Comparison

Station Manager vs train games

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Station Manager

Build and customize your ultimate train station by adding various facilities and trains. Manage passenger comfort and expand your station's reach to attract more travelers. Create unique train combinations to cater to different passenger needs.

Highlights
  • Customize station facilities
  • Add vending machines, benches, info boards
  • Build arcades, VIP lounges, taco stands
  • Link carriages to create new trains
  • Expand surrounding area
  • Attract diverse passengers
Features
Read full description

All aboard this exciting journey to build the world's greatest train station! Customize your station with your favorite facilities and trains. Help your passengers travel in comfort by adding vending machines, benches, information boards and more. With fun features including arcades, VIP lounges and taco stands, you'll soon be everyone's favorite stop! Link different carriages to create new trains for business, tourism and more. Expand into the surrounding area to attract new passengers. It's full steam ahead for your spectacular new station! Watch as it fills with commuters, students and other travelers! -------------------------------------------------------- All game progress is stored on your device. Save data cannot be restored after deleting or reinstalling the app. Try searching for "Kairosoft" to see all of our games, or visit us at https://kairopark.jp. Be sure to check out both our free-to-play and our paid games! Follow us on X(Twitter) for the latest news! https://twitter.com/kairokun2010

About

train games

Manage a rail empire in this train simulator. Build networks, optimize cargo routes, and operate iconic steam and modern trains. Experience strategic tycoon gameplay with realistic simulation.

Highlights
  • Master freight transport and optimize routes
  • Operate iconic steam and modern trains
  • Manage train stations and rail yards
  • Expand rail network across Chicago
  • Strategic tycoon gameplay and realistic simulation
  • Stunning steam era graphics
  • Complete achievements and challenges
Features
Read full description

Dive into the bustling world of trains in the heart of Illinois with Chicago Train Tycoon, the ultimate train simulator experience for mobile devices! Perfect for fans of train games, this engaging train simulator puts you in control of powerful steam locomotives and cutting-edge freight trains as you manage a thriving rail empire. Build your own rail network, expand cargo routes, and take on the role of a true tycoon in the world of rail transportation. In Chicago Train Tycoon, the railways come to life as you operate historic steam engines and modern trains alike. Whether you’re guiding a classic steam train across the rail yards or optimizing routes for efficient cargo transport, every decision shapes your journey towards becoming a train tycoon. This game combines the strategic challenges of a tycoon simulation with the immersive feel of a true train game, making it an essential experience for train enthusiasts everywhere. Features: - Master the Art of Freight Transport: Manage and optimize your train routes, ensuring timely delivery of various cargo types across the city’s iconic train stations and beyond. With each successful delivery, you earn rewards to expand and upgrade your fleet. - Iconic Trains and Steam Engines: Operate a collection of classic steam trains alongside modern diesel and electric locomotives. From historical steam mobile engines to powerful freight trains, experience the evolution of rail transport as you build your empire. - Authentic Train Station Management: Experience life as a train station manager in 20th-century Chicago. With detailed train station environments and bustling rail yards, you’ll feel the pulse of the city’s thriving freight industry as you manage arrivals, departures, and scheduling. - Dynamic Rail Network Expansion: Lay down rails, construct new train stations, and expand your network across the Chicago area. Every decision affects your growth as a tycoon and your ability to meet the increasing demands of cargo transportation. - Strategic Gameplay Meets Realistic Simulation: Combining the best of train games and tycoon simulators, Chicago Train Tycoon challenges you to balance operational efficiency with growth strategies. Optimize train schedules, manage resources, and invest in the future of your rail empire. - Stunning Steam Era Graphics: Immerse yourself in detailed, steam-powered environments that recreate the golden age of trains. Each locomotive is designed with precision, and every rail, track, and train station captures the spirit of historical Chicago. - Achievements & Challenges: Complete tasks and overcome challenges as you progress. From transporting fragile cargo to mastering tricky rail routes, each challenge tests your skills as a train game enthusiast. Chicago Train Tycoon combines the nostalgic charm of steam locomotives with the excitement of a modern train simulator, offering fans of train games and tycoon simulators the perfect mobile experience. Take control of powerful freight trains, develop your rail empire, and become the ultimate train tycoon in one of America’s most iconic cities. Whether you're a seasoned train enthusiast or new to the world of trains, this game provides hours of captivating gameplay as you explore the legacy and future of rail in the bustling heart of Chicago. Download Chicago Train Tycoon today and start your journey as a rail tycoon! PLEASE NOTE! Chicago Train Railroad Tycoon is an online free strategy tycoon simulator game to download and play that requires a network connection to play. Some in-game items can also be purchased for real money. if you don't want to use this feature please disable in-app purchases in your device's settings. Do you have any suggestions or problems in your TrainStation? Our caring community train managers would love to hear from you, visit https://discord.gg/MPHxcMsP

Screenshots

Station Manager4 screens
train games4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: train games at Free against Station Manager's $5.99. train games also leads on rating (4.5 vs 3.9) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 9 months). Station Manager's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 10) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 13.3). On ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

train games is free to download; Station Manager costs $5.99 up front. train games sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. Station Manager asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

train games holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: train games has 208 ratings behind it against 29, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 46% of Station Manager's written reviews are positive against 65% of train games's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Station Manager ships an update every 9 months, train games every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 11, 2026 and November 7, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 2 level
Station Manager versus train games: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterStation Managertrain games
Price$5.99Free — better
Rating3.9 (29 ratings)4.5 (208 ratings) — better
Positive reviews46.2% of reviews65.4% of reviews — better
Number of ratings29208 — better
Update frequencyEvery 9 monthsEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsYesYes
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationAd-supported — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS11.0 — better13.3
Further details — not scored
Size91 MB107 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperKairosoft Co.,LtdCezary Tomczak

Customer experience

Station Manager

All ratings28 ratings
Positive64.3%
Neutral10.7%
Negative25.0%
Written reviews169 reviews
Positive46.2%
Neutral13.6%
Negative40.2%

train games

All ratings207 ratings
Positive87.0%
Neutral3.4%
Negative9.7%
Written reviews52 reviews
Positive65.4%
Neutral3.8%
Negative30.8%

User reviews

Station Manager

From 29 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Addictive gameplay
  • 👍 Classic Kairosoft charm
  • 👍 Good graphics and art style
  • 👍 Lots of content and replayability
  • 👍 No ads in paid version

Room to improve

  • 👎 Slow progression/grind
  • 👎 Confusing UI/controls
  • 👎 Can't restart game easily
  • 👎 Paid game with ads/microtransactions
  • 👎 Boring/tedious at times

train games

From 208 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Great game for railfans
  • 👍 Grind-free tycoon experience
  • 👍 Realistic trains
  • 👍 Uses Google Maps
  • 👍 Amazing trains

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Game is broken
  • 🐛 Can't unlock rewards
  • 🐛 Can't get new buildings
  • 🐛 Counters show 0
  • 🐛 Worried game may crash

Bugs and requests

Station Manager

Reported bugs

22 issues
  • Game crashes frequently
  • Game not loading/stuck on loading screen
  • Cannot enter game after updates/OS upgrades
  • Save data lost after updates
  • Error messages upon loading
Show 17 more
  • Game freezes or becomes unresponsive
  • Ad integration issues (disabling rotation, random ads)
  • UI elements overlapping or blocking buttons
  • Issues with specific train types (silver train)
  • Facility bonuses not applying or disappearing
  • Loading failures after language changes
  • Game becomes slow or laggy after updates
  • Issues with ad bonuses not working as intended
  • VIP events not appearing correctly
  • Text display issues after updates
  • Game not functioning after updates
  • Inability to equip items
  • Game crashing on older devices
  • Ad block causing game to not open
  • Issues with deleting platforms/floors
  • Game not saving properly
  • URL errors when changing language

Requested features

24 requests
  • Add a way to delete platforms
  • Add a restart or main menu button
  • Fix screen rotation issues
  • Improve camera controls (zoom out)
  • Add more levels or content
Show 19 more
  • Make money acquisition easier
  • Allow switching stations more easily
  • Adapt for iPhone Air
  • Add brighter color palettes
  • Make controls easier
  • Add a way to delete metro stations
  • Add a new character named Isaac
  • Add a summer parade event
  • Add a way to reset save data
  • Fix the silver train bug
  • Add more save slots
  • Improve translation of character names
  • Add more station development options
  • Fix the issue with the 24-hour ad bonus
  • Improve UI and text display
  • Add landscape mode support
  • Fix the issue with the assistant/pop-ups
  • Add more train types
  • Make the game more engaging in later stages

train games

Reported bugs

30 issues
  • Reward timers show 0
  • Cannot unlock rewards
  • Cannot acquire new buildings
  • Resource counters show 0
  • Game may crash
Show 25 more
  • Cannot accommodate trains
  • Cannot dispatch electric trains
  • Game closes immediately after opening
  • Upgrading planes not working
  • Lost all game data after deleting and redownloading
  • Game won't let user in
  • Too many ads
  • Purchase failed, coin deducted
  • Nothing shows up on the map
  • Reward videos lock up
  • Route data takes a very long time to load
  • Stuck on tutorial, cannot unload train
  • Maps are not popping up
  • Route selection screen is broken
  • Cannot change routes on trains
  • Game closes by itself
  • Game is not working
  • Error when trying to select passenger train route
  • Map makes no sense, no coal marker
  • Game has locked up
  • Metra does not work
  • Game is pumped full of ads
  • Incorrect number of conductors used
  • Glitchy movements of the screen
  • Paid for gems and money, received nothing

Requested features

27 requests
  • Fix reward timers
  • Fix building acquisition
  • Fix resource counters
  • Fix train accommodation
  • Explain electric train dispatch
Show 22 more
  • Add Amtrak trains
  • Add My Little Pony collaboration
  • Make Chicago train idle tycoon 2 sequel
  • Make American steam trains game
  • Fix route data loading
  • Fix map issues
  • Fix passenger train routes
  • Add coal marker to map
  • Fix Metra functionality
  • Add more trains
  • Improve train variety
  • Add custom train asset sharing
  • Fix upgrade issues
  • Fix game loading issues
  • Fix tutorial issues
  • Fix route selection screen
  • Fix game crashing
  • Fix reward video issues
  • Fix data loss issues
  • Fix ads
  • Fix purchase issues
  • Fix map display issues

In-app purchases

None

Station Manager

No in-app purchases

10 purchases

train games

One-time10
  • Item no 1$1.99
  • Item no 2$1.99
  • Golden coins$2.99
Show 7 more
  • NO ADS$3.99
  • Mega pack -30% SALE$6.99
  • All items$8.99
  • Blue Hats Mega Bundle$9.99
  • Mega golden coins$9.99
  • Mega pack$11.99
  • Ultra Pack$41.99

Questions

Is Station Manager free?
Station Manager costs $5.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is train games free?
train games is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Station Manager or train games?
train games is rated higher. Station Manager averages 3.9 out of 5 from 29 ratings, while train games averages 4.5 from 208 ratings.
Do Station Manager or train games have ads?
Both Station Manager and train games show ads.
Which is updated more often, Station Manager or train games?
Station Manager ships an update every 9 months, and train games every 3 weeks. Most recently, Station Manager was updated on November 11, 2026 and train games on November 7, 2026.

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