Train Simulator Classic 2024 Out Now with Subscription Tier

Many train simulator fans today likely know the Train Sim World series well. 15 years ago, however, it all started with RailWorks. The title was the ultimate railway simulator for gamers and rail enthusiasts – now developer and publisher Dovetail Games is celebrating the 15-year history of its franchise with a throwback experience. Train Simulator Classic 2024 is now available on the Steam Store with “a free performance update to the base game and a new routes collection for players to buy.”

“Train Simulator Classic 2024 allows railfans to journey to five countries, take a tour of over 450 km of rails reaching from the breathtaking scenery of the North Wales Coast Line in the UK, through Germany, France, and Austria to the USA capital riding the Northeast Corridor. In addition, to commemorate this momentous anniversary, purchasers of the Deluxe Edition will receive the exclusive 15th Anniversary Scenario Pack containing newly created scenarios and three iconic locomotives including British steam legend LNER Peppercorn Class A2 Blue Peter,” the press release notes.

“Dovetail Games also introduces the all-new Train Simulator Classic 2024: Rail Subscription, an optional way for players on Steam to experience the world of Train Simulator Classic. For a competitive monthly price of $10.99 (£8.99)[,] the Rail Subscription provides instant access to the base game along with a selection of curated DLC featuring fan favorites and developer picks,” the press release said. Since launching this throwback version of the game in 2022, “Train Simulator Classic has more than 700 DLC from developers around the world, a thriving community with over 1,000 players driving each day and more than 20,000 creations on Steam Workshop.”

I think there’s a real charm to the visuals in Train Simulator Classic. Of course, the sister series Train Sim World, which is also a Dovetail Games project, looks and feels like a realistic sim for today. That said, many players have priceless memories of the visuals and feel of the RailWorks franchise, so this new 2024 version with additional DLC offerings is a great way to modernize the original experience.