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Railroads Online Game Cover

About

"Railroads Online" is a multiplayer railroad tycoon simulation game that allows players to build and manage their own railroad empire in a persistent online world. Players can construct tracks, purchase and operate trains, transport passengers and cargo, and compete with other players for resources and routes. The game features a dynamic economy, weather system, and seasonal changes, providing a realistic and immersive railroad experience.

Railroads Online screenshot

78%
Audience ScoreBased on 4,391 reviews
gameplay61 positive mentions
stability252 negative mentions

  • The game offers a unique experience of building and managing your own railroad, allowing for creativity and personal expression.
  • The graphics and attention to detail in the locomotives and environments are impressive, enhancing the immersive experience.
  • Regular updates from the developers show commitment to improving the game and adding new content.
  • The game suffers from numerous bugs and performance issues, particularly in multiplayer, making it frustrating to play.
  • The track laying mechanics can be tedious and unintuitive, leading to a steep learning curve for new players.
  • The user interface is clunky and poorly designed, making navigation and interaction cumbersome.
  • gameplay
    262 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with players appreciating the core mechanics of track laying and train operation, but criticizing the overall execution due to numerous bugs, glitches, and a lack of depth. While some find the sandbox-style gameplay and creative freedom enjoyable, many express frustration over tedious mechanics, a lack of meaningful objectives, and a user interface that complicates the experience. Overall, the game shows potential but requires significant improvements to its core gameplay features and stability to fully realize that promise.

    • “🚂 Immersive gameplay: the game shines with its emphasis on authenticity.”
    • “🛤️ Creative freedom: whether you're optimizing routes or crafting intricate networks, the sandbox-style gameplay encourages creativity and problem-solving.”
    • “The gameplay is surprisingly relaxing, especially when you throw on a podcast.”
    • “There is no real depth to the gameplay, and you spend more time fixing problems caused by glitches and bad design than actually playing.”
    • “In the early days around the time I stopped playing, the game was a buggy mess, very poorly made, lacking real gameplay features and having no sense of achievement.”
    • “The gameplay can get repetitive, and there are bugs and control problems that can be annoying.”
  • stability
    255 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's stability is a significant concern, with numerous users reporting persistent bugs, glitches, and performance issues since its launch. While some players acknowledge that the developers are making efforts to address these problems, many express frustration over the game's unfinished state and lack of polish, particularly in multiplayer modes. Overall, the game is described as a "buggy mess," with stability issues detracting from the overall experience, making it advisable for potential players to wait for further updates before purchasing.

    • “Runs great with a wide selection of engines and cars.”
    • “Railroads Online is not a bug-free game, but the bugs are small and do little to impact enjoyment.”
    • “If you are expecting a bug-free experience, it's best to wait and not get mad at the devs or yourself.”
    • “Game has been a buggy mess since day one, none of which have been fixed by devs, even after full release.”
    • “The multiplayer is still a buggy dumpster fire and the community tries to ask for fixes but the devs seem more interested in making money off a dying product than actually making a good game.”
    • “The game is a poorly optimized and buggy mess.”
  • graphics
    233 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the beautiful scenery and high-quality models, particularly after updates that introduced Unreal Engine 5. However, numerous users report severe performance issues, including crashes and low frame rates, especially on less powerful systems, leading to a frustrating experience. Overall, while the visuals can be stunning, the game's optimization and stability are significant concerns for many players.

    • “The graphics and scenery are beautiful.”
    • “The graphics are amazing and the physics are great!”
    • “The graphics make this a beautiful game from the vast scenery to the textured details of each freight car.”
    • “It's a buggy mess with 2000s graphics with little to nothing to do for adult entertainment.”
    • “Unfortunately, graphics have taken a hit, and it's so blurry and jerky riding on the footplate that I gave up playing after 30 minutes.”
    • “The graphics are extremely dated and there is consistently a flashing shadow on every object in the game.”
  • optimization
    147 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's optimization has been widely criticized, with many players reporting severe performance issues, including frame drops and lag, even on high-end systems. Despite some updates aimed at improving performance, players feel that the game remains poorly optimized, particularly in multiplayer scenarios, and that recent changes have often exacerbated existing problems rather than resolving them. Overall, the consensus is that significant optimization work is still needed to enhance the gameplay experience.

    • “The sense of accomplishment when your meticulously planned routes run smoothly is unmatched.”
    • “As it is early access, I feel the game devs have done well and they seem to consistently update the game with new features and optimization updates.”
    • “The game is well made, the performance is quite good and it all around looks great.”
    • “The game is a poorly optimized and buggy mess.”
    • “At times the optimization issues just ruin the experience.”
    • “The performance is atrocious; I can't get over 60 fps hosting a server, and I have pretty good hardware.”
  • grinding
    127 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The grinding aspect of the game is frequently described as tedious and time-consuming, particularly in relation to track laying and loading/unloading cargo. While some players find satisfaction in overcoming these challenges, many express frustration with the lack of rewarding gameplay and the game's finicky mechanics. Overall, the experience can be enjoyable for train enthusiasts, but it often requires significant patience and effort to progress.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “You'd think that building your own tracks would be the shining star game mechanic that produced the most joy and had the most polish, but the process is this tedious battle with the controls that just sucks the life out of you at every turn.”
    • “The core gameplay is fun, but the track laying mechanics are just painful and tedious.”
    • “It's time-consuming, grindy, and requires some complex planning just to get cargo from A to B to C and back.”
  • music
    54 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some players praising the lively and fitting soundtrack while others express disappointment over the removal of a previously beloved score. Many users find the current music repetitive and suggest that a more expansive soundtrack would enhance the experience, although some still appreciate the game's overall audio atmosphere. Overall, while the music is generally considered enjoyable, it has faced criticism for its inconsistency and lack of variety.

    • “It's a beautiful game with a lively soundtrack and cool looking trains!”
    • “Very well put together game with a glorious soundtrack and fantastic gameplay.”
    • “Music is great, that part is very reminiscent of Railroad Tycoon from back in the day.”
    • “Time seems to fly when I'm playing, although I do tend to listen to Spotify in the background as the in-game music gets quite repetitive.”
    • “The gameplay is addictive, the development is awkward (but hopefully improving), the soundtrack used to be great but now it's garbage.”
    • “Even though the original music can't be used anymore, the chosen alternatives feel... flat by comparison.”
  • story
    35 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's story aspect is largely criticized for its absence, with many users noting that there is no overarching narrative or missions to engage players. Instead, the gameplay feels more like a tech demo focused on mechanics rather than storytelling, leading to a repetitive experience. While some players appreciate the unique features and potential for creativity, they express a strong desire for a structured storyline or goals to enhance the overall experience.

    • “Long story, imagine seeing one of the coolest and most unique train sim games capturing an entirely new feeling of gaming.”
    • “It's also the model railroad dream world where you are Casey Jones and John Henry... though hope your story comes out better.”
    • “Moral of the story is that while there are some things currently still needing to be fixed (it is early access after all), there are also many incredible features offered by the game which make it extraordinarily unique and fun.”
    • “It definitely feels like a tech demo; there is nothing in the field of story or scenery, and after one playthrough, the game gets boring and repetitive.”
    • “Be aware: there is no 'storyline' or anything that helps you get started.”
    • “There's currently no actual story except the one you create.”
  • humor
    31 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is largely derived from its quirky bugs and glitches, which provide moments of hilarity, especially when playing with friends. While many players find the comedic aspects entertaining at first, the novelty can wear off, leading to frustration as issues persist. Overall, the game's blend of funny moments and janky mechanics creates a lighthearted experience, though it may not sustain long-term enjoyment.

    • “Super janky multiplayer which makes it funny as heck.”
    • “Not only can you get up to some of the wackiest, most tear-jerkingly hilarious antics in any train-related game ever.”
    • “Playing it with a mate of mine, we've had more fun laughing at the bugs than raging at them.”
  • monetization
    20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization aspect of the game has been heavily criticized, with many users labeling it a "cash grab" due to the frequent introduction of paid DLCs and a lack of meaningful updates. Players express disappointment over the developers' focus on profit rather than genuine game development, leading to concerns about the game's future and overall quality. Despite some hope for improvement, the prevailing sentiment is that the game prioritizes monetization over player experience.

    • “Looks so far like Astragon will save this game; they even said they don't plan on adding microtransactions. Hopefully, they stick to that plan.”
    • “It looked promising, and it now looks like a cash grab.”
    • “This game is nothing more than a cash grab with a dev 'team' that has no interest in game development and just wants your hard-earned money.”
    • “Sadly though, this game is just going to be a cash grab.”
  • replayability
    13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game's replayability has improved significantly with recent updates, introducing new maps and enhanced systems that make gameplay more enjoyable. However, some users still find the replay value lacking and suggest that further foundational changes are needed. While bugs and glitches persist, the game is now considered more playable, encouraging players to revisit it as it continues to evolve.

    • “The effect of the physics, early-game growth, and industry interaction is that the game is highly playable and replayable, because no stage of growth feels punishing.”
    • “The updated building system makes the game significantly more playable - placing track is significantly easier than before, and far more enjoyable to do.”
    • “Along with having more than one map now, it adds more replayability to the game.”
    • “The replay value of this game is so low that you need to rethink the foundation and framework of this game.”
    • “If you're interested in the game, I recommend just keeping an eye on it and waiting until it becomes a lot more playable/has a lot more content, or until it costs 50 to 75% less.”
    • “Bugs and glitches are still common, but it's more playable.”
  • atmosphere
    7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's atmosphere is generally praised for its beautiful graphics and effective depiction of narrow gauge railways, enhanced by seasonal changes. However, some players note a lack of atmospheric audio and suggest that improvements in water textures and sound design are needed to elevate the experience further. Despite these criticisms, the overall ambiance is appreciated, though concerns about the development team's stability may impact future enhancements.

    • “This game is now gorgeous, and the lighting and atmosphere are beautiful.”
    • “I like the atmosphere and graphics of this game; I have had it ever since it came out.”
    • “It is very atmospheric, capturing narrow gauge railways in the US quite well, and the developers put work into having the seasons change, which is nice.”
    • “The game's potential is there, but the fact that developers and other associated members keep coming out and quitting, stating that the management oversight and atmosphere is causing them to leave, is a huge warning sign.”
    • “If the water textures and overall atmosphere were better, it would be bumped up a tier, but as it stands, it's not bad.”
  • emotional
    5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players express a strong emotional response to the game, highlighting feelings of frustration and disappointment due to technical issues and poor user experience. Many report a sense of heartbreak over lost progress and a lack of connection to the game, leading to a desire to disengage rather than continue playing. Overall, the emotional impact is largely negative, with users feeling let down by their investment in the game.

    • “You're taking a bit of a risk buying and more so emotionally investing in this game!”
    • “100s of hours into them, none made me feel the way this one did.”
    • “My friends and I have lost so much work; it's heartbreaking.”

Buy Railroads Online

69h Median play time
110h Average play time
10-199h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 46 analyzed playthroughs

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