Iron Roads is a cute-looking rail network optimisation sim out in Early Access

Love your building and management sims? Iron Roads puts a rather cute looking style on it and it's now available with Linux support in Early Access. Developed by Cowleyfornia Studios, who also made the narrative games We'll always have Paris and Sarawak.

More about it: Iron Roads is a top-down 2D train management game with a focus on optimising train networks. With a minimalistic interface that stays out of your way while you set up complex networks, while remaining approachable for new players. They said they're aiming for the accessibility of Mini Metro and the depth of games such as OpenTTD and Opus Magnum, while also capturing the irreverent tone of games like the Two Point series and Let's Build a Zoo.

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Features:

• Board game like mechanics For example, Iron Roads has resource tokens rather than money. These can be earned by growing towns or completing contracts, and need to be used strategically to expand networks and progress the game.
• Procedural music Music in Iron Roads is a combination of notes generated from trains and passengers, and authored melodies. The music generated is as unique as the layouts built by players.
• Performance graphs The main goal of Iron Roads is to optimise the train networks, so charts are available to analyse data relating to finances and passengers.
• 3 Game modes Scenarios are hand crafted levels with unique gameplay elements; in the time-based challenges you must transport as many passengers as possible in a fixed period of time; there is also a free play mode where you can build your network and transport passengers free of any constraints.

The developer previously mentioned to me how a lot of it was developed on Linux too. Their roadmap also includes controller support and proper Steam Deck support coming later.