Second game from the Serbian studio Altfuture, first released for virtual reality platforms in 2019, Derail Valley now comes to us in its version Simulator after 4 years of development to make it accessible to PC and Steam Deck. The game – exclusively playable in single player – relies above all on its many realistic and immersive details to make you live a new adventure with each contract. So does it belong in your library Steam ? Is it different enough from Train Sim World or even the most recent SimRail and its multiplayer mode?
Two game modes: career and sandbox
The first originality of the game is to offer you a career mode which will not be a succession of scenarios to follow but rather a progression with a beginning and an end. On the other hand, do not expect to follow a story, your progress will be measured here by your purchase of licenses allowing you both to access larger contracts but also to the more powerful locomotives that go with it. You will start with 3 licenses out of the 22 in the campaign. Be careful, however, you will never own the locomotives but only have a license to drive them. Thus, before accepting a contract, you will have to check that the locomotive you wish to use is indeed present on one of the tracks of the station or that you have kept it from an old contract.
The sandbox mode will allow you to play with a completely adjustable difficulty as well as with more or less favorable economic conditions. Note that tutorials are integrated into both modes when you take possession of a new locomotive for the first time.
6 locomotives and 50 types of goods
At this stage of development, you will find in the game 4 diesel locomotives (including 1 mechanical with gear shifting and 1 hydraulic powering a turbine) and 4 steam locomotives. The arrival of electricity is planned later because it will also require the adaptation of the world map.
An open world with dynamic weather and day/night cycle
In addition to the variety of landscapes, you will also have the pleasure of driving depending on changing climatic conditions (rain, fog, storm, overcast weather) as well as the day/night cycle. As standard, a full day in game lasts 2 hours in real time.
The game still has room for improvement to make its world more lively because you won't come across any other train except yours. Similarly, there is no passenger transport or automobile traffic at the level crossings yet. The developers are aware of this and plan for it in their future development plan based on the sales of this edition.
Accurate physics and impressive derailments
The game is not called DERAIL Valley by chance. Depending on the weight and the type of locomotive of your train, you will have little room for maneuver to exceed the authorized speed on certain sections. This will result in derailments ranging from minor to much more severe. It is then up to you to order assistance (paid) via your walkie-talkie to put the locomotive and wagons back on track or to reload a backup (if you are not playing in hardcore mode which only offers a only backup).
A dynamic economy and procedurally generated contracts
In reaction to your completed contracts, the various places that will have received or received your freight will develop economically and will offer you larger contracts than the previous ones. Thus, during our first campaign of about thirty hours, we were able to witness a significant demand for gasoline in the city after making a large delivery of cars the day before. The same applies when you carry out shunting operations which require you to load or unload freight wagons; they will accelerate the economic development of the place.
Since the contracts are procedurally generated, the campaign may never end, even when you have been able to purchase all the licenses. It's up to you then to start one again with new parameters or to continue in your momentum.
Improvements planned until 2026
The studio Altfuture has a discord (with a section in French) and regularly communicate information on future improvements they will bring to the game. For 2024, for example, the following elements are planned:
- For trains
- 2 locomotives – DH6, E6
- 4 work trains – Microshunter, Speeder, Mailbus, MOW
- For equipment
- 6 new types of wagons (powder, livestock, small tank, closed hopper)
- For the gameplay
- Electric powertrain
- Double cabin
- Jaw hitches
- For mods
- Improvement of the possibilities given to modders
- Documentation
- Opening the Steam Workshop
- For the environment
- 13 new industries, 3 new cities, 10 new depots and 27 villages
- Overhaul of part of the rail network (double track, better coverage of certain geographical areas)
- Preparing for the arrival of AI-driven trains
- New types of bridges, tunnels, viaducts and cornices
- Stops for passengers in the villages
- Different track wear
- The wild animals
To find out more, do not hesitate to consult all the development schedule on their site.
The steam file: https://store.steampowered.com/app/588030/Derail_Valley/
Website : http://www.derailvalley.com/