Solo dev's Running Train hailed as the most beautiful train sim ever made

Running Train, an Early Access train simulator built entirely by one-person studio Novatetsu Games, is drawing near-unanimous praise on Steam for its realism. Set in a fictional but painstakingly modeled region of Japan, it spans 40 kilometers of track across 42 routes — ten on the Fukugawa Line and 32 on the Sankai Main Line — with runs ranging from six to 44 minutes and playable across seasons and weather from sunny skies to blizzards.

What sets it apart is detail that most players will never directly see. Power lines originate at substations and run logically across pylon networks, roads carry traffic, cars sit in parking bays, temples dot hillsides, and ferries drift offshore — all rendered far beyond what the driver’s-eye view requires. The core game rewards precise speed and braking control toward on-time station stops, but the Kotaku writer found the most pleasure in letting the sim drive itself while flying a free camera over the landscape. Zoom out too far and the illusion breaks into tiles and mismatched roads, but at ground level the craft holds up.

Still in Early Access at $18, the game already supports the bespoke Zuiki MASCON controller. The developer plans to add a passenger system, a conductor mode, and expand to 100 kilometers of track, targeting completion by the end of next year. It’s a notable example of what a single dedicated creator can now achieve at a fidelity once reserved for large studios.