Comparison

Train Empire vs Train Station

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

Head to head
About

Train Empire

Build and manage a sprawling train empire across different historical eras. Pick up and drop off passengers and cargo to earn credits, unlock new engines and cars, and progress through challenging levels. Experience unique soundtracks and detailed map scenes as you master the rails.

Highlights
  • Manage train empire across four historical eras
  • Pick up and drop off passengers and cargo
  • Unlock new engines and train cars
  • 21 engines, 25 freight cars, 20 passenger cars
  • Unique soundtracks for each era
  • 20 illustrated map scenes
  • Game Center integration with leaderboards
Features
Read full description

From the makers of Build A Train (downloaded by millions of train lovers worldwide) comes an epic adventure: Train Empire! Master the rails and grow your train empire across time periods: 1850-1900, 1900-1950, 1950-2000 and 2000-2050. Your mission is to pick up and drop off passengers and cargo. Complete your mission on each level and you'll earn credits to unlock faster, stronger engines or new train cars with added capacity for cargo or passengers. But be quick! You'll have to guide your train wisely to deliver everything you need to unlock new levels. Features include: • 21 engines, 25 freight cars and 20 passenger cars • Four eras of train fun, each with unique soundtracks • 20 illustrated map scenes • zoom mode that moves the scene with your train • night mode at the end of each level • tutorial mode on the first level of the game to assist beginners • Game Center integration with leaderboards and achievements All aboard!

About

Train Station

Manage your own train station, collect thousands of real-life trains, and fulfill cargo contracts. Build and decorate your station, compete with friends, and discover train stories. Enjoy regular updates and seasonal events.

Highlights
  • Collect thousands of real-life trains
  • Manage and build your train station
  • Fulfill cargo contracts and earn rewards
  • Compete with friends and global leaderboards
  • Participate in seasonal events
  • Learn real-life train stories
Features
Read full description

Join hundreds of thousands train dispatchers, collect thousands of trains and learn real-life stories about them. Manage your station, earn resources by managing transport of passengers and gain various materials with freight trains. Use them to build up your train station and to purchase more passenger and cargo trains! Become a railway magnate in this awesome train simulator, finish hundreds of achievements, ship cargo to contract partners to gain awesome rewards. Cooperate with your friends to become a railroad tycoon, or compete with them in leaderboards to show off the power of your train fleet. Explore the largest collection of steam, diesel, electric, maglev and hyperloop trains from manufacturers all over the world, including Northern America, Germany, India, Australia and more. TrainStation Features: ▶ Enjoy regular weekly updates full of wonderful content ▶ Discover new achievements, contract partners and trains in seasonal events ▶ Find new friends among train enthusiasts from all over the world ▶ Build your station to gain bonuses for your freight trains ▶ Send passengers to various destinations and earn gold ▶ Collect real life locomotives, learn about them through information about them in museum ▶ Compete with people from all around the world, your country or friends in leaderboards ▶ Challenge yourself in strategic planning ▶ Explore the world of railway trade ▶ Show your unique station to the world Personalize your station with colorful railroad themes like Western, San Francisco, Orient, London, New York and many more. Engage in fascinating story based quests provided by numerous contract partners and earn experience points and awesome rewards in return. Build hundreds of different buildings and decorations and create your dream station, let your friends admire it and visit their own stations for inspiration, Collect real-life trains and learn about them in your Museum. Enjoy many events throughout the year, including spring, Halloween and Christmas events, each containing unique achievements, seasonal contract partners and themed locomotives, buildings and decorations. PLEASE NOTE! TrainStation is an online free simulation 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 train station? Our caring community managers would love to hear from you, visit https://care.pxfd.co/trainstation! Terms of Use: http://pxfd.co/eula Privacy Policy: http://pxfd.co/privacy Do you enjoy our train simulator game? Follow @TrainStation on social media to get the latest news and updates.

Screenshots

Train Empire4 screens
Train Station4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Train Station at Free against Train Empire's $1.99. Train Station also leads on update cadence (every 2 months vs every 60 months) and ratings volume (2.9K vs 59). Train Empire's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 14) and ads (none vs shown). On 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 Station is free to download; Train Empire costs $1.99 up front. Train Station sells 14 one-off in-app purchases. Train Empire asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Train Station holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Train Station has 2.9K ratings behind it against 59, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 43% of Train Empire's written reviews are positive against 63% of Train Station's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Train Empire ships an update every 60 months, Train Station every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 10, 2026 and October 21, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard9 real differences · 1 level
Train Empire versus Train Station: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTrain EmpireTrain Station
Price$1.99Free — better
Rating4.3 (59 ratings)4.5 (2.9K ratings) — better
Positive reviews42.9% of reviews62.8% of reviews — better
Number of ratings592.9K — better
Update frequencyEvery 60 monthsEvery 2 months — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree with in-app purchases — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS8.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size33 MB161 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperPlaytend Apps LLPPixel Federation Games

Customer experience

Train Empire

All ratings59 ratings
Positive81.4%
Neutral10.2%
Negative8.5%
Written reviews7 reviews
Positive42.9%
Neutral14.3%
Negative42.9%

Train Station

All ratings2,897 ratings
Positive89.5%
Neutral4.3%
Negative6.2%
Written reviews1,064 reviews
Positive62.8%
Neutral8.6%
Negative28.7%

Bugs and requests

Train Empire

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Train Station

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Lost progress and saved data
  • Login and connectivity issues
  • Freezing and performance problems

Requested features

4 requests
  • Ability to customize train consists
  • More social features and multiplayer
  • Improved tutorial and onboarding
  • Offline mode or reduced internet dependency

In-app purchases

None

Train Empire

No in-app purchases

14 purchases

Train Station

One-time14
  • Beginners Package$2.99
  • Special Pack I$2.99
  • Special Pack II$3.99
Show 11 more
  • Special Pack XIII$4.99
  • Daily Gems - 30 Days$4.99
  • Special Pack III$7.99
  • Starter Bundle$9.99
  • Special Pack XIV$9.99
  • Special Pack IV$11.99
  • Special Pack V$17.99
  • Economy Pack$19.99
  • Special Pack VI$19.99
  • Business Kit$49.99
  • Corporate Package$99.99

Questions

Is Train Empire free?
Train Empire costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Train Station free?
Train Station is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Train Empire or Train Station?
Train Station is rated higher. Train Empire averages 4.3 out of 5 from 59 ratings, while Train Station averages 4.5 from 2.9K ratings.
Do Train Empire or Train Station have ads?
Train Station shows ads; Train Empire does not.
Which is updated more often, Train Empire or Train Station?
Train Empire ships an update every 60 months, and Train Station every 2 months. Most recently, Train Empire was updated on October 10, 2026 and Train Station on October 21, 2026.

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