Ahead of the Game: Train management title Iron Roads now in open beta

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  • The humans are dead (sorry humans), but animals have formed a society
  • You must connect animal communities in a timely, efficient manner
  • Remain eco-friendly to avoid flood risks and ballooning industrial districts

As a seasoned gamer with a soft spot for strategy games, I simply can’t contain my excitement over Iron Roads! Having been captivated by Cowleyfornia Studios’ previous masterpiece, We’ll Always Have Paris, I’ve eagerly awaited their next venture.

Greetings and welcome to Ahead of Time Glimpse, a collection where we share exciting details about an upcoming game. In this series, you’ll have the opportunity to experience these games before they officially launch, whether through Soft Launch, Open Beta, Demos, or other means, all while the games are still available for play at the time of our publication.

California Studios, the team behind our 2022 Gold Award winner We’ll Always Have Paris, have unveiled their upcoming project: Iron Roads. This is a strategic game centered around developing a train network simulation, where players will focus on strategically placing and managing train tracks and routes while expanding and optimizing an ever-growing railway system.

While it may seem simple and reminiscent of Mini Metro, you’ll find a few unique elements that distinguish it significantly from similar games in the same genre.

To begin with, you might have thought that the passengers on this transport would be people. However, if I may correct your assumption, these aren’t human passengers at all; instead, they are animals. Although humans do feature in this scenario, their role is more of a cautionary one as they’ve all perished due to their mistakes in managing the world (congratulations).

Different creatures have managed to persist and appear to possess a heightened level of intelligence, but they’ve been maintaining their isolated societies, dwelling in their respective communities without venturing into the larger world. However, this solitude is about to come to an end as you assume the role of a pioneer, linking together towns and industries much like Amtrak connects cities.

In this game, I’ve noticed that the ominous ecological hints aren’t just empty threats. The world of Iron Roads seems to mirror my decisions and actions. If I overindulge in fossil fuels or prioritize factories, it results in a grim reality. Floodwaters rise more frequently or factory districts expand, covering larger areas of the map and restricting my options. It’s a stark reminder that every choice has consequences.

There, you go, that actually sounds quite different from what you were thinking about right?

Currently under development is Iron Roads, which will eventually offer three distinct gameplay modes: Scenarios, Endless, and Challenges. At the present time, though, these modes are not yet fully realized as the project remains in progress.

So, how do you get to play Iron Roads?

Here are a few ways to access the application at this time:

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2024-10-30 14:48