While we’ll likely never see a new entry in the beloved Railroad Tycoon series, the genre remains very much alive… in some form. By this, I mean that Train Valley 2 takes a bit of a different approach with down-to-earth puzzle-centric simulation replacing the spreadsheet-balancing business management that defined the classics. A new experience for a new generation.
At its core, everything does seem pretty nice and easy: “build railroads, upgrade your locomotives, and keep your trains on schedule without delays or accidents”. That’s it. Not much to worry about, right? Yeah right. Don’t let those “elegant low-poly graphics” fool ya, for behind the colorful, easily distinguishable interface beats the heart of a rather challenging puzzle game (or so I’m hoping, anyway).
Little by little, your empire will grow, and with expansion, more and more locomotives, engines, and train cars will become available, ensuring variety is on the menu during the fifty levels that make up Company Mode. Keeping everything upgraded is absolutely vital to ensure a smooth operation with no hiccups, trains breaking down, tracks falling apart, or other potential hazards.
You’ll be managing various industries too, as you go “from the days of the Industrial Revolution and into the future”. Distant future? Not-so-distant future? Who knows! Either way, those tracks aren’t going to lay themselves, and the same goes for all those darn puzzles. Do watch out for volcanic eruptions by the way. I hear they can be quite… fiery.
Once you’ve either exhausted the available content or simply feel the need for something ‘custom’, guess what: Train Valley 2 has not only a level editor but also Steam Workshop integration, even mod support.
Train Valley 2 is available from Steam, carrying a $14.99 price tag.
