SimRail vs. Train Simulator – Is It Time To Switch Tracks?

The Simulation game genre is a pretty niche section of the gaming world that not a lot of people look into. That’s usually because of how they’re not really well known plus all the hurdles you need to go through like steep learning curves and little to no good tutorials. Even with those problems, there is still a sizable amount of people that enjoy these types of games. When a new game comes out though these players not only get hyped about it, they also want to know what the new game provides and in this guide we’ll do just that for the train simulation genre.

Is It Time To Switch Tracks? | SimRail vs. Train Simulator

There’s a new game that just released for the Train Simulation genre and it’s Simrail, a game made by SimRail S.A. This game is sitting at around 370+ positive reviews in Steam right now out of 400+ and it seems to be a big hit in this niche genre. The question is, how does it stack up with the old games of the same genre like Train Simulator?

Multiplayer

Train Simulator fans rejoice because we now have a modern game that has multiplayer in it. Not only does it not have multiplayer but it also lets players play not only as train drivers, but dispatchers as well. If you’re also a fan of flight simulators like Microsoft Flight Sim you’ll know that they’re the train equivalent of Air Traffic Controllers.

Of course there’s been attempts of multiplayer train simulation games before, like the game Trainz. Though the less we talk about that game the better.

This is what makes it stand out from Train Simulator, since that game doesn’t have multiplayer available. Still, there’s one thing that it does have that SimRail lacks.

Singleplayer

This is where we’ll do a reversal because SimRail actually lacks in the Singleplayer department! At release the game only has around 10 scenarios for Singleplayer, and what’s worse is that you can’t save in these scenarios! That means if you’re going for a long route you better do it in one sitting or just exit in the middle!

Of course this is where Train Simulator shines because that’s what it’s been aiming for since it’s conception. The game has been built for singlplayer and it shows since it has all the goodies you need to enjoy a singleplayer experience. From all kinds of routes, trains and even the ability to make your own scenarios with the editor! Speaking of Editor!

Editor and Workshop

SimRail being still new to the genre doesn’t have much in terms of steam workshop integration or mods. It also lacks modding tools or even an editor to go have fun with your own creations. You’re limited to the scenarios set by the game and the multiplayer which is the main selling point of the game.

Train Simulator on the other hand lets you make your own mods and upload them to the workshop as well has a built-in editor to make not only more ways to do train simulation, but also wacky and fun scenarios.

Trains!

Of course we’re leaving the best for last; the Trains! What kind of trains can you expect to play in both games? Well that’s where Train Simulator wins, but with a caveat. You see Train Simulator has a lot of trains for you to choose from, and we mean A LOT. The thing is, Train Simulator is also known as a meme for having a DLC list that resembles a laundry list.

It’s a well known fact that these Simulation games often sell bits as DLCs for you to enjoy like a certain plane or a specific tank. Train Simulator takes the cake because it has over 600 DLCs! Of course this isn’t just trains, they’re also routes, but when you see that long list you have to wonder what a newbie would think!

SimRail only has a few selection when it comes to trains but being a newer game they have the most beautifully designed trains out there. The game may not have 600+ trains but it does have enough to give you a lot of stuff to learn and shows it in the best way possible with modern graphics.

Old or New?

It’s really tough to tell which one is the best between the two since both has their strengths and weaknesses. SimRail is barely a month old so there’s still massive room for improvement in terms of it’s lacking aspects like Singleplayer and modded content. The older Train Simulator, despite its age has a lot going for it but if you’re new in the genre it might look like a nightmare with all those DLCs and intricacies.

Both game has their ups and downs and only time will tell if SimRail can match the glory of the older games, and perhaps surpass it!

ALSO READ: SimRail – Beginner’s Guide