Sid Meier's Railroads!

 PC
Metascore
77

Generally favorable reviews - based on 31 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 18 out of 31
  2. Mixed: 13 out of 31
  3. Negative: 0 out of 31
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  1. Times Online
    100
    Beautifully crafted, Sid Meier’s Railroads! is a masterful experience — as you would expect from the master himself.
  2. Games Master UK
    89
    A puzzler, railway sandbox and smart management game. [Christmas 2006, p.100]
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  3. Pelit (Finland)
    87
    Sid Meier's Railroads looks good and is addictive, but the small scenarios and the simple economics make it only a good game, not an instant classic. [Dec 2006]
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  5. Gaming Target
    85
    The gameplay's execution, balance, and hidden depths are simply too rare to be overlooked by fans of economic-based strategy games, railroad enthusiast, and Sid Meier fans.
  6. PC Gamer
    85
    Whether you're an old-timer who wants to revisit the past or a noob looking for an accessible economic sim with a great theme, Railroads! should be on your shopping list. [Jan. 2007, p.62]
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  7. PC Gamer UK
    84
    The interface is mostly excellent, but it doesn't properly tell you why a train can't reach a station. That can drive any player to distraction. [Dec 2006, p.88]
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  8. ActionTrip
    82
    All train devotees mustn't pass on this one. In all honesty, I believe that a choo-choo addict dwells somewhere within all of us, so everyone should give the game a try or rent it at the very least. You won't be disappointed with the content and gameplay it has to offer.
  9. Jolt Online Gaming UK
    82
    Railroads! is way more fun than the subject matter suggests it ought to be, which is a credit to its design team.
  10. GameSpot
    81
    But as complex and rewarding as building a railroad empire can be, it rarely feels daunting or tedious, which is perhaps the best thing that can be said for a game of this type.
  11. Game Informer
    80
    The only real problem with the game is that it sticks pretty close to its prescribed formula. You build trains, make money, and drive competitors out of business. You won’t uncover layer upon layer of depth, you’ll just get more efficient.
  12. IGN
    80
    The real fun comes in planning the best routes and laying track in the most efficient manner that also just might happen to mess your competitor up a bit.
  13. GamesRadar+
    80
    Add in online multiplayer support for up to four wannabe tycoons, and you've got the best railroading sim since the original Railroad Tycoon. Some gamers may find Sid Meier's Railroads! a little on the simplistic side, but it makes for a nice, light snack.
  14. PC Zone UK
    80
    An accessible business strategy game with choo choos - but behind the faintly sickening opening video, there's a silo full of deep fun to be had here. [Christmas 2006, p.85]
  15. games(TM)
    80
    A relaxing, engrossing experience that is bound to attract those who have the mindset and patience. A subtle work of art. [Jan 2007, p.113]
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  16. Digital Entertainment News
    80
    Running the game smoothly without a good system is going to be hard, but at least you’ll be treated to some imaginative gameplay.
  17. GameZone
    78
    There just isn’t enough challenge to make this the type of game that invites obsession.
  18. PC Format
    78
    Fun and accessible, but should've been named "Railroads Lite." [Christmas 2006, p.103]
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  19. PALGN
    75
    Enriched with lovely graphics, an inviting gameplay structure and that special Meier something, Railroads! could’ve been a real gem for train simulation fans. However, with a few flaws such as simple and repetitive goals, and a game that is an absolute system hog, Sid Meier’s Railroads! isn’t as great as we expected.

Awards & Rankings

62
#62 Best PC Game of 2006
31
#31 Most Discussed PC Game of 2006
45
#45 Most Shared PC Game of 2006

User Reviews

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User Score
5.7

Mixed or average reviews- based on 125 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 49 out of 125
  2. Mixed: 28 out of 125
  3. Negative: 48 out of 125
  1. morrae
    Oct 18, 2013
    5
    I love this type of games!
    But railroads! falls short many times. It's too easy, too shallow, not much of anything besides putting down    I love this type of games!
    But railroads! falls short many times. It's too easy, too shallow, not much of anything besides putting down railroads (and I guess you can argue that that's the whole point, but I would've liked to have something besides that, something deeper, something more like transport giant or locomotion). This is basicly a children game.
    In a very short time you will learn how to win any game very fast. Then you will learn to do it with any given spawn point. And then you will quickly find out how to beat 3 AI on hardest difficulty. It took me one evening to complete almost full game.
    And that's with the constant crashes and freezes. Yes, it doesn't work good on any system and I was forced to save every couple minute or so, so I won't lose my progress.
    It could've been so much more, but in the end, it's pretty easy and shallow game for one evening.    … Full Review »
  2. ChrisvanG
    Aug 27, 2008
    3
    Seems to be a great game till you start playing it. The crashes take all the fun out of it. I can live with things like the engines have noSeems to be a great game till you start playing it. The crashes take all the fun out of it. I can live with things like the engines have no tender and the occasional graphics failures but the continious crashes (OS Vista Ultimate) completely takes the fun out of this game. Waste of 10 Euro's.… Full Review »
  3. MikeVincent
    Apr 6, 2008
    2
    I've bee a huge fan of Mr. Meier's work for years - this product is disappointing and frustrating. Disappointing in there is no realI've bee a huge fan of Mr. Meier's work for years - this product is disappointing and frustrating. Disappointing in there is no real logic control - or challenge and the scale is just - wrong. Disappointing in the frequency of crashes. And yes, I've downloaded the patch and even purchased a new graphics card thinking it had to be my system. Sorry Mr. Meier, you really botched this one!… Full Review »
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