The player starts as the manager of a small railroad company with the goal of transporting as many goods as possible through the historic railroad eras of “Steam”, “Diesel” and “Electric”. The initial phase introduces the game mechanics. The winner of the subsequent “endgame”, is the player to generate the most prestige. A game round ends after about four months; this makes Rail Nation quite fast-paced for a browser game.

But winning means completing many different tasks. At first, your little steam locomotive can transport goods by freight car from one town to another. Each town needs the raw materials to develop and grow. Nearby factories produce or process the materials. For example, your trains must transport lumber to the joinery and then the planks it produces must be taken to the town. And why not take a load of coal from the mines on the journey back? This is how you generate cash that you can reinvest in your infrastructure.

Cologne-based developer Bright Future (Football Manager, Miramagia) has put a lot of work into the graphics, which are as good as any full-priced game. But don’t be fooled by the game’s charming graphics: they conceal a complex and challenging business simulation game. Your growing fleet must be maintained, expanded and modernized. New goods require different production chains; technologies must be researched and applied profitably. Every action has its consequences: Players are rewarded with more routes, more locomotive slots or improved opportunities for revenue generation.

But things don’t always run smoothly: coal prices rocket during wartime, strikes reduce productivity, and storms damage locomotives. But there are also positive surprises, such as auctions, special offers, or competitions. This leads to interaction with other players – making the game even more gripping.

As the leading creator of browser games, Travian Games places particular value on multiplayer functions. Other players constantly affect underlying economy of the game as they compete for resources and it is vital that you choose your alliances wisely: Player partnerships can attract historic scientists who provide important bonuses. Members can also work together to optimize production chains, or use cash investments to control factories or unlock new character slots. Rail Nation is also a great game for beginners.