particularly during campaigns and track laying. However, many players also note that it runs well on modern systems like Windows 10, with smooth multiplayer functionality and minimal troubleshooting required. Overall, while there are stability issues, the game remains enjoyable for many players.
- “The graphics are obviously dated, but the game runs great on Windows 10, and, unlike with most games this old, multiplayer on the local network required zero troubleshooting whatsoever - started the game up, created a game, we were playing within five minutes.”
- “Runs great on Windows 10 and still the nicest to manage trains.”
- “The PC version runs great in Win95 compatibility mode in XP and Windows 7.”
- “Much of the functionality no longer works, and the game glitches and crashes all of the time.”
- “Game is difficult to start and freezes while being played.”
- “This game crashes an awful lot; for the campaigns, I can't even get them to work. It just freezes the screen and I have to hard exit. Thankfully, I only paid 74p for it.”
grinding
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, with some noting that it detracts from the overall experience. The simplicity of the gameplay, combined with a lack of variety in music and scenarios, contributes to a sense of monotony that can quickly become frustrating.
- “This game has its own quirks and is very tedious with silly details.”
- “Some of the scenarios can be a bit tedious, and it feels like there's only 3 tracks of music.”
- “What I originally remember being a fairly complex and challenging simulation turns out to be a pretty easy strategy game that gets very tedious very quickly.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
150%
The game's optimization is mixed; while it allows for complex financial management that can enhance gameplay, users report issues with video playback and the need for mouse clicks to unlock certain features, indicating potential performance limitations even on capable hardware.
- “The game offers the ability to manage the company’s shares, set dividend amounts, issue bonds, and utilize other financial instruments, all of which, if used wisely, can boost both the company’s performance and your personal wealth.”
- “With a performance graphics card, the game is playable, but the videos don't display, and at times you have to unlock them with mouse clicks.”
- “The optimization is lacking, leading to frequent frame drops and stuttering during gameplay.”
- “Despite having a high-end system, the game struggles to maintain a stable frame rate, making it frustrating to play.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised, characterized by its depth and immersive qualities that continue to engage players even decades after its initial release. Reviewers highlight the game's ability to create a captivating environment that enhances the overall experience.
- “Full of atmosphere, perfect depth, great campaign and still fun to play, even 24 years after its first release!”
- “Nice atmosphere too.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find "Railroad Tycoon" to be a humorous experience, particularly enjoying the comedic elements found in the game's historical context and the amusing content of the in-game newspapers.
- “Railroad Tycoon is a really funny game.”
- “The historical aspects of the game really appeal to me, and I don't think I can stop laughing at some of the newspapers.”