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Trainz Railroad Simulator 2019 similar games & best alternatives

Trainz Railroad Simulator 2019

PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac • 2019

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Quick resume

Much more than just a train driving simulator. Build, drive and operate the railroad of your dreams with Trainz Railroad Simulator 2019.

Global score

77/100

Genres

Simulator

Similar games

    Pros

    • Extensive route building and customization tools
    • Large and active community with abundant free and paid content
    • Realistic and immersive train simulation experience
    • Backward compatibility with older content
    • Long-term engagement and replayability

    Cons

    • High cost of dlc and base game
    • Steep learning curve for new users
    • Performance issues and optimization challenges
    • Slow download speeds from official servers
    • Ui and tutorial limitations

    Analysis

    Less representative of its motivational profile, with noticeable differences. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Fantasy, Violence, Story, Thrill. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Fellowship, Cooperation, Exploration.

    How to use the graph
    Similar games map

    Each dot is a game. They are arranged from the same motivation profile as in the “Motivations” section below. Closer dots usually mean more similar reasons to play (exploration, competition, relaxation, etc.)—not that one game is “better” than another.

    • Larger dot with a light outline: the game you are viewing.
    • Colour: groups of games with comparable motivation patterns (statistical clusters).
    • Hover a dot to see the game name; click to open its page.
    • Scroll or double-click the chart to zoom out and see more games.

    Why don’t the axes read like a score? This view uses t-SNE: it only keeps who is close to whom. The scales are not “good to bad” or hours played—they separate groups on the map. Read distance between dots, not the axis numbers.

    Motivations

    • Autonomy
      5

      "Players have extensive freedom to build custom routes, create worlds, and choose how to operate trains, reflecting high personal control and creativity."

    • Competence
      3

      "The game offers a learning curve with technical challenges in route building and train operation, rewarding skill development and mastery."

    • Competition
      -4

      "Focus is on personal pace, creativity, and exploration rather than competitive modes or leaderboards."

    • Continuation
      5

      "Many users report hundreds to thousands of hours played, indicating strong habitual engagement and long sessions."

    • Cooperation
      2

      "Some multiplayer and community content sharing exist, but gameplay is largely individual and sandbox-oriented."

    • Creativity
      5

      "Robust editor and route creation tools enable extensive building, customization, and modding."

    • Domination
      -5

      "Interactions emphasize shared community content and collaboration rather than exerting control or superiority."

    • Escapism
      4

      "Players use the game as a relaxing, immersive escape into a detailed virtual world of trains and landscapes."

    • Expectation
      -4

      "Engagement is driven by personal interest and intrinsic motivation rather than obligation or external pressure."

    • Experimenting
      4

      "Users frequently experiment with route design, asset customization, and modding, exploring game mechanics deeply."

    • Exploration
      4

      "Players discover new routes, hidden content, and community creations, fostering curiosity-driven activities."

    • Expression
      4

      "Customization of routes, trains, and environments allows for personal expression and unique creations."

    • Fantasy
      -2

      "The game emphasizes realistic train simulation and model railroading rather than fantastical or fictional narratives."

    • Fellowship
      3

      "Strong community presence with content sharing and forums supports a sense of belonging among enthusiasts."

    • Growth
      4

      "Players develop skills in simulation, route building, and troubleshooting, reflecting ongoing learning."

    • Health
      -5

      "Sedentary gameplay typical of simulation games with no physical activity component."

    • Idle
      -3

      "Requires focused attention for building and driving; not typically used as background or filler activity."

    • Intimacy
      -3

      "Social interactions are mostly surface-level through community sharing rather than close personal relationships."

    • Leadership
      -4

      "Gameplay centers on individual creation and operation rather than leading or managing others."

    • Progression
      3

      "Players accumulate assets, routes, and upgrades, though progression is open-ended rather than linear."

    • Relaxation
      4

      "Many users find the game relaxing and immersive, balancing challenge with flow."

    • Sensation
      2

      "Visuals and audio provide sensory enjoyment, though not highly intense or thrilling."

    • Status
      -3

      "Achievements and recognition are mostly personal or community-based, with limited social status emphasis."

    • Story
      -5

      "No narrative or story-driven gameplay; focus is on sandbox and simulation activities."

    • Strategy
      3

      "Route planning and operational management require problem solving and strategic thinking."

    • Thrill
      -3

      "Gameplay is low risk and controlled, lacking suspense or high-stakes excitement."

    • Value
      0

      "Mixed user opinions on value; good content and longevity but expensive DLC and performance issues noted."

    • Violence
      -5

      "No combat or destructive gameplay; emphasis on constructive building and simulation."

    • Survival
      -5

      "Stable, low-risk environment without survival or failure avoidance mechanics."

    Where to buy

    Come talk about it on Discord!

    Last update: 29/04/2026