1
Squirrel's Pick Squirrel's PickThe best game on this page. If you only try one, try this. Closest Match Closest MatchThe most similar game to the anchor, by what players say.
TrainsVRTransportation
$39.99 ~81.5 hr median no co-op complexity: moderate 96.7% of 9k
The Squirrel's verdictLike Train Life, this is freight-hauling built around building a company from contracts rather than replicating exact real-world operations. Derail Valley trades Train Life's route-and-timetable structure for open-ended job picking, manual coupling, and hands-on cab interaction, at $40 with no co-op, for players who want the ETS2-on-rails feel with more physical simulation depth.
Not for you if you want scripted signalling and fixed routes rather than open-ended contract picking, or need co-op play.
2
TrainsEconomyHistorical
$29.99 ~52.5 hr median no co-op complexity: moderate 82.8% of 10k
The Squirrel's verdictRailway Empire's defining layer is economic: city demand curves, industry chains, and empire growth drive every decision, while track-laying and route management support that strategy rather than serve as the point. There is no cab view and no manual driving. At $29.99 with a Very Positive rating and a median playtime around 52 hours, it suits players drawn to the network-building and company side of Train Life over its locomotive operation.
Not for you if you want to drive the train yourself rather than direct AI trains through an overhead management view.
3
Hidden Gem Hidden GemLoved by the players who found it, but still under the radar. Budget Pick Budget PickThe best game here for the least money.
EconomyLogicPuzzle
$24.99 ~36.2 hr median co-op complexity: moderate 88.7% of 3k
The Squirrel's verdictRail Route is built for players who want to manage rail traffic from a signal box rather than from a cab. You control switches, dispatch trains across schematics, and scale up route automation — no driving involved. At $24.99 with a Very Positive rating and a median playtime around 36 hours, it suits players drawn to dispatch logic and network scheduling as the core activity.
Not for you if you want to drive trains yourself, or prefer supply-demand economics over pure dispatch and signal-box mechanics.
4
TrainsTransportationEconomy
$49.99 ~72.2 hr median co-op complexity: moderate 72.5% of 3k
The Squirrel's verdictRailway Empire 2 is a network-management tycoon: you lay track, run a company, and negotiate deals across large maps, with no first-person driving at any point. Reviewers single out its track-laying tools and automatic signal placement as genuine improvements over its predecessor. Co-op is supported, the median playtime runs around 72 hours, and it carries a Mostly Positive rating at $49.99.
Not for you if you want manual driving or hands-on signal control rather than directing AI trains through empire-level strategy.
5
TrainsHistoricalTransportation
Strong Mods Strong ModsA deep, active modding scene extends it past its base content.
$35.99 ~28.6 hr median co-op complexity: moderate 73.5% of 1k
The Squirrel's verdictRailroad Corporation layers bonds, labor contracts, and cargo economics over top-down network building, with AI-controlled trains you route but never directly drive. Reviewers specifically flag the complete absence of signals as a major limitation — trains distribute automatically with no player override. At $35.99 with co-op support, it targets players who want railway tycoon strategy rather than hands-on train operation.
Not for you if you want to control train movement directly or manage signalling yourself; the game offers no manual train or signal control.
6
Railroad Corporation 2
PC
TrainsEconomyHistorical
$39.99 ~32 hr median co-op complexity: moderate 71.6% of 384
The Squirrel's verdictRailroad Corporation 2 is a top-down railway tycoon with track construction, cargo contracts, bonds, and co-op play — no cab view exists. Reviewers note it closely resembles the first game but adds signals and improved track-building tools. Released in 2026 with a Mostly Positive rating, it suits players who want network and company management rather than locomotive operation.
Not for you if you want to ride along or operate a locomotive; reviewers confirm there is no in-cab or ride-along mode.
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 Train Life: A Railway Simulator'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,
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