Games like Derail Valley
If Derail Valley is your kind of game, the closest matches are Powerboat VR, Railroader and American Truck Simulator — picked from the ranked list below. Reviewers single out its freight contracts, hook up cars and physics is exceptional. Each pick is ranked by what players of this game also play, shared genres and tags, and review-mined similarity — not a generic popularity list.
Get personalized picks →Derail Valley is an open-world train driving simulation released in 2019 by Altfuture, available in both PC and VR. Players take on freight contracts, hooking up cars and navigating a massive railway network with realistic locomotive handling and physics-based mechanics. The simulation includes career mode progression alongside sandbox mode, with players describing the experience as both atmospheric and immersive while also finding it stressful and chill depending on their approach. Derail Valley tasks players with maintaining their locomotives as they work toward obtaining increasingly powerful trains. The game achieves a 96% positive rating from 5,882 Steam reviews and runs in a playable state on Steam Deck. Priced at $39.99, it offers substantial depth for those seeking a challenging railway simulation with substantial longevity.
About Derail Valley: Drive massive trains and build your career in a vast open railway network. For both PC and VR.
Players who liked Derail Valley also play
Steam players who put hours into Derail Valley also tend to own these titles — a signal called collaborative filtering. imho.run cross-references millions of library ownership patterns to surface games whose real audiences overlap, regardless of whether their genre tags match.
Powerboat VR
WHY THIS
Shares career mode and an atmospheric mood with Derail Valley.
Top pick for Derail Valley fans by collaborative filtering across millions of Steam libraries. Shares Indie and Simulation with Derail Valley.
Take the helm of a variety of different ocean vessels from small sport boats all the way up to large commercial vessels. Dynamic seas, Day/Night cycle, RADAR, GPS, "IALA A" Buoyage with NavAid/AtoN lighting systems provide a realistic sailing environment. VR & Non-VR modes supported.
Railroader
WHY THIS
Shares an atmospheric mood with Derail Valley.
Second-strongest match for Derail Valley fans by collaborative filtering across millions of Steam libraries. Shares Simulation and Early Access with Derail Valley.
You and your fellow railroaders are the lifeblood of your railroad, just like it is the lifeblood of the communities it serves. Switch cars at industries. Keep people moving while running local passenger trains. Run trains with a purpose in transition era Appalachia – in Railroader!
American Truck Simulator
WHY THIS
Shares an atmospheric mood with Derail Valley.
Third-strongest match for Derail Valley fans by collaborative filtering across millions of Steam libraries. Shares Indie and Simulation with Derail Valley.
Experience legendary American trucks and deliver various cargoes across sunny California, sandy Nevada, and the Grand Canyon State of Arizona. American Truck Simulator takes you on a journey through the breathtaking landscapes and widely recognized landmarks around the States.
Rolling Line
WHY THIS
Shares a chill mood with Derail Valley.
Ranked #4 for Derail Valley fans by collaborative filtering across millions of Steam libraries. Shares Indie and Simulation with Derail Valley.
Build your own model railway tracks and scenery or explore pre-made maps, including 1000s of player-made maps and mods on the Steam Workshop! Play solo and in multiplayer, both in virtual reality and on PC!
Motor Town: Behind The Wheel
WHY THIS
Shares an atmospheric mood with Derail Valley.
Ranked #5 for Derail Valley fans by collaborative filtering across millions of Steam libraries. Shares Indie and Adventure with Derail Valley.
Enjoy realistic driving in the open world. Relaxing cargo deliveries or driving buses and taxis will give you enough money to buy new cars and parts. You can test your driving skills at the race track. It's all about pure driving pleasure!
Euro Truck Simulator 2
WHY THIS
Shares an immersive mood with Derail Valley.
Ranked #6 for Derail Valley fans by collaborative filtering across millions of Steam libraries. Shares Indie and Simulation with Derail Valley.
Travel across Europe as king of the road, a trucker who delivers important cargo across impressive distances! With dozens of cities to explore, your endurance, skill and speed will all be pushed to their limits.
Train Life: A Railway Simulator
WHY THIS
Shares an immersive mood with Derail Valley.
Ranked #7 for Derail Valley fans by collaborative filtering across millions of Steam libraries. Shares Simulation with Derail Valley.
For the first time in railroad simulation, play as both the driver and company director! Take the controls of your locomotives and grow your railway empire by negotiating deals and developing your network.
SimRail - The Railway Simulator
WHY THIS
Shares a stressful mood with Derail Valley.
Ranked #8 for Derail Valley fans by collaborative filtering across millions of Steam libraries. Shares Simulation with Derail Valley.
SimRail is new, advanced railway simulator. Master high-speed long-distance EMU, heavy freight hauls and suburban trains. Travel 500 km of geodetic-data based real routes. Become train dispatcher and control the traffic according to the schedule or cooperate with other players on multiplayer mode.
Reviewers mention these as similar to Derail Valley
Surfaced from review text: when other players write 'if you liked X, try Y', we catch the name and resolve it back to a Steam game.
Railroads Online
WHY THIS
Shares an atmospheric mood with Derail Valley.
Reviewers of Derail Valley cross-mention this title as a similar play. Shares Indie and Simulation with Derail Valley.
Build your dream railroad across a huge open world! You can build tracks and stations, drive detailed locomotives, and transport goods to earn money and experience. Play exciting Online Multiplayer sessions with your friends or create your very own sandbox!
Railroader
WHY THIS
Shares an atmospheric mood with Derail Valley.
Reviewers of Derail Valley cross-mention this title as a similar play. Shares Simulation and Early Access with Derail Valley.
You and your fellow railroaders are the lifeblood of your railroad, just like it is the lifeblood of the communities it serves. Switch cars at industries. Keep people moving while running local passenger trains. Run trains with a purpose in transition era Appalachia – in Railroader!
Train Sim World® 2
WHY THIS
Shares an atmospheric mood with Derail Valley.
Reviewers of Derail Valley cross-mention this title as a similar play. Shares Simulation with Derail Valley.
The evolution of train simulation! Master iconic locomotives on high-speed services, long freight hauls or precise commuter traffic, and get creative with customisation tools in this advanced sequel. Climb into the cab in Train Sim World 2.
SnowRunner
WHY THIS
Reviewers of Derail Valley cross-mention this title as a similar play. Shares Adventure and Simulation with Derail Valley.
Get ready for the next-generation off-road experience! Drive powerful vehicles and overcome extreme open environments to complete dozens of challenging missions solo or with up to 3 friends!
SimRail - The Railway Simulator
WHY THIS
Shares a stressful mood with Derail Valley.
Reviewers of Derail Valley cross-mention this title as a similar play. Shares Simulation with Derail Valley.
SimRail is new, advanced railway simulator. Master high-speed long-distance EMU, heavy freight hauls and suburban trains. Travel 500 km of geodetic-data based real routes. Become train dispatcher and control the traffic according to the schedule or cooperate with other players on multiplayer mode.
Train World
WHY THIS
Shares a chill mood with Derail Valley.
Reviewers of Derail Valley cross-mention this title as a similar play. Shares Simulation with Derail Valley.
Become a railroad pioneer in Train World - a railway simulator that spans centuries as you design, manage, and operate your own train network. Start at the dawn of railroad technology and evolve into a complex, modern railway company.
Diesel Railcar Simulator
WHY THIS
Shares an atmospheric mood with Derail Valley.
Reviewers of Derail Valley cross-mention this title as a similar play. Shares Indie and Simulation with Derail Valley.
Drive vintage diesel trains, shifting gears manually and trying to reach a perfect score. Create new routes, trains and timetables. Share your creations and download new content from the Workshop.
Transport Fever 2
WHY THIS
Reviewers of Derail Valley cross-mention this title as a similar play. Shares Indie and Simulation with Derail Valley.
The classic transport simulation genre has a new gold standard with Transport Fever 2. Discover a whole new world by navigating transport routes through land, water and air. May progress and prosperity find their way!
Cheaper alternatives
Games in the same vein priced at least 40% below Derail Valley at current Steam store prices.
Garry's Mod
WHY THIS
Priced ~88% under Derail Valley on Steam right now. Shares Indie and Simulation with Derail Valley.
Garry's Mod is a physics sandbox. There aren't any predefined aims or goals. We give you the tools and leave you to play.
Stardew Valley
WHY THIS
Priced ~63% under Derail Valley on Steam right now. Shares Indie and Simulation with Derail Valley.
You've inherited your grandfather's old farm plot in Stardew Valley. Armed with hand-me-down tools and a few coins, you set out to begin your new life. Can you learn to live off the land and turn these overgrown fields into a thriving home?
Phasmophobia
WHY THIS
Priced ~50% under Derail Valley on Steam right now. Shares Indie and Early Access with Derail Valley.
Phasmophobia is a 4 player online co-op psychological horror. Paranormal activity is on the rise and it’s up to you and your team to use all the ghost-hunting equipment at your disposal in order to gather as much evidence as you can.
Lethal Company
WHY THIS
Priced ~75% under Derail Valley on Steam right now. Shares Indie and Adventure with Derail Valley.
A co-op horror about scavenging at abandoned moons to sell scrap to the Company.
Schedule I
WHY THIS
Priced ~50% under Derail Valley on Steam right now. Shares Indie and Simulation with Derail Valley.
From small-time dope pusher to kingpin - manufacture and distribute a range of drugs throughout the grungy city of Hyland Point. Expand your empire with properties, businesses, employees and more.
Hollow Knight
WHY THIS
Priced ~63% under Derail Valley on Steam right now. Shares Indie and Adventure with Derail Valley.
Forge your own path in Hollow Knight! An epic action adventure through a vast ruined kingdom of insects and heroes. Explore twisting caverns, battle tainted creatures and befriend bizarre bugs, all in a classic, hand-drawn 2D style.
The Forest
WHY THIS
Priced ~50% under Derail Valley on Steam right now. Shares Indie and Adventure with Derail Valley.
As the lone survivor of a passenger jet crash, you find yourself in a mysterious forest battling to stay alive against a society of cannibalistic mutants. Build, explore, survive in this terrifying first person survival horror simulator.
Free alternatives
Free-to-play games that recommended players of this title also tend to enjoy.
Doki Doki Literature Club!
WHY THIS
Free-to-play pick from the same recommendation pool — no purchase to try it. Shares Indie with Derail Valley.
The Literature Club is full of cute girls! Will you write the way into their heart? This game is not suitable for children or those who are easily disturbed.
Ultimate Custom Night
WHY THIS
Free-to-play pick from the same recommendation pool — no purchase to try it. Shares Indie with Derail Valley.
Welcome to the ultimate FNAF mashup, featuring 50 selectable characters and custom difficulties!
Bongo Cat
WHY THIS
Free-to-play pick from the same recommendation pool — no purchase to try it. Shares Indie and Simulation with Derail Valley.
Bongo cat needs your help. Bongo cat needz more hatz!!! Every time you press a key, Bongo cat will punch your taskbar. Type, click, play, work to collect more points. Which hats will you find?
Indigo Park: Chapter 1
WHY THIS
Free-to-play pick from the same recommendation pool — no purchase to try it. Shares Indie and Adventure with Derail Valley.
Explore the abandoned childhood wonder of Indigo Park! Guided by Rambley the Raccoon, help restore power to the destroyed amusement park while you run from the reason it shut down.
The Looker
WHY THIS
Free-to-play pick from the same recommendation pool — no purchase to try it. Shares Indie with Derail Valley.
You wake up, alone, on a strangely familiar island full of puzzles that will frustrate and annoy you.
Our Life: Beginnings & Always
WHY THIS
Free-to-play pick from the same recommendation pool — no purchase to try it. Shares Indie with Derail Valley.
A twenty-dollar bill, four summers, fifteen years, and a one of a kind life. Create an experience that’s all your own in this near-fully customizable visual novel where you grow from childhood to adulthood with the lonely boy next door.
NGU IDLE
WHY THIS
Free-to-play pick from the same recommendation pool — no purchase to try it. Shares Indie and Adventure with Derail Valley.
NGU Idle is a Free To Play Idle game that's full of weird humor, tons of upgrades and hundreds of hours of content! Try out NGU Idle today and experience the joy of Numbers Going Up!
Virtual Cottage
WHY THIS
Free-to-play pick from the same recommendation pool — no purchase to try it. Shares Indie and Simulation with Derail Valley.
Virtual Cottage gives you a comfy place to rest and be productive without any distractions. Open the game, set yourself a goal and enjoy the atmosphere.
Narrow it down
Head-to-head comparisons
Frequently asked about Derail Valley
- Does Derail Valley run on Steam Deck?
- Derail Valley is rated Playable on Steam Deck — it runs, but expect some manual adjustments (control remapping, text size, or graphics settings) for the best experience.
- How much does Derail Valley cost?
- Derail Valley is listed on Steam at 39.99 USD (current store price; Steam sales may reduce this temporarily).
- What games are most similar to Derail Valley?
- Based on Steam play patterns and shared genres/tags, the games most often recommended alongside Derail Valley are Powerboat VR, Railroader, American Truck Simulator.
- Who developed Derail Valley?
- Derail Valley was developed by Altfuture.
imho.run ranks Steam game alternatives using a mix of collaborative filtering (ALS / iALS / EASE / LightGCN), content scoring over genres, categories, Steam tags, developers, and publishers, plus AI-extracted vibes mined from review text. The page above is generated in seed mode anchored on Derail Valley.
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