With three permanent scenarios and numerous special event scenarios, Rail Nation promises endless excitement and diverse gameplay experiences for train enthusiasts of all levels.
The journey to victory in Rail Nation varies with each scenario which offers unique challenges and strategic choices:
- In the Classic scenario, mega-cities strive to deliver all 48 required goods and manage passenger transport. This is all about managing resources to ensure your city thrives and wins.
- In American Dream (AD), the battle ground shifts to a clash between 2 factions: West Vs East, or Blue Vs Red. Victory in this scenario not only brings recognition but also significantly boosts your prestige.
- Steam over Europe (SoE) elevates the competition to an intense battle between 10 regions. Here strategic regional alliances and co-ordinated efforts are crucial for success.
- The special event scenarios often build on the classic gameplay and introduce new goods, features, maps, trains and intriguing twists that add layers of complexity and new paths to different strategies and win.
Classic: Launched in January 2013, the Classic scenario takes players on a journey through a fictional map featuring 50 imagined cities. With 48 goods plus passengers to transport, players strive to lead their city to victory in the endgame competition among the Top 10 cities (which become megacities for the endgame).
American Dream: Debuting in May 2014, the American Dream scenario maps out the USA, with 48 goods to transport and battles in the endgame between the two factions who will flip cities of the enemy faction to become cities of their faction: Red (Pacific) vs. Blue (Atlantic). For those players who wish to focus solely on goods, and not passenger transports, this is the perfect scenario for you! It’s the only game scenario without passenger transports.
Steam over Europe: Introduced in April 2016, Steam over Europe features a detailed map of Europe divided into 10 regions with 50 real cities, each with its own landmark. Transporting 48 goods plus passengers, players engage in inter-region battles, vying for dominance across the continent, making the most out of unique features such as regional president or city mayor roles.
These unique adventures pop up occasionally, ensuring there’s always something new to explore. Some scenarios make an annual appearance, while others come around even more frequently, depending on their nature and the pace of the game worlds (ranging from the steady 1x speed to the lightning-fast 4x speed in Fast Forward scenario). Prepare for endless fun and surprises!
Masters: Launched to celebrate Rail Nation’s fifth anniversary in 2018, Masters is the yearly tournament scenario where top players from around the world compete. It’s a prestigious challenge for those wanting to be the best of the best, and to win exciting prizes!
Origin Journey: First introduced in May 2019, it revisits the Classic gameplay with a special map spanning Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, featuring 50 cities and 11 authentic goods. Enhanced graphics include new trees, rivers, and landmarks, making for a visually stunning experience.
Fast Forward: Debuting in March 2020, Fast Forward offers a high-speed alternative to the classic gameplay. With a 4x speed boost, players can complete an era in just four days. Bonuses come quickly, competitions occur every 1.5 hours, and the endgame kicks off after only 24 days.
Platform X: Since its first edition in October 2020, Platform X has served as an experimental place. Here, new features are tested, gameplay balance is refined, and player feedback shapes the future of Rail Nation.
Classic Mini: Launched in May 2022, this scenario condensed the classic map, changing strategic dynamics significantly. Although it only ran for one round, it offered a fresh and more competitive take on familiar gameplay.
Orient Express: Introduced in October 2022, the Orient Express scenario features the largest map to date with 36 cities. With 60 goods – 17 of which are exclusive to this scenario – and new workers, it offers new career achievements and a vast network to explore.
Destination Africa: Launched in November 2023, brings the vibrant landscapes of Africa to life. Its authentic map includes 25 cities, 18 new African goods, new workers, bonus trains, and adorable animal trainspotters.
Perfect Paradise: Launched in October 2024, this scenario takes you into an exhilarating island adventure with familiar game mechanics from the Steam over Europe scenario. This setup pits islands against each other in a thrilling competition, each island featuring six cities. Known for its balanced gameplay, Perfect Paradise offers fair map placements and includes a diverse mix of goods from all other scenarios.
Birthday Special: This special scenario was launched in February 2023, celebrating Rail Nation’s tenth birthday. It featured exciting new features, a fancy cake train skin for the Red Kite bonus engine, and festive avatar clothing to mark the occasion.