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

80%

Audience ScoreBased on 4,551 reviews

graphics329 positive mentions

grinding82 negative mentions

Engaging gameplay that balances strategy and management, making it enjoyable for both casual and hardcore players.
Beautiful graphics and a charming atmosphere that enhances the experience of building and managing a railway empire.
Variety of modes including campaign, scenarios, and sandbox, providing ample replayability and challenges.

Clunky user interface that can be confusing, making it difficult to manage trains and routes effectively.
Signaling and track management mechanics are overly complicated and often lead to frustrating traffic jams.
The game can feel repetitive and lacks depth in economic mechanics compared to older titles like Railroad Tycoon.

graphics
566 mentions
58 % positive mentions
40 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game are generally praised for their stunning detail and immersive landscapes, effectively capturing the historical setting of the 19th century. While many players appreciate the visual quality and the ability to ride along with trains, some criticize the cartoonish art style and occasional graphical glitches. Overall, the graphics are considered a strong point of the game, enhancing the gameplay experience despite some minor issues.
- “The graphics are visually stunning, bringing the historical settings to life with authenticity and charm.”
- “The graphics are superb and who doesn't like building railroads?”
- “The graphics are outstanding, with weather and atmospheric effects like rainstorms and lightning off in the distance and loud thunder when it passes over.”
- “The graphics are subpar for current hardware standards.”
- “The graphics are terrible simply because of terrible camera angles.”
- “Graphics are ok but what you see when building your track and what you see when riding your track do not correlate well.”
gameplay
564 mentions
25 % positive mentions
66 % neutral mentions
9 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game is a mixed bag, with many players finding it engaging and addictive due to its intricate economic mechanics and resource management elements. However, several reviews highlight issues such as repetitive mechanics, a steep learning curve, and frustrating UI elements that can detract from the overall experience. While some players appreciate the depth and strategic planning involved, others criticize the lack of polish in certain mechanics, making the gameplay feel cumbersome at times.
- “The gameplay is engaging, featuring a mix of resource management, route planning, and competition against rival companies.”
- “The economic mechanics are intricate, offering plenty of depth for players who enjoy strategic planning.”
- “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 gameplay experience threw me off.”
- “The mechanics for ordering stations on a rail line are extremely and needlessly clumsy.”
- “I find the gameplay irritating.”
story
231 mentions
18 % positive mentions
80 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The story in "Railway Empire" is centered around the development of the railroad system in the United States, presented through a five-chapter campaign that introduces players to historical contexts and challenges. While some players find the narrative engaging and the missions enjoyable, others criticize the campaign for being too short and repetitive, with limited storytelling depth and overly challenging objectives that can detract from the overall experience. Overall, the game offers a mix of historical intrigue and strategic gameplay, though it may not satisfy those seeking a rich narrative experience.
- “The main campaign is about railroad extension throughout the US and that makes for a surprisingly interesting plot - for a tycoon game.”
- “Railway Empire features a five-chapter story-based campaign, twelve scenarios, and a challenge mode.”
- “The story is supported by cutscenes and voice acting, which I think added to the broader experience of the story.”
- “The storyline around the American Civil War is silly to the point of being offensive.”
- “I reflect that the campaign was not very challenging, and as such, do not expect a strong storytelling effort.”
- “It is a bit disappointing that the campaign only consists of 4 missions + a tutorial.”
music
111 mentions
42 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players praising its atmospheric and era-appropriate soundtracks, particularly the ragtime and western themes, while others criticize it for being repetitive and lacking variety. Many appreciate the immersive quality of the music, which enhances the gameplay experience, but some also note issues with music cutting out or being overshadowed by voiceovers. Overall, while the soundtrack is generally well-received, there are calls for more diverse and consistent musical options.
- “A special mention goes to the music and general atmosphere of the game, which evoke a very nice era flavor.”
- “The music is fitting for the setting and surprisingly pleasant to listen to as well.”
- “There's a lot to love here; the music is great and communicates the setting well, the economy is diverse, 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.”
- “But it's bad that the soundtrack only plays 1-2 music tracks from your timeframe and play-area on repeat, so you cannot really enjoy the finest and most refined part of the game, the music.”
- “The music is questionable for the eras and the accents for some of the characters are quite off, and you can tell some are forcing their accents.”
grinding
86 mentions
1 % positive mentions
3 % neutral mentions
95 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being tedious and time-consuming, with many players expressing frustration over the micromanagement required for track laying, train management, and AI interactions. While some enjoy the initial gameplay, the repetitive nature of tasks and clunky user interface lead to a decline in enjoyment, making it feel more like a chore than a game. Overall, the consensus is that the game could benefit from improved automation and quality-of-life features to alleviate the grind.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “It makes the game very tedious.”
- “The simplistic systems and unsophisticated AI make this simulator game tedious and a pain to deal with.”
- “Train management is needlessly tedious and lacking many obvious quality-of-life changes, despite plenty of feedback in beta and post-release.”
stability
73 mentions
10 % positive mentions
1 % neutral mentions
89 % negative mentions
The game's stability has received mixed feedback, with many players reporting various glitches and bugs, particularly related to track-laying, signaling, and campaign missions. While some users have experienced significant issues, such as crashes and unresponsive AI, others note that the glitches are minor and manageable, allowing for an enjoyable gameplay experience. Overall, while the game is visually appealing and offers engaging mechanics, it suffers from stability problems that can detract from the overall experience.
- “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.”
- “However, there are glitches in the west campaign chapter 5.”
- “The game freezes though, and in a way that I have to cut the power to my PC.”
- “One massive problem that is a current issue is that the signaling system in this game is buggy at the best of times, causing unfixable mass chaos that freezes up the whole network.”
replayability
58 mentions
41 % positive mentions
53 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
Overall, the game exhibits high replayability due to its diverse modes, including custom maps, scenarios, and a random map generator, which encourage varied gameplay experiences. While some players noted limitations in the campaign's content and static environments that could hinder long-term replayability, many praised the depth, character variety, and frequent updates that enhance replay value. The inclusion of multiple gameplay options and downloadable content further contributes to its longevity and appeal.
- “Players can access custom maps, vehicles, buildings, and more, significantly enhancing the game's replayability and longevity.”
- “Replayability is high thanks to no campaign game playing the same when started anew as your opponents might choose to pick different lines to lay out, forcing you to adapt even if you're well-used to the map layout.”
- “The appeal of trying to build realistic looking, tidy networks with dodgy business practices and monopolized economies makes a fun, replayable experience and having it look pretty and function so well makes it all the better.”
- “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.”
- “It's a very enjoyable game; however, it really lacks replayability and the AIs seem to have a lot more of an advantage than you do.”
optimization
38 mentions
45 % positive mentions
47 % neutral mentions
8 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is a mixed bag; while many players report smooth performance and no significant bugs, particularly on PC, others experience major issues like lag and stuttering on consoles, especially the PlayStation 4. The game is praised for its ability to handle large maps and complex networks without performance drops, but some users express a desire for improved optimization features and options to enhance performance on lower-end systems. Despite these concerns, the graphics are generally well-received, and the game is considered enjoyable for its logistical challenges.
- “It's not flawless but it's very addicting because while the build system is not always the most user-friendly, the game is all about optimization. The topography, obstacles, elevations, etc. result in interesting logistical and cost management challenges.”
- “I'll also say that the game is very well optimized and runs smoothly for me 100% of the time, even with very large maps.”
- “Laying out track and getting your routes to run smoothly without causing issues can be a hell of a time sink, and incredibly satisfying.”
- “PC performance nightmare.”
- “Very frustrating and obnoxious due to poor gameplay optimization.”
- “There are obviously some massive optimization issues.”
atmosphere
32 mentions
63 % positive mentions
28 % neutral mentions
9 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its immersive and nostalgic qualities, effectively capturing the essence of the 1800s with a blend of beautiful graphics, atmospheric soundtracks, and engaging gameplay. While many appreciate the attention to detail and the relaxing yet challenging environment, some critiques arise regarding voice acting and certain design choices that detract from the overall experience. Overall, the game successfully creates a rich and inviting atmosphere that appeals to fans of historical and tycoon genres.
- “A special mention goes to the music and general atmosphere of the game, which evokes the flavor of the era very nicely.”
- “The game really manages to create a beautiful and addictive atmosphere.”
- “The graphics are outstanding, with weather and atmospheric effects like rainstorms and lightning in the distance, accompanied by loud thunder when it passes over.”
- “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.”
humor
29 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with some players appreciating its cartoonish style and witty elements, particularly in the context of railway operations and stock market antics. However, others find the humor to be hit-or-miss, with some jokes falling flat or becoming tiresome over time. Overall, while the game incorporates amusing aspects, the execution can be inconsistent, leading to a range of reactions from players.
- “I love how they combined cartoonish humor with some realism.”
- “Major kudos to the railway empire journalists who have written some seriously funny stuff.”
- “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.”
monetization
9 mentions
11 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
89 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has been criticized for being overly aggressive, with many users feeling that it prioritizes DLC sales as cash grabs rather than providing meaningful content. Players have noted the presence of intrusive advertisements and a launcher that serves primarily to promote additional purchases, detracting from the overall experience. Overall, the monetization strategy is viewed as greedy and unsatisfactory, leading to disappointment among users.
- “+ 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
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Character development features cartoonish designs that some players find mismatched with the game's overall theme, yet this is considered a minor distraction. Despite the goofy aesthetics, the game is praised for its solid performance and enjoyable gameplay.
- “The character designs are a bit goofy, but the game runs pretty well and is fun.”
- “Cartoonish character designs don't completely mesh with the rest of the game's theme, but it's a minor distraction at best from the overwhelmingly strong delivery of the game's fundamentals.”
emotional
1 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by a poignant exploration of time, where the past and future intersect yet remain distinct, creating a sense of nostalgia and reflection. This interplay evokes deep feelings as players navigate the complexities of memory and choice.
- “Everything is a railway junction where past and future are sliding over one another, not touching.”