Video Game Review - Railroads Online
Taming the frontier one railroad at a time…
Railroads Online is a sandbox simulation tycoon game that puts you into the role of building a railroad network during the golden age of steam locomotives. Developed by solo developer, Stefan Kelnberger, Railroads Online sees you developing the untamed wilderness one track at a time.
As an avid fan of the more modern Train Simulator title, Railroads Online initially intrigued me. Becoming a titan of the steam industry isn’t a genre that’s covered by the hustle and bustle of commuter travel, and after recently playing Death Stranding I wanted a more casual experience of simply hauling freight from A to B. While Railroads Online does this, it has the added layer of allowing you to build the track and make your connections along the way. However, while you’re given the tools to build and shape this world how you see fit, it’s not very easy for those of us looking for something casual. So while my initial excitement was very high, actually having the time to sit down and create this world for me to then steamroll through was extremely challenging.
For those wanting to jump straight in and play, this isn’t a game for you. Starting you’re given a basic supply yard, a few sets of pre-placed rails and the historically accurate train of your choosing - the rest is entirely up to you. The freedom to construct your steam-powered empire across a vast open world is rich for the taking and there’s plenty of rough terrain to conquer and challenges to face. The game doesn’t necessarily hold your hand either and there’s a lot of relying on your understanding of the game's many in-depth tutorials to see you through. Again, this isn’t an experience for the casual gamer, and your enjoyment will be based on how much work you put into it.
While gameplay can be a little off-putting, the game shines with its simulation. Standing in the cab of your steam locomotive never got old and having full control over all of its components was a breath of fresh air. Everything about these trains is yours to control whether it’s tending the boiler, to making sure you have enough sand there’s been great thought into what makes these vehicles work, and the effort their drivers put into them to get them moving. To help you get to grips with the workings of a steam locomotive there’s a handy tutorial. Here you’re introduced to the fundamentals at a pace that builds up toward getting the train moving. You’re never thrown in at the deep end, and Stefan Kelnberger gives you time to learn at your own pace - with the option to replay these whenever you need a refresh. There’s also the option to control your locomotive via third-person controls if you wish with most operations being handled by some handy sliders.
Now that we know how to drive our locomotive it’s now over to lay the rails for it to move. It’s also here where my imagination ended. For me, I found laying my track to be a bit of a chore (and a little bit boring). It’s an extremely tricky thing to do which sees you factoring in signals, junctions, and the general layout of the land. For those who spend time with the tools on offer, there are plenty of gizmos for you to tinker with. With a little creativity, you can easily create a mass train network that’ll make the folks at Hornby blush. For people like me, there’s also the option to quickly build to your destinations, but this takes away the fun of designing your network. Each of the included maps also offers a rich sandbox with plenty of nooks and crannies for you to explore and resources to exploit.
Having “online” in its name is quite the indication that Railroads Online has an online mode too. While I only dipped my toes into the experience, it does support up to 16 players to create and manage their worlds together.
In terms of presentation Railroads Online is a gorgeous game. Visuals are inspired from the golden age of steam with everything having a Wild West atmosphere about them. The sandbox landscapes a a rich tapestry of dense forests, sprawling plains, winding rivers, and dangerous mountains. Everything feels straight out of a Western movie with you having to tame this landscape to build your business. The soundtrack is also of a similar style with great care taken to give an authentic feel to the experience. The little sounds also help to pull you into the world and each train has its unique sound. It’s hard to explain but the gentle hiss of steam as the locomotive sits idle, or the screech of wheels starting to move just sits right in creating the right atmosphere.
Overall while Railroads Online is a fun game, its steep learning curve will put most casual players off the experience. The lack of initial handholding doesn’t mean you can simply jump in and play. Instead, your initial hours will be spent within the game's structured tutorials away from the gorgeous sandbox on offer. That being said, if you take the time to learn these fundamentals then Railroads Online offers a robust ecosystem for you and friends to build your railroad dream.
Rating: 7.5/10
A code was kindly provided for this review
We reviewed Railroads Online on the Xbox Series X
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