Choose Idle Kingdom Builder
Choose Idle Kingdom Builder if you want a Free To Play experience. On Steam, it's free to play, so the barrier to trying it is zero. Idle Kingdom Builder launched in 2018.
Idle Kingdom Builder vs Train Metropolis
Idle Kingdom Builder and Train Metropolis both land in 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 Simulation, Casual on Steam. Idle Kingdom Builder (2018) is 7 years older than Train Metropolis (2025). Idle Kingdom Builder 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 you want a Strategy experience. On Steam, it's the newer release (2025) and ships with the modern feature baseline. Train Metropolis launched in 2025.
Both Idle Kingdom Builder and Train Metropolis sit in 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
 Idle Kingdom Builder |  Train Metropolis | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2018 | 2025 |
| Genres | Simulation, Free To Play, Casual | Strategy, Simulation, Casual |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Verified | Unrated |
| Price | Free to play | 4.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 36.9% positive (65 reviews) | 7 reviews |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | NeoBird | Crystalline Green Ltd. |
Side by side
- Both share Simulation, Casual on Steam.
- Idle Kingdom Builder (2018) is 7 years older than Train Metropolis (2025).
- Idle Kingdom Builder is free; Train Metropolis is paid (4.99 USD).
- Idle Kingdom Builder is Deck Verified on Steam Deck; Train Metropolis has no Deck rating yet.
Idle Kingdom Builder vs Train Metropolis — FAQ
- Should I play Idle Kingdom Builder or Train Metropolis first?
- If you want chronology, Idle Kingdom Builder (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 Idle Kingdom Builder and Train Metropolis similar?
- They overlap on 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 Idle Kingdom Builder free?
- Yes — Idle Kingdom Builder is a free-to-play Steam title. Train Metropolis is paid (4.99 USD).
- Does Idle Kingdom Builder run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — Idle Kingdom Builder is rated Deck Verified by Valve. Train Metropolis doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.