Games Like NIMBY Rails

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!

Why similar: Transportation 28.7% ★, Trains 16.5% ★, City Builder 11.2%, Economy 10.5%, Management 9.6%

Why You'll Like It: This title provides a polished, high-fidelity experience focused on building comprehensive transport networks across different eras.

In Rail Route, you will design, construct, upgrade, and automate your railway network in one of the many maps based on real-life cities worldwide. Dispatch the trains to make the traffic flow and the network grow!

Why similar: Transportation 21.3% ★, Trains 16% ★, Economy 13.4%, City Builder 11.1%, Building 9.9%

Why You'll Like It: It emphasizes the logic and scheduling aspects of railway management, perfect for those who enjoy the technical side of NIMBY Rails.

OpenTTD is a business simulation game in which players earn money by transporting passengers and cargo via road, rail, water, and air. It is an open-source remake and expansion of the 1995 Chris Sawyer video game Transport Tycoon Deluxe.

Why similar: Transportation 24.3% ★, Trains 15.9% ★, Economy 13.6%, Building 10.9%, Management 8.8%

Why You'll Like It: This open-source classic remains the gold standard for complex transport network management and economic simulation.

Build a soviet republic from an impoverished country into a rich industrial superpower in a city builder with intricate production chains and a fully simulated global economy. Manage the lives of your citizens from education to work and party loyalty to criminal activity.

Why similar: City Builder 20.6%, Economy 19%, Building 13.7%, Management 13.6%, Sandbox 12.1%

Why You'll Like It: It offers an incredibly deep and realistic logistics and economic simulation that mirrors the complexity of managing national infrastructure.

Mashinky is a transport strategy game about trains. The goal is to create your own transport empire on a procedurally generated map. It’s a unique blend of realistic graphics combined with an isometric construction mode and board game-like rules.

Why similar: Transportation 29.6% ★, Trains 20.8% ★, Economy 14%, Management 10.4%, Sandbox 9%

Why You'll Like It: It blends realistic train management with a unique economic system that rewards efficient network expansion.

Don the coat of a clever entrepreneur, take over a small railway company in the early 1800s and turn your steam engines into the workhorses of the economy. Grow your company into the largest railway company of the continent and outsmart your competitors.

Why similar: Transportation 26.4% ★, Trains 16.8% ★, Economy 11.3%, City Builder 9.4%, Management 8.6%

Why You'll Like It: This game focuses heavily on the strategic expansion of rail networks and the management of regional economies.

It’s the year 1850, and there are great times ahead! Establish a transport company and be its manager. Build infrastructure such as railways and stations, purchase transportation vehicles and manage lines. Fulfill the people’s needs and watch cities evolve dynamically.

Why similar: Trains 28.2% ★, Transportation 14.1% ★, Economy 13.5%, Management 10.9%, City Builder 8%

Why You'll Like It: As the predecessor to the Transport Fever series, it offers a foundational experience in transport management and economic growth.

Sweet Transit is a unique city builder where the railway is king. Build and automate the dream supply chain for your citizens, giving them all they need to expand quaint villages into bustling cities. Progress from steam power to diesel and beyond in this advanced train-driven experience.

Why similar: Transportation 26.6% ★, Trains 17.3% ★, City Builder 11.8%, Economy 11.7%, Management 8.5%

Why You'll Like It: A unique city-builder where the entire economy and population growth are driven by your train network.

Voxel Tycoon — a management sim set in the infinite voxel world. Mine resources and process them into goods on your custom factories. Set up supply chains and passenger routes with a huge fleet of trains, trucks, and buses, and turn small towns into prosperous megacities with a thriving economy!

Why similar: Transportation 30.7% ★, Trains 18.1% ★, Economy 12.4%, Management 9.8%, Building 6.9%

Why You'll Like It: It combines logistics and transport management with a voxel-based aesthetic that allows for massive, sprawling networks.

Cities: Skylines is a modern take on the classic city simulation. The game introduces new game play elements to realize the thrill and hardships of creating and maintaining a real city whilst expanding on some well-established tropes of the city building experience.

Why similar: City Builder 34.3%, Building 15.8%, Economy 13.1%, Management 13%, Sandbox 10%

Why You'll Like It: The original game remains a premier choice for designing complex public transit systems within a growing urban environment.

Drive massive trains and build your career in a vast open railway network. For both PC and VR.

Why similar: Transportation 36.3% ★, Trains 28.3% ★, Economy 12.2%, Open World 8.2%, Sandbox 7.5%

Why You'll Like It: It offers a highly immersive, realistic simulation of operating trains within a large, open-world environment.

Cities in Motion 2 is the sequel to the popular mass transit simulation game Cities in Motion. Build, manage and lead your transportation network to provide cities with their ever changing needs. CIM2 introduces new features including multiplayer game modes, day and night cycles, timetables and dynamic cities.

Why similar: Transportation 36.6% ★, City Builder 11.9%, Management 11.5%, Simulation 8.5%, Economy 7.1%

Why You'll Like It: This game is specifically focused on the challenges of designing and maintaining public transit networks in a busy city.

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!

Why similar: Transportation 36.7% ★, Trains 24.5% ★, Economy 12.7%, Open World 8.6%, Sandbox 6.3%

Why You'll Like It: This title provides a detailed, operation-focused experience for those who want to manage the day-to-day logistics of a railroad.

Become the manager of the largest transport corporation ever! Create new planes, bus, trains and truck connections. Optimize them to ever-changing demands and adapt to unexpected events. Beat the competition. Connect cities all around the real world map!

Why similar: Transportation 28.8% ★, Trains 16.3% ★, Economy 12.8%, Sandbox 10.4%, Management 9.3%

Why You'll Like It: A global transport management game that tasks you with building a transportation empire across the real world.

Mini Metro is a strategy simulation game about designing a subway map for a growing city. Draw lines between stations and start your trains running. As new stations open, redraw your lines to keep them efficient. Decide where to use your limited resources. How long can you keep the city moving?

Why similar: Trains 31.1% ★, Transportation 22% ★, Management 12.1%, Minimalist 10.6%, Simulation 7.6%

Why You'll Like It: A minimalist take on transit planning that captures the essence of network optimization and capacity management.

Mini Motorways is a strategy simulation game about designing the road map for a growing city. Build a traffic network, one road at a time, to create a bustling metropolis. Redesign your roads and place your motorways to get everyone where they need to go. How long can you keep the city moving?

Why similar: Transportation 35.5% ★, Management 15.6%, City Builder 9.6%, Building 9.5%, Simulation 9.4%

Why You'll Like It: This game challenges you to design efficient road networks to keep a growing city moving, focusing on traffic flow management.

Create an extrasolar efficiency utopia from scratch! In this sci-fi city builder you need to start mining operations, plan production, and lay down transportation routes to ensure a smooth supply chain.

Why similar: Transportation 27.4% ★, City Builder 12.6%, Trains 11.6% ★, Economy 11.4%, Building 8.2%

Why You'll Like It: It combines city-building with complex supply chain and logistics management, requiring careful road and transport planning.

Build and manage an international airport!

Why similar: Transportation 25.3% ★, Economy 12.3%, Capitalism 12.1%, Management 10.7%, City Builder 10.6%

Why You'll Like It: This game offers deep management mechanics for a single transport hub, focusing on logistics and infrastructure efficiency.

Simutrans is a freeware and open-source transportation simulator. Your goal is to establish a successful transport company. Transport passengers, mail and goods by rail, road, ship, and even air. Interconnect districts, cities, public buildings, industries and tourist attractions.

Why similar: Trains 26.8% ★, Transportation 12.8% ★, Management 11.5%, Economy 11.4%, Simulation 9%

Why You'll Like It: A long-running, open-source transport simulation that offers significant depth for players interested in complex economic systems.

Build your own bus depot from scratch and create your personal bus routes in City Bus Manager. Play in your own hometown or any famous city in the world with real map data. Buy buses, maintain them, take care of your staff and lead your bus company to become the #1 in town!

Why similar: Economy 25.8%, Capitalism 20.2%, Management 18.9%, Sandbox 10.2%, Simulation 10.2%

Why You'll Like It: This game allows you to build and manage a bus network in any city in the world using real map data.

In Railway Empire, you will create an elaborate and wide-ranging rail network, purchase over 40 different trains modelled in extraordinary detail, and buy or build railway stations, maintenance buildings, factories and tourist attractions to keep your travel network ahead of the competition.

Why similar: Trains 22.3% ★, Transportation 17.9% ★, Economy 14.2%, Management 12.1%, Building 8.6%

Why You'll Like It: The first entry in the series provides a solid strategic foundation for building and managing rail networks.

Design and build the most efficient metro stations known to man! Excavate. Expand. Set staff priorities. And manage the commuter flow. Overcrowd is a 2.5D management/tycoon/simulator set below the bustling city of Lubdon Town.

Why similar: Transportation 20.9% ★, Trains 15.8% ★, City Builder 14.4%, Management 11.9%, Building 10.6%

Why You'll Like It: It focuses on the micro-management of station infrastructure and crowd control, a key aspect of transit management.

Train Valley World is an engrossing transport tycoon inspired by the genre classics. Build and manage efficient railroads across the globe, create sophisticated logistics chains, design your own levels, and become a business mogul – solo or in multiplayer!

Why similar: Transportation 30.2% ★, Trains 16.2% ★, Economy 9.7%, Capitalism 9.6%, City Builder 9.5%

Why You'll Like It: It offers a puzzle-oriented approach to train logistics that requires quick thinking and efficient track design.

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.

Why similar: Transportation 35.3% ★, Trains 20.9% ★, Management 11.7%, Economy 11%, Open World 10.3%

Why You'll Like It: This title balances the driving of trains with the management of a railway company, offering a comprehensive experience.

In the world of A-Train, people gather around stations, gradually developing the surrounding town. What kind of railroad will you create? How will you develop the town? All these choices and more are yours to make.

Why similar: Transportation 22.7% ★, City Builder 14.2%, Economy 13.1%, Trains 12.7% ★, Building 10.1%

Why You'll Like It: A deep simulation that ties rail network development directly to urban growth and tourism management.

Train Station Simulator is a station builder and manager game. Create and maintain your dream station! Ride the rails and operate your ultimate grand central empire!

Why similar: Trains 36.1% ★, Management 18.5%, Simulation 9.9%, Economy 9.1%, Building 6.9%

Why You'll Like It: This game focuses on the design and management of train stations, emphasizing passenger flow and facility maintenance.

Create your own Nation, build cities and bring prosperity to your people. Citystate II is a unique city-builder featuring realistic economics and complex political options. Slums or skyscrapers, experiment and bring about your vision of the ideal society.

Why similar: Political Sim 14.4% ★, City Builder 14.3%, Economy 13.7%, Politics 13.7% ★, Building 8.8%

Why You'll Like It: It provides a detailed economic simulation for city-builders who enjoy managing the policies and infrastructure of a region.

Put your entrepreneurial skills to the test in the first title in the ROI series as you create & optimise intricate production lines. As an early 20th-Century industrialist, grow your empire & adapt to an ever-changing business landscape with unexpected events that could lead to boom…or bust.

Why similar: Economy 18.1%, City Builder 15.2%, Transportation 14.8% ★, Management 14.2%, Trains 8.5% ★

Why You'll Like It: While broader in scope, its focus on complex supply chains and logistics makes it a great match for transport enthusiasts.

Construct and design buildings for optimal working conditions. Hire people to design and release software, so you can defeat the simulated competition and take over their businesses. Manage and educate your employees to make sure they are skilled and satisfied with their job.

Why similar: Economy 20.7%, Capitalism 19.6%, Management 15.4%, Building 14.2%, Sandbox 11.7%

Why You'll Like It: It shares the deep management and building complexity found in NIMBY Rails, applied to a different industry.

Raise a city from the ground up and transform it into a thriving metropolis with the most realistic city builder ever. Push your creativity and problem-solving to build on a scale you've never experienced. With deep simulation and a living economy, this is world-building without limits.

Why similar: City Builder 23.2%, Transportation 16.6% ★, Economy 13.5%, Building 12.7%, Management 10.6%

Transport Fever is a railroad-focused tycoon game. Players start in 1850 and build up a thriving transport company. As an emerging transport tycoon, the player constructs stations, airports, harbors and makes money by connecting areas requiring transport services. Build up your own Empire!

Why similar: Transportation 24.6% ★, Trains 15.9% ★, Economy 11.7%, City Builder 11.3%, Building 8.4%

Worldwide Rush lets you experience passenger transportation and management on a global scale. Expand your company, meet the growing travel demand, compete against other companies, and discover new continents with its unique vehicles. The entire world is yours to control.

Why similar: Transportation 37.5% ★, Economy 16.8%, Capitalism 13.8%, Management 10.4%, Sandbox 9.8%

Transports is a transportation business simulation game. Build your business empire by building transportation routes for trucks, trains, ships and planes to transport goods between industrial buildings and cities.

Why similar: Transportation 27.1% ★, Trains 15.7% ★, Economy 12.2%, Management 9.4%, City Builder 8.2%

Why You'll Like It: A classic-style transport management game that focuses on the core loop of building routes and maximizing profit.

Effortlessly build and automate intricate railroads and deliver goods to meet the demands of a dynamic world! Make clever use of signals and signposts to avoid traffic jams, and watch your villages blossom into bustling towns in this cozy take on the train tycoon genre.

Why similar: Transportation 27.4% ★, Trains 18.3% ★, Economy 11.3%, Building 8.6%, Sandbox 8%

The 20th century heralds the new age of electrification for the railroad, and a new opportunity to make your fortune. Build your corporation carefully, as you deploy modern electric and diesel locomotives, lay new tracks, transport goods and passengers, and stay ahead of the competition.

Why similar: Transportation 24.5% ★, Trains 20.6% ★, Economy 13%, Building 10%, City Builder 9.5%

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.

Why similar: Transportation 26.1% ★, Trains 20.1% ★, Economy 11.3%, Sandbox 9.1%, Management 7.4%

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!

Why similar: Trains 31.3% ★, Economy 17.7%, Building 14.1%, Sandbox 12.3%, Management 12.2%

Manage transportation for commuters in four of the world's greatest cities - Vienna, Helsinki, Berlin, and Amsterdam

Why similar: Transportation 25% ★, Trains 15.1% ★, Management 14.5%, City Builder 11.6%, Simulation 11.4%

Build & Manage Your Airport. An International Hub or a Regional Masterpiece -- it's up to you. Buy more land to scale out, or escalators to scale up with MULTIPLE FLOORS. You're in full control in this modern business management tycoon!

Why similar: Economy 21.6%, City Builder 21%, Management 15.5%, Building 14.9%, Sandbox 12.7%

RAILGRADE is the train RTS game! Construct dense vertical railroads, build cities, construct vast factory chains with train automation! Restore an off world colony's economy all in the intense story driven campaign or relaxing sandbox mode!

Why similar: Trains 23% ★, Transportation 14.6% ★, City Builder 13.5%, Economy 12.8%, Building 9.4%

My Train Arrives is a railway construction simulation game. Build railroads, open new routes for trains. Enjoy the pleasant atmosphere of the game.

Why similar: Transportation 30.7% ★, Trains 19.6% ★, City Builder 10.7%, Economy 9.6%, Management 8.6%

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.

Why similar: Transportation 38.5% ★, Trains 27.5% ★, Sandbox 12%, Building 10.4%, Simulation 6.7%

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.

Why similar: Transportation 48.3% ★, Trains 32.9% ★, Open World 9.8%, Simulation 7.5%, Singleplayer 1.6%

Create a 21st century micro-nation and experiment with economic and political ideals. Futuristic skyscrapers or spreading slums, the Nation relies on your economic and city planning skills.

Why similar: Politics 25.6% ★, Political Sim 17.5% ★, City Builder 16.7%, Economy 11%, Building 7.4%

Modern transport sim game combining realistic simulation with indie game style, old-school grid environment, newest features, and modern transport options. Transport a wide variety of cargo and passengers over road, rail, and water, and create your own transport company!

Why similar: Transportation 43.4% ★, Trains 14% ★, Management 12.8%, Economy 8.2%, Building 6.4%

Democracy 4 lets you take the role of President / Prime minister, govern the country (choosing its policies, laws and other actions), and both transform the country as you see fit, while trying to retain enough popularity to get re-elected...

Why similar: Politics 26.1% ★, Political Sim 21.1% ★, Economy 13.4%, Management 9.8%, Capitalism 9.4%

Drive, Explore, Operate and Create the railroad of your dreams - and now you can collaborate in real time with Multiplayer Surveyor! TRS22 showcases a range of high quality routes, sessions and trains to drive, plus all the scenery you need to make your own masterpiece.

Why similar: Transportation 33.1% ★, Trains 27.7% ★, Sandbox 11.5%, Building 10.1%, Open World 8.8%

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!

Why similar: Transportation 32.4% ★, Trains 25.4% ★, Sandbox 10.8%, City Builder 9.6%, Building 9.6%

Step into the shoes of a hotel owner as you design, build, and manage grand hotels around the world. Juggle demanding guests, frantic logistics, and plenty of unexpected surprises in Hotel Architect; the ultimate hotel construction and tycoon management game!

Why similar: Economy 17.8%, City Builder 17.6%, Capitalism 15.5%, Management 13.1%, Building 13%

Explore a dynamic world of politics in this turn-based, political simulator. Create a character, run for political office, write legislation, balance budgets, and more as you move up the political hierarchy.

Why similar: Political Sim 43.1% ★, Politics 33.9% ★, Political 12.7% ★, Simulation 6.4%, Strategy 3.8%

Explore a vast and detailed world and build a Transportation Empire!

Why similar: Trains 30% ★, Transportation 25.6% ★, Management 13.6%, Simulation 12.1%, Economy 11%

Build, automate, and optimize a giant factory on 3D terrain using conveyor belts, trains, chutes, pipes, and airships. Sell your goods to nearby villages to expand their borders, increase happiness, and unlock even better technology!

Why similar: Transportation 21% ★, City Builder 15.2%, Economy 12.1%, Trains 11.9% ★, Management 11.6%

The Regional City Builder: Let's Build Something New.

Why similar: City Builder 23.4%, Transportation 17.8% ★, Management 14.6%, Building 12.2%, Economy 11.5%

Lawgivers II is a political sandbox game that features multiple electoral systems, approve/reject bills and govern a country. Start out your career from the very bottom, and perhaps one day, lead your nation to become the most influential in the world.

Why similar: Politics 26.5% ★, Political Sim 21.7% ★, Capitalism 14%, Management 9.6%, Sandbox 9.2%

As the owner of a brand new railway company, you must manage train schedules, develop new railways, construct buildings, and manipulate the stock market on your quest to earn one trillion dollars.Have you ever wondered what it's like to manage a railway company, or how trains can impact the fate of an entire city?

Why similar: Transportation 24.1% ★, Trains 15.8% ★, City Builder 12.9%, Economy 12.5%, Building 9.2%

Railroad Tycoon 3 features 25 scenarios challenging players to recreate magnificent feats of railroading history from around the world. Players can lay track (including tunnels and overpasses), pick from over 40 locomotives from early steams to modern bullets, choose to haul over 35 types of cargo in a dynamic economy, and participate in...

Why similar: Trains 37.6% ★, Management 30.2%, Economy 11.8%, Strategy 6.8%, Building 4.8%

Build an industrial empire on a remote island. Mine resources, reshape terrain with excavators, grow food, construct factories, lay train tracks, and trade with the outside world. Research 100+ technologies to advance from basic metal smelting all the way to nuclear power and space flight.

Why similar: Economy 24.8%, Transportation 16% ★, Management 15.9%, City Builder 14.3%, Building 13.3%

Urbek is a city building game where you can build your own neighbourhoods: from nightlife district to industrial district. Don't exhaust your natural resources before you have an educated population to build more efficient structures.

Why similar: Political Sim 18.6% ★, City Builder 17.6%, Economy 14.9%, Building 12.4%, Management 11.9%

Silicon City is a new take on the classic city builder genre, where each citizen voice their opinion. Will you be an urban designer, a rural evangelist or a reckless capitalist? Build your way to the most productive city until elected as the best mayor or plan the city of your dreams in sandbox.

Why similar: Transportation 20.3% ★, Political Sim 14.3% ★, Economy 10.8%, City Builder 10.7%, Capitalism 9.8%

Jump into the ultimate toy sandbox and build the train set of your dreams! Create colourful railway systems, decorate beautiful towns, transport commuting passengers, and even ride your train in first-person.

Why similar: Trains 30.9% ★, Building 17.4%, Sandbox 16.4%, City Builder 13%, Open World 9.8%