Railroad Corporation 2

Lav
Dec 29, 2025
4 min read

Factors	Rating	Description
🎮Gameplay	8	Deep locomotive systems with a steep but rewarding learning curve.
📷Graphics	8.5	Detailed world, solid visuals, UI needs refinement.
🎧Narration/Audio	7.5	Functional and soothing but forgettable.
😮Variety	8	Good resource chains, limited biomes in Early Access.
🎰Re-playability	9	Procedural maps and sandbox mode extend playtime.
💲Price	8	Fair for content provided in Early Access.

Never been particularly into trains, but Railroad Corporation 2 caught me off guard - turns out managing a rail empire is kinda addictive once you stop feeling like you're reading a manual in a foreign language.

📝Story/Plot without spoilers

🔸Set at the turn of the 20th century, you're stepping into the boots of a railroad magnate during the electrification era. There's a four-chapter campaign that follows your journey from scrappy startup to industry titan, but let's be honest - this isn't a narrative-driven experience. The "story" is really just a framework for increasingly complex scenarios. You pick your company leader (each with their own passive abilities, some helpful, some...less so), and then it's off to the races. Or rather, off to the rails. Procedural map generation means every playthrough feels different, with random events like Allentown suddenly demanding a paper contract or books keeping you on your toes.

🎮Gameplay

🔸Here's where Railroad Corporation 2 shines - and occasionally stumbles. The core loop is satisfying: lay tracks, build stations and depots, deploy locomotives, and create supply chains that connect cities hungry for goods. You're running a delivery empire, buying resources low and selling high until you can start manufacturing your own goods.

------🔹Track-laying? Excellent. Click and drag to place rails, and the game handles bridges and tunnels automatically without forcing you through tedious placement menus. Want parallel tracks? Intersections? The system accommodates creative layouts without fighting you every step of the way.

------🔹Production chains add real strategic depth. Cities have varying demands - one might need lumber while another is desperate for grain - and you'll need to plan efficient routes that maximize profit while minimizing empty return trips. Once you start manufacturing, complexity ramps up as you manage multiple supply lines feeding into production facilities. Delivering logs, mails, commodities, paper, flour, grain, books, bricks and whatnot!

🔸Learning curve is steep, and I won't pretend otherwise. The game throws a lot at you: four departments (Science, Geology, Lobbying, Finance), staff management with passive abilities, semaphore signals for advanced route control, research trees for unlocking electric and diesel locomotives. First few hours? You'll feel like you're drowning in menus.

------🔹Tutorial situation is rough. There's some guidance, but it doesn't adequately explain the interconnected systems. I spent my first session just experimenting - clicking things, breaking things, figuring out why my trains kept getting stuck. Once it clicks, though? Walk in the park. But that initial hump will absolutely turn some players away.

------🔹Audio does its job without leaving much of an impression. Ambient tracks set a period-appropriate mood, train sounds are satisfying enough, and nothing actively grates on your nerves. But there's no standout soundtrack you'll be humming after you close the game. Pretty forgettable, honestly.

🔸This is Early Access, so temper expectations. Campaign chapters, sandbox mode with procedural maps, and multiplayer support (up to 4 players) are available now, but this isn't the complete package yet. Corbie Games is actively updating, and the roadmap shows ambition - but right now, you're buying potential alongside a solid foundation.

📷 Graphics

🔸Visually, Railroad Corporation 2 is a significant leap over its predecessor. Cities are richly textured with period-appropriate architecture, landscapes have actual depth and detail, and watching your locomotive chug through snow-covered terrain scratches that cozy tycoon itch. Art direction nails the turn-of-the-century industrial aesthetic.

------🔹UI is a weak point though. Text is small, important information gets buried in nested menus. For a game where you're constantly checking stats and managing multiple systems, this is a real frustration. Gameplay graphics? Good. Interface graphics? Need work.

📝Main Pros and Cons

🟩Pros-

Intuitive track-laying system with automatic bridge/tunnel construction
Deep production chains reward strategic planning
Procedural maps keep playthroughs fresh
Major improvement over the first Railroad Corporation
Sandbox mode with extensive customization options
Satisfying progression from startup to railroad empire

🟥Cons-

Steep learning curve with inadequate tutorial
UI buries information in confusing menus
Limited biome variety in current Early Access build

🏷️Tips For Beginners

🔸Start with the campaign rather than sandbox - it provides at least some structure to ease you in. Pay attention to your company leader's passive abilities during setup. Some negatives can seriously hamper early progress. Don't try to connect every city immediately. Focus on profitable short routes first, build capital, then expand, because rails aren't cheap! Check city demands before laying tracks.

😇 Verdict

🔸Railroad Corporation 2 is a diamond in the rough. Tycoon/simulation fan? There's real fun here. Track-laying is satisfying, keeping track of your reports and eyeing for profits becomes pretty addicting. I'd recommend giving it a shot - experiment with it, let yourself fail a bit, and you might just fall in love with the thing.

Rating: 8.5/10

Trains weren't my thing. Now I've got spreadsheets for fictional cargo routes.