1
Squirrel's Pick Squirrel's PickThe best game on this page. If you only try one, try this.
Chris Sawyer's Locomotion™
PC
TrainsTransportationEconomy
$5.99 ~16.1 hr median no co-op complexity: moderate 86.7% of 667
The Squirrel's verdictChris Sawyer's Locomotion expands the rail-network tycoon formula to include trucks, ships, and planes, with the same route-building and economic management structure. At $5.99 with a Very Positive rating and a median 16.1 hours, it suits fans of the genre who want multi-modal transport. Reviewers note screen issues when connecting second monitors and crashes tied to known Windows compatibility quirks.
Not for you if you need resolution options above 800x600 or a port without known display and crash issues on modern systems.
2
Closest Match Closest MatchThe most similar game to the anchor, by what players say. Budget Pick Budget PickThe best game here for the least money.
EconomyCity Builder
$1.99 ~16.5 hr median no co-op complexity: moderate 86% of 1k
The Squirrel's verdictFactory-to-store resource chains are the focus here rather than rail logistics: players set up production lines, manage pricing, and organize transport between factories and shops across mission and sandbox modes. Priced at $1.99 with a Very Positive rating and a median 16.5 hours, Industry Giant 2 suits players who want heavier statistical feedback on industrial chains. Reviewers report launch failures and mid-game crashes requiring workarounds.
Not for you if you want rail-focused building over factory and retail chain management, or need a stable launch without compatibility fixes.
3
TrainsOpen WorldAutomobile Sim
$29.99 ~117.9 hr median co-op complexity: light 74.8% of 6k
The Squirrel's verdictRailroads Online shifts from tycoon economics to cooperative, hands-on locomotive operation: players drive trains and build track together rather than managing a railroad business. PC-only co-op is built in from the start, priced at $29.99 with a median 117.9 hours logged. Reviewers cite random derailments, malfunctioning three-way switches, underpowered locomotives, and simplistic simulation fidelity compared to RRT3's praised economic model.
Not for you if you want deep economic modeling and campaign management rather than co-op train driving, or reliable locomotive physics and switch behavior matter to you.
4
EconomyTransportation
$1.99 ~16.9 hr median no co-op complexity: moderate 77.1% of 170
The Squirrel's verdictRoute management and passenger flow replace freight contracts and timetables here: Traffic Giant focuses on urban transit networks rather than intercity rail. Priced at $1.99 with a median 16.9 hours, it suits players drawn to dense economic simulation in a city-transit context. Reviewers describe crashes around year ten, items that cannot be placed or removed, and saves that fail to progress.
Not for you if you need a stable build before investing hours, given reported crashes and unresolved placement and save issues.
5
TrainsEconomyReal-Time with Pause
$9.99 ~30.5 hr median no co-op complexity: light 71% of 3k
The Squirrel's verdictSid Meier's Railroads! centers on the same railroad-building and freight logistics loop, with campaign and sandbox modes and a focus on economic competition between companies. It trades RRT3's extensive locomotive roster and map editor for a tighter, more streamlined economic model. Priced at $9.99 with a median 30.5 hours logged and a Mostly Positive rating, it suits players who want a cleaner economic layer over deep simulation.
Not for you if you want RRT3's larger locomotive catalog and built-in map-making tools.
How the Squirrel matches games
Not tag overlap. We compare what players actually say across hundreds of
thousands of reviews about how each game feels to play, then break
the comparison into the mechanics you can see in each card. The mark on
every bar is Railroad Tycoon 3's own score, so you can read where a match runs
hotter or cooler than the anchor.
Verdicts are written against a fixed editorial standard, machine-audited,
and human spot-checked. Which games make the cut is a human call. Prices
and review data refresh automatically. Full method & AI disclosure →