Computed from player tags · Not ranked by quality
24 games like Railway Empire (2026)
Every game below overlaps with Railway Empire on things players said about it rather than on our opinion of what feels alike. Each entry shows what it matched on, so you can throw out the ones matching on the part you did not care about.
The short version
- Closest match: Anno 1800, which both historical and strategy.
- Railway Empire is tagged Strategy, Simulation, Management, Trains, Economy, Building, Trading, Historical by Steam players. Those tags are what the matching runs on.
- 24 games qualify, each with at least fifty player reviews behind its sentiment figure.
How these were matched
Steam tags carry the most weight, because players apply them and they describe how a game feels rather than how it was filed. Souls-like, Atmospheric and Cozy exist as tags and as nothing else, which is exactly the vocabulary this question needs. Formal genres count for less, themes and a shared studio for more.
Tags carried by more than a third of the catalogue are thrown out before matching. Nearly everything is tagged Singleplayer, so matching on it is matching on nothing. That cutoff is computed from the catalogue rather than fixed, so it moves as the catalogue grows.
All 24, closest first
- 1
Anno 1800
Why it matched: both historical and strategy; shares 10 player tags including City Builder, Strategy and Simulation; released around the same time (2019).
Anno 1800™ – Lead the Industrial Revolution! Welcome to the dawn of the Industrial Age. The path you choose will define your world. Are you an innovator or an exploiter? A conqueror or a liberator? How the world remembers your name is up to you.
Anno 1800 at a glance Released 2019 Studio Ubisoft Mainz Player sentiment 81% positive of 32,232 Price $59.99 City BuilderStrategySimulationEconomyResource ManagementSandboxExplorationManagement
- 2
Stronghold Crusader HD (2012)
Why it matched: both historical and strategy; shares 10 player tags including City Builder, Building and Strategy.
The highly anticipated sequel to the best-selling Stronghold, Stronghold Crusader HD throws you into historic battles and castle sieges from the Crusades with fiendish AI opponents, new units, 4 historical campaigns and over 100 unique skirmish missions.
Stronghold Crusader HD (2012) at a glance Released 2013 Studio Firefly Studios Player sentiment 97% positive of 21,059 Price $1.99 City BuilderBuildingStrategySandboxManagementReal-TimeResource ManagementEconomy
- 3
Workers & Resources: Soviet Republic
Why it matched: both historical and strategy; shares 10 player tags including Strategy, Simulation and City Builder.
Build a soviet republic from an impoverished country into a rich industrial superpower in a city builder with intricate production chains and a fully simulated global economy. Manage the lives of your citizens from education to work and party loyalty to criminal activity.
Workers & Resources: Soviet Republic at a glance Released 2024 Studio 3Division Player sentiment 91% positive of 27,164 Price $9.99 StrategySimulationCity BuilderManagementBuildingSandboxResource ManagementHistorical
- 4
Dwarf Fortress
Why it matched: both strategy; shares 10 player tags including Strategy, Simulation and City Builder; released around the same time (2022).
Build a fortress and try to help your dwarves survive against a deeply generated world. Keep your dwarves happy, grow their community and beware of digging too deeply. The deepest, most intricate simulation of a world that's ever been created.
Dwarf Fortress at a glance Released 2022 Studio Bay 12 Games Player sentiment 95% positive of 31,446 Price $29.99 StrategySimulationCity BuilderSandboxManagementBuildingResource ManagementCrafting
- 5
Transport Fever 2
Why it matched: both strategy; shares 10 player tags including Simulation, Strategy and Management; released around the same time (2019).
The classic transport simulation genre has a new gold standard with Transport Fever 2. Discover a whole new world by navigating transport routes through land, water and air. May progress and prosperity find their way!
Transport Fever 2 at a glance Released 2019 Studio Urban Games Player sentiment 90% positive of 32,509 Price $39.99 SimulationStrategyManagementTransportationTrainsCity BuilderEconomySandbox
- 6
Manor Lords
Why it matched: both historical and strategy; shares 9 player tags including Strategy, City Builder and Simulation.
Manor Lords is a medieval strategy game featuring in-depth city building, large-scale tactical battles, and complex economic and social simulations. Rule your lands as a medieval lord – the seasons pass, the weather changes, and cities rise and fall.
Manor Lords at a glance Released 2024 Studio Slavic Magic Player sentiment 84% positive of 90,905 Price $25.99 StrategyCity BuilderSimulationHistoricalManagementBuildingResource ManagementSandbox
- 7
OpenTTD
Why it matched: both strategy; shares 10 player tags including Simulation, Building and Economy; released around the same time (2021).
OpenTTD is a business simulation game in which players earn money by transporting passengers and cargo via road, rail, water, and air. It is an open-source remake and expansion of the 1995 Chris Sawyer video game Transport Tycoon Deluxe.
OpenTTD at a glance Released 2021 Studio OpenTTD Player sentiment 95% positive of 16,952 Price Not listed SimulationBuildingEconomySandboxManagementTrainsTransportationResource Management
- 8
Dawn of Man
Why it matched: both historical and strategy; shares 8 player tags including City Builder, Strategy and Simulation; released around the same time (2019).
Command a settlement of ancient humans, guide them through the ages in their struggle for survival. Hunt, gather, craft tools, fight, research new techs and face the challenges the environment will throw at you.
Dawn of Man at a glance Released 2019 Studio Madruga Works Player sentiment 87% positive of 17,830 Price $12.49 City BuilderStrategySimulationHistoricalSandboxEconomyResource ManagementManagement
- 9
Transport Fever
Why it matched: both strategy; shares 10 player tags including City Builder, Sandbox and Building; released around the same time (2016).
Transport Fever is a railroad-focused tycoon game. Players start in 1850 and build up a thriving transport company. As an emerging transport tycoon, the player constructs stations, airports, harbors and makes money by connecting areas requiring transport services. Build up your own Empire!
Transport Fever at a glance Released 2016 Studio Urban Games Player sentiment 83% positive of 10,841 Price $29.99 City BuilderSandboxBuildingEconomyTrainsManagementTransportationStrategy
- 10
Factorio
Why it matched: both strategy; shares 9 player tags including Resource Management, Sandbox and Crafting; released around the same time (2016).
Factorio is a game about building and creating automated factories to produce items of increasing complexity, within an infinite 2D world. Use your imagination to design your factory, combine simple elements into ingenious structures, and finally protect it from the creatures who don't really like you.
Factorio at a glance Released 2016 Studio Wube software Player sentiment 98% positive of 233,978 Price $35.00 Resource ManagementSandboxCraftingStrategyManagementBuildingTrainsSimulation
- 11
Kingdoms and Castles
Why it matched: both strategy; shares 9 player tags including City Builder, Strategy and Building; released around the same time (2017).
Kingdoms and Castles is a city-building simulation game about growing a kingdom from a tiny hamlet to a sprawling city and imposing castle. Make trade agreements, alliance, and war with neighboring AI controlled kingdoms. Each villager and resource is individually simulated.
Kingdoms and Castles at a glance Released 2017 Studio Lion Shield, LLC Player sentiment 94% positive of 31,404 Price $19.99 City BuilderStrategyBuildingSimulationSandboxResource ManagementManagementEconomy
- 12
Planet Zoo
Why it matched: both strategy; shares 9 player tags including Management, Simulation and Building; released around the same time (2019).
Build a world for wildlife in Planet Zoo. From the developers of Planet Coaster and Zoo Tycoon comes the ultimate zoo sim. Construct detailed habitats, manage your zoo, and meet authentic living animals who think, feel and explore the world you create around them.
Planet Zoo at a glance Released 2019 Studio Frontier Developments Player sentiment 91% positive of 97,527 Price $44.99 ManagementSimulationBuildingSandboxCity BuilderEconomyFamily FriendlyResource Management
- 13
Prison Architect
Why it matched: both strategy; shares 9 player tags including Simulation, Building and Sandbox; released around the same time (2015).
Only the world’s most ruthless Warden can contain the world’s most ruthless inmates. Design and develop your personalized penitentiary in Prison Architect.
Prison Architect at a glance Released 2015 Studio Introversion Software Player sentiment 89% positive of 73,744 Price $5.99 SimulationBuildingSandboxStrategyManagementCity BuilderResource ManagementEconomy
- 14
Airport CEO
Why it matched: both strategy; shares 9 player tags including Resource Management, Management and Simulation; released around the same time (2021).
Build and manage an international airport!
Airport CEO at a glance Released 2021 Studio Apog Labs Player sentiment 83% positive of 8,337 Price $24.99 Resource ManagementManagementSimulationBuildingStrategySandboxEconomyTransportation
- 15
Stronghold: Definitive Edition
Why it matched: both historical and strategy; shares 8 player tags including City Builder, Strategy and Sandbox.
Greetings sire! Your stronghold awaits you. Build a castle economy, besiege unforgettable villains and return to the 'castle sim' that started it all. Experience this classic RTS with upgraded visuals, modernised gameplay, Steam multiplayer and a new campaign.
Stronghold: Definitive Edition at a glance Released 2023 Studio Firefly Studios Player sentiment 87% positive of 10,346 Price $4.49 City BuilderStrategySandboxBuildingEconomyHistoricalSimulationResource Management
- 16
Farthest Frontier
Why it matched: both historical and strategy; shares 8 player tags including Historical, City Builder and Resource Management.
Protect and guide your people as you forge a town from untamed wilderness at the edge of the known world. Harvest raw materials, hunt, fish and farm to survive. Produce crafted items to trade, consume, equip and fight with as you battle for your survival against the elements and outside threats.
Farthest Frontier at a glance Released 2025 Studio Crate Entertainment Player sentiment 86% positive of 25,411 Price $34.99 HistoricalCity BuilderResource ManagementStrategyManagementBuildingSimulationEconomy
- 17
Anno 2205
Why it matched: both strategy; shares 9 player tags including City Builder, Strategy and Simulation; released around the same time (2015).
In Anno 2205™, you join humankind‘s next step into the future with the promise to build a better tomorrow. You conquer Earth, establishing rich, bustling cities and grand industrial complexes, but to secure the prosperity of your people, you must travel into space.
Anno 2205 at a glance Released 2015 Studio Blue Byte Player sentiment 70% positive of 6,335 Price $39.99 City BuilderStrategySimulationEconomyResource ManagementManagementBuildingSandbox
- 18
Anno 2070
Why it matched: both strategy; shares 10 player tags including Strategy, City Builder and Simulation.
Build your society of the future, colonize islands, and create sprawling megacities with multitudes of buildings, vehicles, and resources to manage.
Anno 2070 at a glance Released 2011 Studio Blue Byte Player sentiment 60% positive of 12,703 Price $19.99 StrategyCity BuilderSimulationResource ManagementEconomyManagementBuildingReal-Time
- 19
Against the Storm
Why it matched: both strategy; shares 9 player tags including Strategy, City Builder and Simulation.
A dark fantasy city builder where you must rebuild civilization in the face of apocalyptic rains. As the Queen’s Viceroy, lead humans, beavers, lizards, foxes, and harpies to reclaim the wilderness and secure a future for civilization's last survivors.
Against the Storm at a glance Released 2023 Studio Eremite Games Player sentiment 94% positive of 37,338 Price $8.99 StrategyCity BuilderSimulationManagementBuildingResource ManagementSandboxEconomy
- 20
Going Medieval
Why it matched: both strategy; shares 9 player tags including City Builder, Strategy and Sandbox.
Build and manage your own castle settlement in a land reclaimed by wilderness. With detailed management, survival strategy, and a moddable sandbox world, Going Medieval challenges you to build the mightiest colony this side of the apocalypse.
Going Medieval at a glance Released 2026 Studio Foxy Voxel Player sentiment 89% positive of 21,362 Price $22.49 City BuilderStrategySandboxEconomySimulationManagementReplay ValueCrafting
- 21
Stronghold Crusader 2
Why it matched: both historical and strategy; shares 7 player tags including Strategy, City Builder and Simulation; released around the same time (2014).
Stronghold Crusader 2 is the long awaited sequel to the original castle sim. After 12 years Stronghold returns to the desert with a new 3D engine and powerful Havok Physics. Crusader 2 recaptures the original game’s addictive, fast-paced gameplay and authentic castle simulation.
Stronghold Crusader 2 at a glance Released 2014 Studio Firefly Studios Player sentiment 72% positive of 18,080 Price $3.99 StrategyCity BuilderSimulationHistoricalBuildingResource ManagementSandbox
- 22
Victoria 3
Why it matched: both historical and strategy; shares 8 player tags including Economy, Historical and Strategy; released around the same time (2022).
Paradox Development Studio invites you to build your ideal society in the tumult of the exciting and transformative 19th century. Balance the competing interests in your society and earn your place in the sun in Victoria 3, one of the most anticipated games in Paradox’s history.
Victoria 3 at a glance Released 2022 Studio Development Studio Player sentiment 70% positive of 60,969 Price $49.99 EconomyHistoricalStrategyManagementSimulationResource ManagementSandboxReplay Value
- 23
Cities in Motion 2
Why it matched: both strategy; shares 9 player tags including Simulation, Strategy and Transportation.
Cities in Motion 2 is the sequel to the popular mass transit simulation game Cities in Motion. Build, manage and lead your transportation network to provide cities with their ever changing needs. CIM2 introduces new features including multiplayer game modes, day and night cycles, timetables and dynamic cities.
Cities in Motion 2 at a glance Released 2013 Studio Colossal Order Player sentiment 58% positive of 2,495 Price $19.99 SimulationStrategyTransportationManagementCity BuilderSandboxEconomyBuilding
- 24
Mini Motorways
Why it matched: both strategy; shares 8 player tags including Strategy, Simulation and Management; released around the same time (2021).
Mini Motorways is a strategy simulation game about designing the road map for a growing city. Build a traffic network, one road at a time, to create a bustling metropolis. Redesign your roads and place your motorways to get everyone where they need to go. How long can you keep the city moving?
Mini Motorways at a glance Released 2021 Studio Dinosaur Polo Club Player sentiment 96% positive of 24,384 Price $9.99 StrategySimulationManagementTransportationBuildingCity BuilderResource ManagementFamily Friendly
Common questions
What game is most like Railway Empire?
Anno 1800, on the evidence we have. It both historical and strategy. That is a statement about overlap, not a promise you will like it as much: two games can share every tag and still feel different to play.
How is "similar to Railway Empire" decided?
By overlap on the tags Steam players applied to each game, the formal genres, the themes both sit in, and whether the same studio made them. Tags carry the most weight because players write them, so they describe how a game feels rather than how it was filed. Tags carried by more than a third of the catalogue are ignored: matching on "Singleplayer" is matching on nothing. Every entry below shows exactly what it matched on.
Are these ranked by quality?
No. They are ordered by how much they overlap with Railway Empire. Where two games overlap equally, the better received one goes first, but that only moves a game a place or two. Each entry shows its own player sentiment so you can weigh that separately.
Do you get paid for these recommendations?
No. The order is computed from tag and genre overlap and nothing else. No placement here can be bought, and a game appearing high on this page is a statement about resemblance rather than an endorsement.