Train sim Derail Valley gets overhauled in big Simulator update

Chugging along

Altfuture has dropped the biggest update yet for their train simulator, Derail Valley. This update overhauls quite a bit, so the developer is treating it as a bit of a relaunch, titling the update Derail Valley: Simulator. That sounds horrifying.

Remember Derail Valley? I’ve heard of it, but it’s hard to pick something out among the many train simulators on PC. It started out as a very VR-focused title before offering non-VR options. Most notably, it doesn’t sound like the Early Access launch was very successful. This is the second time the game has been overhauled. The last time was actually titled Overhaul.

Why should you pay attention? Derail Valley isn’t just a train simulator. Whereas your typical train sim will cast you as the train itself, Derail Valley has you play as a person driving a train. So, you can get in and out, which is necessary to actually do tasks outside the locomotive itself. There’s a lot of tactile gameplay mixed in, possibly as a result of its original VR focus.

The Simulator update brings with it a complete redo of the UI, mouse cursor driving, new camera angles, a sandbox mode, more trains, steam simulation, weather effects, and… Just, a lot. Here are the patch notes to get a better idea.

Now I just need to know if I can play it with my Densha De Go 64 controller.

Derail Valley is currently in Steam Early Access for PC. The Simulator update is available now.

Zoey Handley

Staff Writer – Zoey is a gaming gadabout. She got her start blogging with the community in 2018 and hit the front page soon after. Normally found exploring indie experiments and retro libraries, she does her best to remain chronically uncool.

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