Iron Roads

Try the Demo for free right now, and drop by our Discord if you have any feedback!

Your goal is to set up an efficient rail network that keeps your passengers happy and on-time

Iron Roads is a top-down 2D train management game in which you lay tracks, buy trains, and set their routes until you have an efficient network carrying passengers and cargo between your towns and factories. Use resource tokens to run your enterprise efficiently while avoiding backlogs, jams, and angry passengers, and you'll be recognised for the unsung train hero you know you are.

Who are your passengers?

The humans have been wiped off the face of the planet. The other animals survived and thrived, but have been too afraid to leave their towns.

Here’s where you come in.

Set up train networks connecting towns and industries and see the new civilisation grow and thrive.

Choose between 3 modes of play

Scenarios: Hand-crafted experiences with distinct narratives and gameplay features

Challenges: Play time-bound challenges to compete for a spot on the high-score board

Sandbox mode: A low-pressure game where you set parameters and play the way you want (coming soon)

Features

Minimalistic interface Well-suited for setting up sprawling and complex networks, while being approachable for new players

Manage your resources Earn resource tokens by growing towns or completing contracts. Use your tokens strategically to expand your network and keep your erudite animal passengers happy

Carry cargo Transport goods efficiently in interconnected production chains

Research Unlock new trains, technologies, and things to transport

Listen to the sound of your network Music in Iron Roads is a combination of notes generated from your trains and passengers, and authored melodies. The music you hear will be as unique as the layouts you build

Performance graphs The main goal of Iron Roads is to optimise your network, so you may wish to use the charts to analyse data relating to your finances and passengers

Build large, complex networks Or small-to-medium sized networks, if that's what floats your boat

The demo represents a slice of the game that will arrive in Early Access on Jan 20, 2025.

Early Access Roadmap

• We will add more hand-crafted scenarios and timed challenges
• Multiplayer
• Mod support
• Sandbox mode: We are building a map generator so you can set the parameters and play the way you want

This is not a complete list, and we are not promising the order in which we'll add features. Our plan for each update is based on feedback from the community and the state of the game at that moment. So if there is something you'd especially like to see in Iron Roads, get in touch!

Iron Roads will not have

• Buses, boats, planes or any other form of transport
• 3D graphics: our focus is on allowing you to build large networks easily, and we find 2D better for that
• NFTs, lootboxes or microtransactions

This is not a complete list, and we are not promising the order in which we'll add features. Our plan for each update is based on our thoughts as well as feedback from community, at that time. So if there is something you'd especially like to see in Iron Roads, get in touch!

Games we were inspired by

• OpenTTD
• Mini Metro
• Two Point Hospital
• Lets Build a Zoo
• Opus Magnum

Iron Roads is being developed by a BAFTA-nominated husband-and-wife team, Marina and Duncan. You can find out more about us and our work on our website.

Please note that the Linux version is built and tested on Ubuntu 22.04, though in practice it should work on any Linux with glibc version of 2.35 or higher. This includes newer Ubuntus, Arch, Debian 12, and a host of others we'll add to this list if you let us know they work!