![]() It takes several scenarios to figure everything out. And, while it’s easy to get started in Train Table mode, competitive play bears a higher learning curve. Several training sessions focusing on aspects of play are warranted. However, a few derailments are inevitable. You won’t find a more attractive and easy-to-learn train simulation. Train Table mode further enhances replayability and casual appeal. A simple-to-use interface makes building your empire a snap, while multiplayer support increases play value beyond the game’s basic scenarios. High production values are evidenced in stunningly detailed visuals and authentic sounds that bring its world to life. Sid Meier’s Railroads has come a long way since Railroad Tycoon. ![]() Focus on one segment of industry, like passenger and mail transport or lumber production, then expand elsewhere once your resources grow sufficiently. For example, let details overwhelm you and you may spread yourself too thin. Nonetheless, even if you’re a fledgling railway mogul, it’s manageable if you think big picture. Moreover, patents and stocks demand consideration, as do the cutthroat tactics of your opponents. With over 20 different goods on the manifest to harvest, produce and sell, and 30 unique industries such as lumber mills, refineries and power plants to operate, pressure builds quickly whether you’re a born industrialist or not. While the game tracks supply and demand, and inserts random events that can cause a boom or bust in one or more industries, you’re in control of your empire and need to decide wisely where to invest. Yet, competing against other tycoons is where the challenge hits the rails… and where things can get a bit complex. It’s a simple click-and-drag affair with over 30 trains to run from primitive locos to ultra-modern diesels, each customizable via in-game tools. Action transpires in real-time as you lay track, build depots, route trains, transport cargo and shuffle passengers and mail. Sid Meier’s Railroads has its roots in the original Railroad Tycoon (available as a free download) released in 1990. Whether you’re a casual player looking for something a bit deeper than the usual fare or a model railroad enthusiast, this diversion is fueled with entertainment value. So, even if you’re put off by economic sims (the approach here is more lighthearted rather than a complicated business model), there’s plenty of fun on line. Train Table mode, conversely, allows you to create a rail system sans competition, and time or financial restrictions. Scenarios transpire throughout America (mostly), France, Germany and Great Britain. You can also adjust train routing complexity, as well as select randomized landscapes and city locations. Four difficulty levels allow you to modify the challenge, while victory conditions consist of Monopoly, buying out your competitors Goals, completing a series of set tasks in an allotted timeframe or both. Or, if you prefer, you can compete against other gamers via a local network or the Internet. Competitive pits you against the computer or one to three artificial opponents. Play modes are double-tracked: Competitive and Train Table. While Railroads is a modestly in-depth economic strategy game, it’s also a great non-threatening sim for letting off a little steam. Not sure if that shakes your caboose? Well, don’t surrender your boarding pass yet. It’s basically a tale of building a great rail empire in which you manage trains, cargo and finances while engaging in corporate warfare with rival entrepreneurs. Nor will you be producing and delivering toys for Christmas. But, you won’t be rescuing damsels in distress, tied to the rails by a mustached villain. A “story element” is employed as each scenario is populated with historically accurate events. Sid Meier’s Railroads is not your typical casual game. ![]() Thanks to Sid Meier’s Railroads, that addictive allure is yours to enjoy - trainmaster or not. Whether invoking memories of a simple layout under the Christmas tree, a story from a beloved book or scene from a favorite film, or the joys of watching your own children indulge in some make-believe railroading, trains have the power to fascinate.
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