Choose RAILGRADE
Choose RAILGRADE if it's Steam Deck Verified, so handheld play works out of the box. RAILGRADE launched in 2023.
RAILGRADE vs Simple Trains
RAILGRADE and Simple Trains both land in Strategy, Simulation on Steam, which is why they keep getting compared. The comparison below is built from each game's Steam metadata — release year, genres, categories, Steam Deck status, price, and review score — refreshed daily by imho.run's scraper. Headline differences: Both share Strategy, Simulation on Steam. RAILGRADE (2023) is 1 year older than Simple Trains (2024). Simple Trains is currently ~90% cheaper on Steam than RAILGRADE (2.99 USD vs. 29.99 USD). No login or purchase needed — scroll for the full table, the verdict FAQ, and links to ranked similar games for both titles.
Which should you pick?
Choose Simple Trains
Choose Simple Trains if you want an Indie and Early Access game with Steam Leaderboards. On Steam, it's currently about 90% cheaper on the Steam Store. Simple Trains launched in 2024.
Both RAILGRADE and Simple Trains sit in Strategy and Simulation on Steam, so either pick lands in the same broad neighborhood. Use the side-by-side table for the feature view, or follow the "Games like" links below to see ranked alternatives for either title.
Side-by-side comparison
 RAILGRADE |  Simple Trains | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2023 | 2024 |
| Genres | Strategy, Simulation | Strategy, Indie, Simulation, Early Access |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Verified | Unrated |
| Price | 29.99 USD | 2.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 86.8% positive (710 reviews) | 4 reviews |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | Minakata Dynamics | ElectronDust, Simurai |
Side by side
- Both share Strategy, Simulation on Steam.
- RAILGRADE (2023) is 1 year older than Simple Trains (2024).
- Simple Trains is currently ~90% cheaper on Steam than RAILGRADE (2.99 USD vs. 29.99 USD).
- RAILGRADE is Deck Verified on Steam Deck; Simple Trains has no Deck rating yet.
RAILGRADE vs Simple Trains — FAQ
- Should I play RAILGRADE or Simple Trains first?
- If you want chronology, RAILGRADE (2023) came out before Simple Trains (2024). If neither is a sequel to the other, order doesn't really matter — start with whichever fits your current mood, since both share enough on Steam to make either a reasonable opener.
- Are RAILGRADE and Simple Trains similar?
- They overlap on Strategy, Simulation on Steam, so the catalogue groups them together — but "similar" depends on the specific mechanics. Use the genre + category rows above to decide whether the overlap matches what drew you to the one you've already played.
- Does RAILGRADE run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — RAILGRADE is rated Deck Verified by Valve. Simple Trains doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.