Simulation games bring hobbyists closer than ever to the industries they are passionate about. What goes into simulating trains, tracks and signalling systems with the detail that the keenest players expect, and how are sim games crossing over with the industry’s own simulated training?
Simulation (sim) games pride themselves on allowing players to immerse themselves in highly realistic replicas of the industries that we see every day. Planes, trains, automobiles – if it can be operated, there’s a good chance a sim game exists to cater to enthusiasts and hobbyists.
Flight sims can be credited with bringing simulation games into the mainstream, with Microsoft Flight Simulator acting as a flagship product in the early days of personal computing and still a mainstay to this day.
Commercial train simulator games came later, with mass-market train sim games emerging around the turn of the millennium. Since then, a flourishing eco-system of train simulator games has emerged to fill this gaming niche, with space enough for a range of styles. Some, like Dovetail Games’ Train Sim World, focus on stunning graphics and a welcoming playstyle that beginners and sim veterans alike can enjoy.