Summary
For decades, trains have captured the imaginations of people around the world and of all ages. The basic concept of transporting people and goods on wheeled vehicles guided by rails actuallygoes back to the ancient world, but the increasing presence of steam locomotives in the 19th century was a game-changer worldwide. As track routes grew bigger, trains became an efficient means to travel long distances with large payloads. Eventually, they could transport people across continents faster than any other mode of transportation at the time. Trains continue to play a key role in modern society. The history of the railroad is a captivating tale, which is inextricably linked to every key event of the 19th and 20th centuries.
Trains are a fascinating piece of machinery, and it is no surprise that this is reflected in a lot of media. There is no shortage of films about train-related mishaps, from Buster Keaton’sThe Generalto Tony Scott’sUnstoppable. A lot of mediageared towards childrenlikes to fuel interest in trains,from the classic storyThe Little Engine That CouldtoThomas the Tank Engine. Collecting and setting up model trains remains a popular hobby. This is also true of video games, which have also found ways to appeal to humanity’s love of trains.
Update June 13, 2025, by John Hitchcock:Trains continue to capture the imaginations of people of all ages from around the world. The first iteration of this list included some great options, but there are a lot more games available for people interested in a railroad adventure. Aside from two new entries, this article has been updated to better suit current standards, and some information on individual entries has been updated.
This is a strange one. The setup is a coming-of-age story centered on the relationship between orphan siblings Scarlett and Finn, most of which takes place on a moving train that may or may not be in their heads. This offers avery unusual experiencewhen it comes to the train.
Although the player doesn’t necessarily get to drive it or lay down tracks like many other entries on this list, they do get to explore a very bizarre train. There are unusual “passengers” in the form of anthropomorphic animals and peculiar situations like trees growing through the roof of a train car. It is a very odd way to tell this kind of story, but train enthusiasts are sure to enjoyBlackwood Crossing’s setting nonetheless.
As a high fantasy game with a largely medieval aesthetic, one wouldn’t expect to see trains as a central gameplay feature inThe Legend of Zelda, and that is exactly what happened in one of itsmost popular spin-offs.
Spirit Trackswas a DS exclusive that centered on Link and Zelda getting access to a train, which slowly gets longer as the game progresses. The train acts as their primary means of transportation, and a lot of gameplay involves driving it as well as solving puzzles to unlock new locations to visit.
Thisclassic 1998 computer gameis effectively a model train simulator. The player gets a sandbox in which they can freely build their own LEGO City populated by LEGO people, but the game’s main selling point is the ability to build railroads.
There are plenty of track pieces to choose from, allowing free rein to experiment with different routes for the little LEGO trains to follow. The best part is being able to make postcards that can then be sent to various characters using the player’s own train-based postal service, which will also deliver their reply. Although perhaps a bit simpler than some of the others on this list,LEGO Locois a great introduction to the world of trains.
The first twoMetrogames took place ina post-apocalyptic subway network, so Artyom often found various rail vehicles in different states of functionality, butMetro Exodustook it to another level. This time around, Artyom’s crew gets to leave the metro in a steam-powered locomotive called the “Aurora,” and they have a small train by the end.
This train acts as a main hub and is a driving force for the story. The game’s entire plot is structured around the Aurora being used to explore post-nuclear Russia, with each level centering on misadventures that occur at each stop. This format allowsMetroExodusto use its train as a means of visiting several very distinct locations, each of which has its own unique stories and characters.
Railway Empirecasts the player as a railroad baron during the Industrial Revolution, with an emphasis onconstruction and resource management. The main campaign deals with the role of trains in American history during the 19th and early 20th centuries, with expansions showcasing the railways of other countries around the same time.
Players get to deal with all the challenges of running a business, such as managing finances, gathering resources, and hiring personnel, but as they progress, the player will have access to a greater selection of locomotives, and the means to build even bigger track routes. That is, of course, if they can keep up with an increasing task list and outwit their competitors.
As its name implies, theRailway Tycoonseries is all about running a railroad company.Railroad Tycoon 3, arguably the most popular of the series, has several campaigns to choose from, many of which are inspired by different historical locations and eras. This makes it the kind of game perfect not just for railroad enthusiasts but also historical railroad enthusiasts who are bound to appreciate the wide variety of trains from different eras and countries to pick from.
As a business management simulator,Railroad Tycoontries to re-create the challenges of running a company. Placing railroad tracks is part of it, but it also means managing finances and resources while trying to thwart the efforts of rival businesses.
Ticket to Rideis the digital adaptation ofthe popular board gameof the same name, which is interestingly themed around being apassengeron various trains rather than driving one or building railroads. The goal is pretty simple: players gain points by traveling between different cities, with the ultimate goal of connecting destinations given on their tickets.
The rules for how to accomplish that are also pretty straightforward: gamers can take one of three possible actions and collect cards of a matching color to claim a route. However, the inevitable chaos comes from the fact that each track can only be ridden by one player, leading to them thwarting each other’s efforts.
A lot of the already mentioned games are about old-fashioned steam locomotives, but what about those who are more interested in modern trains? Furthermore, a lot of those games are about building tracks and letting trains run along them, but what if players want to actuallydrivea train?
Enter the latest addition to Dovetail’s popular series.Train Simulator 2022puts players in the engine room and gives them the responsibility of getting their train from point A to point B. Players can control a variety of electric, diesel, and even steam engines and are tasked with completing all the important tasks that come with being an engineer in each one.
This simple game, available through theDreamsplatform, is all about the childhood experience of playing with wooden toy trains. Players control a toy locomotive named Tren and solve puzzles to complete routes.
Gameplay involves simple movement - Tren can move forward or backward at different speeds. Some tracks will add an extra challenge by requiring Tren to take on cargo, which can be challenging when it comes to completing routes that involve loop-de-loops, jumping over gaps, elevators, and springboards.
This peculiar indie game sees players take on the role of engineer and conductor as they drive a train through an alternate dimension full of mystery and danger. One notable aspect of gameplay is actually building and improving the train. The player character starts with a simple handcart, but over time, can slowly turn it into a much bigger train.
As they progress, they can make the train longer, add additional cars, and eventually build engines. Crew members come in the form of little creatures called Rofleemo, who the player will have to manage and provide for. Other responsibilities include maintenance, collecting resources, anddefending the trainboth from the void’s monsters and the ominous military forces of the “Blue Light Corporation.”
Voidtrainis currently in early access and has not been released in its entirety. However, buying the game will allow players to provide feedback via the Discord server.
