Best Train Simulator Games for PC

Why it's here: Derail Valley is the most rewarding train sim on PC because it makes you earn every run: you take shunting and freight jobs, set the switches yourself and feel the track through the cab. Steam reviewers call it addictive and praise the sandbox and mod support, though reviews flag slow development, VR bugs and a world that feels empty without NPCs. Start here if you want a sim that is also a game. Steam: 97% positive, Overwhelmingly Positive, across 9,881 reviews.

Why it's here: SimRail is the pick for players who want the railway to feel shared. Its Polish routes are built from geodetic data, and in multiplayer other drivers and human dispatchers run the same timetable around you. Steam reviewers praise the realism and say it runs better than its rivals, but they also report a confusing tutorial, bugs and routes locked behind DLC. Worth it if you want realism with real people on the line. Steam: 85% positive, Very Positive, across 5,595 reviews.

Why it's here: Train Sim World 6 has the broadest mainstream offer: three new routes on launch, the Riviera Line among them, plus a huge back catalogue of compatible add-ons. Players enjoy the variety, visuals and sound, yet reviews are split by stutter, bugs and the cost of the DLC that fills the map. Buy it for route variety and polish, and budget for the add-ons you actually want. Steam: 76% positive, Mostly Positive, across 4,345 reviews.

Why it's here: Railroader is for players who care about running a railroad, not just driving a train. You work vintage steam and diesel stock across transition-era Appalachia, routing freight and passengers and expanding the line as it pays. Players praise the detailed locomotives and sound, while reviews call the loop repetitive and the tutorial thin. Pick it if timetables and car sorting sound relaxing rather than tedious. Steam: 97% positive, Overwhelmingly Positive, across 3,624 reviews.

Why it's here: Rolling Line is the model railway on this list: you design layouts, place scenery, then drive trains at human scale or walk the miniature world, in VR or on a flat screen. Reviewers love the creative freedom and the mod community, though they note complex controls and multiplayer that is closer to a hangout than co-op. Choose it if building the layout is half the fun. Steam: 96% positive, Overwhelmingly Positive, across 2,626 reviews.

Why it's here: Train Simulator Classic is the veteran, and its pull is sheer content: routes across the UK, Germany and the US, a free-roam mode and years of community scenarios. Players still praise the realism and the library, but reviews are blunt about crashes, a dated interface and a heavy reliance on paid DLC. Get it if you want the deepest catalogue of routes and locos, not the newest engine. Steam: 72% positive, Mostly Positive, across 29,559 reviews.

Why it's here: Diesel Railcar Simulator is a small indie that punches far above its size. You drive classic British diesel railcars on two fictional routes with full daytime timetables, and the game scores your driving and timekeeping. Reviewers single out the driving physics and the developer's steady updates, while noting dated visuals and a limited route count. A strong pick for players who value handling over graphics. Steam: 94% positive, Very Positive, across 350 reviews.

Why it's here: SubwaySim 2 is the metro sim of the group, putting you in the cab on Berlin and Hamburg underground lines with timetables, disruptions and Unreal Engine 5 visuals. Players praise the authenticity and the developer's frequent updates, but reviews repeatedly mention performance problems and repetitive passenger AI. Pick it if city transit appeals more than mainline freight and your PC has headroom to spare. Steam: 82% positive, Very Positive, across 887 reviews.

Why it's here: Rail Route puts you in the signal box instead of the cab: you build track, set routes and dispatch trains across a network as traffic grows. Players who click with it find real strategic depth and call it addictive, while others give up on the cluttered interface, weak tutorials and slow early progression. Try it if the puzzle of keeping trains moving appeals more than driving one. Steam: 88% positive, Very Positive, across 2,653 reviews.