Train sims bring the world of model trains to your desktop. These games allow you to manage railroad systems and sit in the engineer's seat. Train sims are packed with action and sometimes involve strategy.
1. "Sid Meier's Railroads!"
Courtesy of Pricegrabber.
Time to get to work putting together railroad systems and getting them connected to run efficiently. Laying down track and making sure goods and transported with ease is your main job. "Sid Meier's Railroads!" introduction of game concepts gives the game a low learning curve, making it great for new players to the genre.
2. "Chris Sawyer's Locomotion"
Box Cover © Atari.
Based upon "Transport Tycoon," the goal is to build a transportation system between cities. Transportation is not limited to only trains, it includes busses, ships, trams, and other methods. The graphics are outdated, the upside is that the gameplay is addictive.
3. "Railroad Pioneer"
Box Cover © JoWood Productions.
You are the owner of railroad company in the 1800s. You must lay the tracks to connect cities together so they can trade goods and people can travel. In many stores "Railroad Pioneer" would be a bargain bin special. Do not let the price fool you, it's a good buy.
4. "Rails Across America"
Courtesy of Pricegrabber.
If managing and building empires is something you enjoy, you'll like this train sim game. In "Rails Across America," your job is to make decisions for a railroad company.
5. "Microsoft Train Simulator"
Box Cover © Microsoft.
"Microsoft Train Simulator" gives you the opportunity to be in the engineer's seat for over 9 trains. You can even make your own routes and activities. "Train Simulator" was released in 2001, a great game for its time.
6. "Railroad Tycoon 3"
The third version in the series makes the "Railroad Tycoon 3" world 3D. The gameplay has changed from the sequel. In this version, the campaigns give you goals and expect them to be completed a certain way. While it is a good game, the economic system is far from perfect.