The TrainStation series, developed by Pixel Federation, offers a collection of mobile railway simulation games that allow players to build and expand the train empire of their dreams. Pixel Federation’s first TrainStation title, TrainStation Classic, was released in 2010. It centers around managing a train station and collecting unique trains from various periods and locations. TrainStation 2, launched in 2019, propelled the series forward with its innovative 3D graphics and new logistics jobs. The game’s core concept still remained the same, with players prompted to build up their mobile train empire once again.
Train enthusiasts exist everywhere, with railways having a reputation as a prominent hyper-fixation. The railway community has always shared a close relationship with TrainStation developer, Pixel Federation, who went so far as to build a 15-metre model train diorama based on the feedback of their players. The development team considered their TrainStation fans valuable co-creators in the project and planned on including the insights they discovered into their upcoming game, TrainStation 3: Journey of Steel.
Pixel Federation recently declared that TrainStation 3 is set to release sometime in 2025, sharing the news via a website article and a post on their official Facebook account. The company invited fans to take part in future “stages of development” by engaging with a series of upcoming YouTube videos titled the “Developer Diaries.” These videos will give viewers a chance to “get a glimpse of the game’s concept, design, mechanics and graphics.” The company’s first Developer Diary entry was uploaded yesterday and has already reached 25 thousand views as of yet.
The video lasts a few minutes and consists of interviews with various members of staff, spliced with gameplay footage. Senior Producer, Marek Stankovic, expresses excitement at the prospect of creating TrainStation 3, assuring viewers that “the team at Pixel Federation has vast experience crafting tycoon games” and that they have learned enough to “make the most ambitious tycoon yet.” Lead Game designer, Martin Garjarský, states that “TrainStation 3 aims to deliver the most realistic and immersive train experience yet” by bring PC level graphics to a mobile format. He warns players to prepare to “manage everything from fueling locomotives and coupling wagons to managing hundreds of rail lines.”
TrainStation 3: Journey of Steel will release sometime in 2025 for free on iOS and Android devices. Anyone interested in watching the Developer Diaries should consider checking out the game’s official YouTube channel and/or subscribing to the TrainStation 3 newsletter for updates.