Choose National Machine
Choose National Machine if you want an Indie and Early Access experience. National Machine launched in 2018.
National Machine vs Pandemic Train
National Machine and Pandemic Train 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. National Machine (2018) is 5 years older than Pandemic Train (2023). National Machine scores higher on Steam reviews (52.4% positive) than Pandemic Train (47.1% 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 Pandemic Train
Choose Pandemic Train if you want an Action experience. On Steam, it's the newer release (2023) and ships with the modern feature baseline. Pandemic Train launched in 2023.
Both National Machine and Pandemic Train 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
 National Machine |  Pandemic Train | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2018 | 2023 |
| Genres | Strategy, Indie, Simulation, Early Access | Action, Strategy, Simulation |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Unrated | Unrated |
| Price | 14.99 USD | 16.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 52.4% positive (21 reviews) | 47.1% positive (70 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | Eric Sun | Trigger Labs |
Side by side
- Both share Strategy, Simulation on Steam.
- National Machine (2018) is 5 years older than Pandemic Train (2023).
- National Machine scores higher on Steam reviews (52.4% positive) than Pandemic Train (47.1% positive).
- National Machine is currently ~12% cheaper on Steam than Pandemic Train (14.99 USD vs. 16.99 USD).
National Machine vs Pandemic Train — FAQ
- Should I play National Machine or Pandemic Train first?
- If you want chronology, National Machine (2018) came out before Pandemic Train (2023). 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 National Machine and Pandemic Train 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.