Railroad Tycoon Download (1990 Strategy Game)

Railroad Tycoon is a very detailed and realistic simulation. As time progresses in game the specific train engines that were invented in those time periods become available. The variety of options is impressive as well. You don't simply just lay track and let trains run between your stations as you must also choose from a variety of cargo and match it with the best engines for moving that type of cargo.

Mail and passengers generate more money the faster they are delievered. Taking coal to a station with a steel mill will generate steel. Steel can then be taken to a station with a factory to create goods. The goods are then taken to a station demanding goods. Such details get you very involved with your railroad. You can even upgrade your stations with items like post offices, cold storage, and switching yards.

Although it may sound overly complex, game play is actually simple. Track is laid down using the cursor keys. From connecting track, build stations, signal towers, and bridges. While your trains run, you can pull up a number of displays and menus to determine their efficiency. The graphics are nice and easy to read. Looking at your trains from overhead you are able to tell what type of cars they are pulling. On the map each item is easily distinguishable. Good sound effects are really lacking though; there just aren't too many.

Railroad Tycoon is a lot of fun to play and can become addictive. It's also so historically accurate, you may even learn a thing or two about railroads.

Graphics: Simple, yet effective. Train cars and map icons are easy to determine at a glance.

Sound: Rather bland which is disappointing for a game about trains.

Enjoyment: Railroad Tycoon is a lot of fun for train enthusiasts and anyone who enjoys building and running a business.

Replay Value: Lots of trains to experiment with and different locations to tackle.

With $100000 in the bank after taking out loans and selling stocks, it's time to start a railroad! Choose from 4 scenarios across two continents with randomly generated resources, and design your own railroad that moves people and goods across the country. Use the revenue to continue expanding, while keeping control of your company and appeasing your stock holders with growth and revenues. Play the stock market with company assets. Drive your competitors out of business with buyouts and rate wars. Multiple types of resources to carry (roughly grouped as slow freight, fast freight, passengers, mail) and convert, own facilities to maximize profit (buy a steel mill and the conversion from iron ore to steel makes money for YOU). Use the latest available technology to your advantage (new locomotives). Your objective is to retire with a huge bonus (based on your company's assets) and become the President or the Prime Minister (depending on which continent).

The game is essentially a bird's-eye-view real-time strategy game with aspects of building and stock market manipulation. Each fiscal period is 2-years, which corresponds to 1-day of track time. Build different sizes of stations to take care of different local needs, create trains that switch consists at different stations and maximize throughput. Upgrade/retire/modify trains as times change. The faster the trains arrive, the more money they earn. Multiple options will keep you busy as each game is different.

How to run this game on modern Windows PC?

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Railroad Tycoon Deluxe, Railroad Tycoon 3, Railroad Tycoon 2: Platinum, Transport Tycoon, Railroad Tycoon, Civilization, Pizza Tycoon, Master of Orion