NIMBY Rails
Early access since Jan 2021
Design and run your own railroads for the real world. Solve global transportation dilemmas. Unleash your inner railway engineer and transit policy manager.
89% positive · 2,314 reviews
Not yet
In early access, still in active development
High confidence
Active Development
Not yet
In early access, still in active development
High confidence
Active Development
Where to buy
Steam $19.99
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Evaluation
NIMBY Rails has been in Early Access since January 26, 2021 and remains actively and substantially in development. The solo developer at Weird and Wry has maintained a consistent cadence of major version updates throughout the Early Access period, with at least 9 significant named releases visible in the post history — including version 1.12 (May 2024), 1.13 (June 2024), 1.14 (October 2024), 1.15 (January 2025), 1.16 (April 2025), 1.17 (July 2025), 1.18 (February 2026), and most recently version 1.19 on August 9, 2026.
Version 1.19, released just 18 days before today's assessment date, is described as one of the largest and most significant updates to the game. It includes a partly rewritten map rendering engine with support for industry-standard tile formats, custom external map sources, an updated OpenStreetMap dataset now requiring 55GB of storage, map rotation, and a native Linux port. A developer announcement from April 1, 2026 previewed the update's scope and confirmed active work at that time.
There is no indication the developer considers the game complete, and no 1.0 release date has been announced. The game remains in Early Access with a strong, ongoing pattern of substantial updates.
Evidence
Version 1.19 released, featuring a partly rewritten map engine with Web Mercator support, custom external map sources (raster and vector tile formats), an updated and expanded OpenStreetMap dataset (now 55GB), map rotation, and a native Linux port.
Developer devblog for March 2026 previews version 1.19 as 'one of the largest, most significant updates to the game,' describing planned redesigned train physics, Linux support, and a new map system using industry-standard formats.
Media
Details
Developer
Publisher
Weird and Wry
Achievements
—
Platform
Windows, Linux
Controller
—
Steam Deck
Playable
Players
Single-player · Multiplayer · Co-op
About this game
NIMBY Rails is a management sandbox for railways you build in the real world. Design train tracks, set up lines, and get that stock rolling to make money and serve the needs of the population. Do you have strong opinions on rail projects and want to test your own ideas? This game was made for you.
- The world is your canvas. Design and play on a fully detailed real world map with 1cm resolution. A rail link from Lisbon to Shanghai? Anchorage to Buenos Aires? Cape Town to Rabat? Why not!
- Your tracks will need to respect real, existing roads and streets. Too many crossings may make your designs not viable.
- Streamlined circulation mechanics so you don't get bogged down by the details. Build and run a large network easily.
- Only as complex as you want it. Easily build stations with automatic double track and automatic entrance/exit signaling, and link them in a couple clicks with automatic double tracks.
- But do you have your own ideas about signals? Want to dive into detailed station design? Have a flying junction concept you are dying to test? Just disable the automatic aids in the track editor and individually control every every track, signal and building if you desire to do so.
- Trams, subways, commuter, regional and high speed trains. Tunnels, viaducts and ground tracks with a variety trade offs on the environment, train speed, and your company wallet.
- Simulated train and station demand, down to simulating individual passengers. Passengers can, and will, engage in train trips that make them board multiple trains, waiting in transfer stations.
- Demand flow based on time of day and time of week, with time zone support. Find it boring when night time comes and the stations are deserted? No problem, start a new line ten time zones away.
- Passengers will continuously rate their experience based on the trip time and the fares you impose on them, with effects on the demand of the stations they visit.
- Single player and offline first.
- Optional cooperative multiplayer: build together in real time with friends and others you invite to your hosted server session.
Are these done yet?
Last evaluated Aug 27, 2026
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