# Orient Express: The Train Simulator

> Build and manage a railway empire, connecting stations and controlling trains. (iPhone/iPad app by Oleksii Koval'.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/orient-express-the-train-simulator/id326148795 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Oleksii Koval'](https://appshunter.io/developer/318508068)
- Category: Games, Entertainment, Simulation, Strategy
- Price: Free with in-app purchases
- Rating: 4.00/5 from 9 App Store ratings · 121 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 6.0 · 24 MB
- Languages: American English, French (France), German (Germany), Italian, Russian
- Released: 2009-08-11
- Data updated: 2026-06-29
- Monetization: free with in-app purchases
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/orient-express-the-train-simulator/id326148795/reviews.md

## What is Orient Express?

Control the trains, build the railroads connecting the stations and developing your railway empire!

With every successful move, you receive money that you spend on the network development and accident recovery. The cities are waiting for your help!

A great logic puzzle game, more than 100 hours of gameplay, admirable pixel art graphics.

Connect the railway tracks and launch the trains using your logic. Choo-choo!

## Key features

- Control trains
- Build railroads
- Connect stations
- Develop railway empire
- Earn money for upgrades
- Pixel art graphics

## Pricing and in-app purchases

Base price: Free.

**One-time purchases**

| Purchase | Price | Type |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Save Progress | $0.99 | one-time |


## What do users think of Orient Express?

Overall sentiment: mixed

**Pros**

- 🎮 Addictive and engaging gameplay
- 🧠 Challenging strategy elements
- 🚂 Authentic retro train simulator experience
- 😌 Relaxing and enjoyable to play
- 🎨 Cute and charming graphics
- ⏱️ Good difficulty progression
- 🎯 Replayable with multiple levels

**Cons**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and stability issues
- 💾 Save game functionality broken
- 📱 Incompatible with newer iOS versions
- 🎮 Unintuitive and difficult controls
- 📺 Excessive and intrusive ads
- 🔧 Poor UI responsiveness (switches, semaphores)
- 🛤️ Limited track piece options
- 💰 Monetization issues and paywalls
- 🔍 Small graphics difficult to see
- ⚠️ Game-breaking bugs persist across updates

**Commonly reported bugs**

- Game crashes on launch or during gameplay
- Save games fail to load or reset to level 1
- Semaphore signals don't appear or respond to taps
- Switches rarely respond to touch input
- Incompatible with iOS 5, iOS 7, and newer versions
- Game won't load on iPhone 5s
- Menu items overlap making selection impossible
- Ads play mid-game without pausing, causing crashes
- Track pieces don't fit together properly
- Unable to delete track pieces
- Trains don't dispatch despite correct track setup
- Scoring system inconsistencies
- Game only loads once, crashes on subsequent attempts
- Track placement issues over water
- UI elements unresponsive or difficult to interact with

**Most requested features**

- Pause button during gameplay
- More track piece variety and rotation options
- Better track connection mechanics
- Zoom in/out functionality
- 3D models for trains and buildings
- iPad version with larger game area
- Ad-free premium version
- Better tutorial with interactive elements
- Improved signal/semaphore visibility
- More flexible track placement system
- Better save game management
- Increased cash flow in gameplay
- Customizable red light placement

## Recent user reviews (10 of 121)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/orient-express-the-train-simulator/id326148795/reviews.md

### 1/5 — Can’t load saved games!!

*2026-06-04, version 3.1.3*

I used to play this challenging game for hours. And it does get harder at the higher levels. But now you can not get there as saved games will not load and run. 

Why can’t developer fix this???

### 5/5 — Ностальгия!

*2023-11-14, version 3.1.3*

Шикарная копия тех самых ПРАВИЛЬНЫХ паровозиков. До этого играл в Rails, там была современная графика и несколько современных фишек (очень жалею, что производитель перестал ее поддерживать). Это же - аутентичный вариант (с такой же графикой и почти без изменений. Очень рекомендую тем, у кого под рукой нет MS DOS (или имулятора, что вероятнее). Большое человеческое спасибо за эту разработку! Если сделаете еще и копию 1-й цивилизации - цены Вам не будет!

### 1/5 — Save game function does not work

*2021-01-26, version 3.1.3*

I had played this game for years. It is a great challenge. But latest update makes game useless as you cannot save your progress. When you try to load a saved game it starts a new game instead!!!!  It used to work fine! Huge shame as this was a classic.

### 4/5 — Train Fan

*2019-09-23, version 3.1.3*

I love this game, except for a major problem: It won’t allow a game that is in progress to be saved so as to continue it at another time. I managed to get to level 3, put it on hold, came back the next day, and it went back to level 1. Can you, please, fix this problem? I have enjoyed this for years, but I get tired of having to start with level 1 each time.

### 3/5 — Updated version please

*2017-07-07, version 3.1.3*

Was a favourite game when first released, but is no longer compatible with new devices, please bring it back.

### 1/5 — Bad UI

*2017-03-14, version 3.1.3*

The semaphores will not change when tapped on and the switches rarely respond to touch. The railroad building is clunky and limited. Maybe try making it possible to use your finger to "draw" out the track using a grid interface to keep it manageable. The best railroad game I've played utilized that technique and the game ran very smooth.

### 5/5 — All-time favorite

*2017-02-06, version 3.1.3*

I think there should be 3D models of the trains and buildings. It would certainly give it more depth. Just a recommendation. I've had this game for as long as I could remember :)

### 1/5 — Not play iso10 and new

*2017-01-02, version 3.1.3*

Is not open when I m update ISO 10.2in my iPhone 5s please 
Update this game

### 1/5 — From epic game to epic fail

*2016-07-13, version 3.1.3*

This developer has been experimenting with monetizing this app for years and it has now become unplayable with the incredibly intrusive and constant stream of ads.

Sometimes it plays ads in the middle of your game WITHOUT PAUSING YOUR GAME, crashing your trains.

No longer fun.  Thanks for nothing, devs.

### 5/5 — Download if you loved sim city

*2016-06-22, version 3.1.3*

I have been a sim city fan for as long as I can remember, and this game is just as fun. Same idea, but with trains!

## Frequently asked questions about Orient Express

### What is Orient Express: The Train Simulator?

It is a logic puzzle and simulation game where players build and manage a railway empire. You will control trains, connect stations with railroads, and develop your network to earn money and expand.

### What are the main features of this game?

Key features include controlling trains, building railroad tracks to connect stations, developing your railway empire, earning in-game currency for network expansion and accident recovery, and enjoying admirable pixel art graphics.

### Is this game free to play?

The game is free to download and play, but it offers in-app purchases. These purchases can be used for various aspects of the game, such as accelerating progress or recovering from accidents.

### What kind of gameplay can I expect?

You can expect a logic puzzle experience combined with empire management. The game offers over 100 hours of gameplay, focusing on strategic track laying, train operation, and financial management of your railway network.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 3.1.3 — 2016-06-19

This app has been updated by Apple to display the Apple Watch app icon.

-bug fix

### 3.1.2 — 2016-03-08

- Bug fixes;

### 3.1.1 — 2015-10-29

- Minor bug fixes

### 3.1 — 2015-09-24

- added the iOS 9 support
- added the iPhone 6S, iPhone 6S Plus support

### 3.0.2 — 2014-06-11

- Fixed the bug with iPhone 5S.

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## More apps by Oleksii Koval'

- [BattleSheep!](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/battlesheep/id395706132)
- [Cats, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cats-inc/id403547508)
- [Demolition Master 3D: Holidays](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/demolition-master-3d-holidays/id492881973)
- [Zombie Harvest!](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/zombie-harvest/id959967583)

All apps by Oleksii Koval': https://appshunter.io/developer/318508068

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-06-29.*