Railway Empire

Nailing every key part of the Transport Tycoon formula, Railway Empire is a fantastically fun experience through and through. With a heap of content to explore and master, it's a game I'll be revisiting and enjoying regularly.

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"Railway Empire" is a train-themed simulation game that challenges players to build and manage a successful rail network across the United States. With over 40 historically accurate locomotives and 300 technologies to invest in, players must optimize transportation of passengers and goods while competing with rival companies. The game offers a campaign mode, scenarios, and a construction mode for creative freedom.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Reviews

77%

Audience ScoreBased on 7,153 reviews

graphics532 positive mentions

grinding140 negative mentions

Engaging gameplay with a mix of strategy and resource management.
Beautiful graphics and the ability to ride along with trains enhances immersion.
Challenging scenarios that require planning and optimization of routes.

Cumbersome user interface that makes managing trains and routes tedious.
AI competitors can be annoying and often feel unbalanced.
Steep learning curve with a lack of clear tutorials and documentation.

graphics
910 mentions
58 % positive mentions
39 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received generally positive feedback, with many users praising their quality, detail, and aesthetic appeal. While some players noted minor glitches and a cartoonish art style that may not suit everyone's taste, the overall visual presentation is considered a significant strength, enhancing the immersive experience of building and managing railroads. However, there are also mentions of performance issues on certain hardware, suggesting that optimization could be improved.
- “The graphics are superb and who doesn't like building railroads?”
- “The graphics are amazing and the action is constant if you want it to be.... and it also lends itself to the lazy ride along and appreciate one's hard work.”
- “Great graphics, great flexibility in how you lay track and set up your routes, etc.”
- “The game feels rushed with a concentration on graphics and a complete failure on mechanics; it's less a train empire simulator than a mobile game.”
- “Graphics are subpar for current hardware standards.”
- “There is just no depth to this game beyond visuals.”
gameplay
852 mentions
26 % positive mentions
65 % neutral mentions
10 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players praising its addictive core loop of building rail networks and managing logistics, while others criticize the mechanics as clunky and poorly explained. Users noted a steep learning curve, with some mechanics feeling overly simplistic or frustrating, particularly in track laying and signal management. Overall, while the game offers engaging elements and beautiful graphics, it suffers from a lack of polish in its mechanics and user interface, leading to a somewhat inconsistent gameplay experience.
- “Incredibly addicting gameplay loop, and once you learn how to design the tracks, it becomes a great time figuring out the logistics of how to build and then further expand a rail network, all while trying to keep track of your competitors and the ongoing economic systems in the game.”
- “The game has a very rewarding gameplay loop - connect cities to industries, watch those cities grow and new demands, fulfill those demands while making a hefty profit to fuel your further expansion.”
- “You're going to need a bit of patience with this one until you get the hang of the game mechanics, but once you do, you're going to have a blast.”
- “Not recommended - the mechanics for connecting tracks near stations simply do not work.”
- “The developer needs to go back to the drawing board and re-invent the station mechanics.”
- “I find the gameplay irritating.”
story
295 mentions
16 % positive mentions
82 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The game's story mode, which follows the development of America's first railroads, is criticized for its limited number of missions and repetitive gameplay, leading to a sense of monotony. While some players appreciate the historical context and challenge of the missions, others find the narrative shallow and the objectives overly simplistic, with a lack of engaging plot elements. Overall, the campaign is seen as a decent introduction to the game mechanics, but many players desire a more robust and varied storyline.
- “The base game takes you through the story of the first railroads of the United States.”
- “The main story is pretty cool and they have a city in the game I live right next to in real life.”
- “I would recommend that you play the campaign mode first, as it is essentially a tutorial that takes you through the story of how America's first transcontinental railroad came about and was built, but also teaches you how to play through 5 chapters which nicely take you from beginner to competent.”
- “As far as I am concerned, I find the concept repetitive due to schematic gameplay, which works strikingly similarly in other game modes and campaign missions.”
- “The storyline around the American Civil War is silly to the point of being offensive.”
- “The industries are few, the farms are few and you are stuck only in the United States and only during the past with one very simple goal, which is to say there is virtually no story here.”
music
159 mentions
53 % positive mentions
41 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating its atmospheric quality and fitting themes, particularly the ragtime and western styles that enhance immersion. However, some users noted that the soundtrack can become repetitive and lacks variety, leading to a desire for more diverse tracks. Overall, while the music contributes positively to the game's ambiance, it may not be memorable for all players.
- “A special mention goes to the music and general atmosphere of the game, which evoke a very nice era flavor.”
- “The soundtrack is excellent for this kind of game, and the landscapes and trains are rendered simply but beautifully.”
- “There's a lot to love here; the music is great and communicates the setting well, the economy is diverse and has many different goods, and all in all, it's just fun to play!”
- “It took me a few hours to figure out how to play it, as that endless looping music just annoyed me.”
- “The music gets a bit repetitive, but that can be muted.”
- “Having added the Mexican DLC, the start screen now only plays the Mexican tune, which is annoying after a while... I'd like to think that the variety of music increases as the game develops... the in-game music is great but there are too few tunes.”
grinding
148 mentions
1 % positive mentions
5 % neutral mentions
95 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being excessively tedious and time-consuming, with many players expressing frustration over the micromanagement required for track laying, train assignments, and character upgrades. The user interface is often described as clunky and unintuitive, contributing to a sense of monotony that detracts from the overall enjoyment of the game. While some players appreciate the initial fun, they quickly find the repetitive tasks and lack of automation lead to a grind that feels more like work than play.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Laying track is like pulling teeth; the UI does not understand what you are doing, and it becomes very tedious.”
- “The game is fun to a point but can get very tedious.”
- “Train management is needlessly tedious and lacking many obvious quality-of-life changes, despite plenty of feedback in beta and post-release.”
stability
112 mentions
13 % positive mentions
2 % neutral mentions
86 % negative mentions
The game's stability is a mixed bag, with many players reporting various glitches and bugs, particularly related to track-laying, signaling, and AI behavior. While some users experience minimal issues and find the game enjoyable, others face significant stability problems, including crashes and unresponsive mechanics. Overall, while there are reports of minor glitches, the game is generally playable, though players are advised to save frequently and anticipate future updates to address these issues.
- “No glitches or bugs that I have discovered.”
- “No bugs, no glitches, all around good game.”
- “The graphics are good and the game is relatively bug free.”
- “Then all of a sudden it became unstable and very buggy.”
- “One massive problem that is a current issue, and that's the signaling system in this game is buggy at the best of times causing unfixable mass chaos that freezes up the whole network.”
- “The game freezes though and in a way that I have to cut the power to my PC.”
replayability
89 mentions
43 % positive mentions
54 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
Overall, the game exhibits high replayability, bolstered by various modes such as campaigns, scenarios, and a random map generator. While some players express concerns about long-term replay value and the static nature of environments, the inclusion of multiple characters and DLCs adds significant replay potential. However, a few users noted that once the initial learning curve is overcome, replayability may decline, indicating a mixed outlook on its longevity.
- “The random element guarantees a good replayability.”
- “There's a lot of DLCs which means it will be a while before you run out of new campaigns to play, although every campaign is replayable more than once.”
- “It has resource management, lots of great game mechanics, and a depth that gives it tons of replayability.”
- “With the campaign alone, there is very little content and replayability to the game.”
- “Once you figure out the first 2-4 hours of the game, its replay value starts to decline.”
- “All in all, my experience is mediocre. Since I have invested in this game, I will play all campaigns and scenarios, but the replayability value (at this point in time) is zero and I will likely not return to it unless some fundamental changes happen.”
atmosphere
56 mentions
57 % positive mentions
38 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its immersive and nostalgic qualities, effectively capturing the essence of the 1800s through a combination of atmospheric music, detailed graphics, and weather effects. While many players appreciate the balance between challenge and relaxation, some critiques highlight inconsistencies, such as the cartoonish art style of NPCs and certain narrative elements that detract from the overall experience. Overall, the game successfully creates a rich, engaging environment that appeals to fans of historical and train-themed gameplay.
- “Presented in a mixture of 3D landscapes, an atmospheric soundtrack, and surfaces and graphics in a very nice comic-art style, the game takes you to a time when the foundation of today's wealth was being built by developing and applying a technology that made it possible to transport wares, as well as ideas, over large distances at speeds not known before.”
- “The game really manages to create a beautiful and addictive atmosphere.”
- “Railway Empire is beautiful and creates an immersive, competitive atmosphere, or a casual gaming experience depending on your settings.”
- “It single handedly destroys the relaxing, chill atmosphere of the game.”
- “The unprofessional mistakes when trying to pronounce common English words take away from the atmosphere and feel amateurish.”
- “This game makes the attempt to capture the feeling of Railroad Tycoon but falls short; it does not have the atmosphere of the old game, the voice acting is a bit snooty, and there are fewer locomotives, among other things.”
optimization
54 mentions
48 % positive mentions
46 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization varies significantly between platforms, with PC users generally reporting smooth performance and good graphics, even on mid-range hardware. In contrast, PlayStation 4 players have experienced notable performance issues, including lag and stuttering. While many players appreciate the optimization for 4K and the ability to run complex networks without noticeable issues, there are calls for further improvements, particularly in later stages of gameplay and for high-end graphics settings.
- “Runs smoothly on my GTX690 with graphics maxed out. This has everything you would expect from a top-notch railroad tycoon sim.”
- “The graphics are great and performance is excellent.”
- “But apart from that, the game runs super smoothly and it's even optimized for 4K (which makes me really happy!).”
- “PC performance nightmare.”
- “I originally played this game on PlayStation 4, got my platinum trophy there, but because it has some major performance issues like lag, FPS drops, and stuttering on that system, I had to jump on the sales wagon (pun intended) and get it for PC, so don't let my initial lack of gameplay hours here on Steam fool you.”
- “There are obviously some massive optimization issues.”
humor
36 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game draws comparisons to Tropico, featuring a mix of amusing elements and witty commentary, though it often falls flat or becomes tiresome over time. While some players appreciate the funny news articles and quirky AI remarks, others find the humor childish and the voice acting poorly executed. Overall, the comedic aspects can be entertaining initially but may become annoying as gameplay progresses.
- “As a fan of Tropico, I knew this game was likely to be handled with style and humor.”
- “It was pretty funny making money off the other guy's stock or going bankrupt by over-leveraging yourself and having the stock market crash.”
- “Major kudos to the railway empire journalists who have written some seriously funny stuff.”
monetization
14 mentions
7 % positive mentions
7 % neutral mentions
86 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game is criticized as a "cash grab," primarily through the sale of approximately $50 worth of DLC content that lacks meaningful tutorials. Additionally, the presence of a launcher that serves only to display advertisements has further fueled perceptions of greed in the game's monetization approach. Overall, players feel that the focus on DLC and advertising detracts from the enjoyment of the game.
- “+ around $50 worth of DLC content with no microtransactions.”
- “Mostly I feel like it's designed to be a DLC cash grab.”
- “DLCs, aka 'cash grab', produced for this game offer no real, productive tutorials for the content.”
- “Greedy cash grab in the end.”
character development
2 mentions
0 % positive mentions
100 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Character development in the game features quirky and somewhat goofy designs, which contribute to its overall fun and enjoyable experience, despite not being particularly serious or deep.