Choose PicoTrains
Choose PicoTrains if you want an Indie experience. On Steam, it's currently about 90% cheaper on the Steam Store. PicoTrains launched in 2024.
PicoTrains vs Empire Builder
PicoTrains and Empire Builder both land in Strategy, Casual 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, Casual on Steam. PicoTrains (2024) is 1 year older than Empire Builder (2025). PicoTrains scores higher on Steam reviews (100% positive) than Empire Builder (94.9% positive). 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 Empire Builder
Choose Empire Builder if you want the Multi-player, Online PvP, and PvP side of the pairing. Empire Builder launched in 2025.
Both PicoTrains and Empire Builder sit in Strategy and Casual 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
 PicoTrains |  Empire Builder | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2024 | 2025 |
| Genres | Strategy, Indie, Casual | Strategy, Casual |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Unrated | Unrated |
| Price | 1.99 USD | 19.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 100% positive (11 reviews) | 94.9% positive (39 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Multi-player |
| Developers | Soundole | Zombie Possum Games Inc |
Side by side
- Both share Strategy, Casual on Steam.
- PicoTrains (2024) is 1 year older than Empire Builder (2025).
- PicoTrains scores higher on Steam reviews (100% positive) than Empire Builder (94.9% positive).
- PicoTrains is currently ~90% cheaper on Steam than Empire Builder (1.99 USD vs. 19.99 USD).
PicoTrains vs Empire Builder — FAQ
- Should I play PicoTrains or Empire Builder first?
- If you want chronology, PicoTrains (2024) came out before Empire Builder (2025). 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 PicoTrains and Empire Builder similar?
- They overlap on Strategy, Casual 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 PicoTrains have multiplayer like Empire Builder?
- No. Empire Builder supports multiplayer on Steam (Multi-player), while PicoTrains is listed as single-player only.