A Train Simulator Twenty-Five Years In The Making Is Now A Free-To-Play Game

I saw a monumental freeware project come to fruition this week. The game is, a simulator that lets you become a train driver on the Polish railways. This project has been in development for over twenty years, originally planned for a release in the 2000s. After numerous delays and extensive testing by a dedicated community, it has finally been released. The game aims to simulate the experience of operating the most popular locomotives and multiple units used in Poland, and its description says as much.

The game is now available for download on multiple platforms, including the Epic Games store, but its arrival on Steam is notable. Despite its aged visuals, the game has garnered "positive" user reviews from players who appreciate its detailed approach. The visual style itself is described as nostalgic, aiming to replicate the feeling of the Polish railway system as it was in the 1990s. The long development journey has resulted in a freeware release that holds up today for fans of the genre.

I found the feature list to be extensive. Players can take command of over 40 different types of diesel and electric locomotives. The liveries for these trains are based on real photographs, and nearly every asset in the game is built from real-world references. These machines are driven across 15 different railway routes. To keep the experience dynamic, the game incorporates randomized events. All of this must be managed while adhering to Polish transportation and safety laws, adding another layer of challenge. The painstaking work is evident in the game’s large installation size of roughly 100GB, which is largely due to an excess of detailed textures.

The simulation is not for the faint of heart. The game’s own product page includes a direct warning to new players about its difficulty and realism, suggesting they learn the rules before diving in.

"Don't give up early! - Accurate brake systems, electric traction simulation and realistic signalling: all of that makes MaSzyna one of the most realistic train simulators available. Before performing the missions, you should learn the rules used on the Polish railways (Ie-1), and consult the simulator manual on starting and driving of specific vehicle type."

This level of realism means the game provides little in the way of tutorials. One user noted that it requires a "complete understanding of Polish signaling and traffic rules." This steep learning curve is precisely what makes the game rewarding for dedicated simulation fans who are looking for a new challenge to master. Because the game is built on an engine that is roughly two decades old, it can be run on pretty much any machine without issue, making it accessible to a wide audience of players who have the hard drive space and the patience to learn its intricate systems.