Choose Rail World
Choose Rail World if you want a Free To Play experience. On Steam, it's free to play, so the barrier to trying it is zero. Rail World launched in 2018.
Rail World vs Train Metropolis
Rail World and Train Metropolis both land in Strategy, Simulation, 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, Simulation, Casual on Steam. Rail World (2018) is 7 years older than Train Metropolis (2025). Rail World is free; Train Metropolis is paid (4.99 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 Train Metropolis
Choose Train Metropolis if it's the newer release (2025) and ships with the modern feature baseline. Train Metropolis launched in 2025.
Both Rail World and Train Metropolis sit in Strategy, Simulation, 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
 Rail World |  Train Metropolis | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2018 | 2025 |
| Genres | Strategy, Simulation, Free To Play, Casual | Strategy, Simulation, Casual |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Unrated | Unrated |
| Price | Free to play | 4.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 31.6% positive (57 reviews) | 7 reviews |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | Independent Arts Software | Crystalline Green Ltd. |
Side by side
- Both share Strategy, Simulation, Casual on Steam.
- Rail World (2018) is 7 years older than Train Metropolis (2025).
- Rail World is free; Train Metropolis is paid (4.99 USD).
Rail World vs Train Metropolis — FAQ
- Should I play Rail World or Train Metropolis first?
- If you want chronology, Rail World (2018) came out before Train Metropolis (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 Rail World and Train Metropolis similar?
- They overlap on Strategy, Simulation, 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.
- Is Rail World free?
- Yes — Rail World is a free-to-play Steam title. Train Metropolis is paid (4.99 USD).