Is Railway Empire 2 a true spiritual successor of RRT2 and RRT3?

[kamyFC]

I'm an old gamer who remembers and still plays Railroad Tycoon 2 and Railroad Tycoon 3 which were released by Pop Top Software back in 1998 and 2003. Those games were classic railway business simulation games with a complex economy, stock market, train management, AI competitors and more.
After 20 odd years, do we have a true successor to those games? I would love to know your thoughts.

My observation of Railway Empire 2
- The fact that we have AI competitors in this game is fantastic. I was really disappointed in modern rail and transport games that ignored AI. I'm looking at you Transport Fever 2 and Railroad Corporation... Playing against AI teams allows for competition, creates tension and adds a sense of urgency. I used to always observe what the AI players were doing in the other corner of the map!
- The graphics are incredible. Looks like you have terrains that change with seasons as we see snow covered lands in winter months. The way the stations automatically create a pedestrian footbridge over the tracks is fantastic and the train models are stunning!
- You get regular financial reports which i like.
- You have a dynamic economy that changes we as play the game.

Now the questions are
1) RRT3 had a complex economic system. The goods will move by themselves it you don't provide rail transport. It means the economy doesn't solely depend on you. I feel it is the same here, but would love to have a confirmation.
2) In the old games, I loved how the AI player could purchase the entire production line and having a monopoly on the goods serving your line. So, rubber-->tires-->auto plant, and coal+iron-->steel plant-- auto plant. If the AI player owns key industries in your line, the AI is making revenue out of your work! We can do the same by buying industries in AI lines.
Do we have this feature of owning industries and generating revenue from it?
3) Do we have a functioning stock market system, which were present in the old games?
If yes, can you purchase stock in AI companies? Some of the more interesting scenarios in RRT2 and 3 were - meet 'personal net income' goal and the stock market was a way to achieve that. Along with your train operations generating money for you.
4) In the old games, we had regular news paper reports that popped up showing important news or events of those times from 1830 all the way to the 90s. I found those really charming! Not sure if anything like that is in here.
5) Can users create custom maps and scenarios? This is a key feature. RRT2 and RRT3 are still enjoyed to this day, because of huge number of user generated mods - with custom maps and full fledged custom scenarios.
Devs! If you are reading this and if this feature is not available, do add it to your roadmap!

All in all, this game is promising and the developers have revealed a long term roadmap for this game. I just hope Kalypso media the publisher supports this game's develpment for a long time.
I would love to read all of your thoughts too!

[Tsubame ⭐]

Different developers, the game is similar to RRT series, but have its own features. There are other games with similar features such as OTTD, Simultrans, Transport Fever series, Mashinky, etc.

To answer your questions:

1) Goods do not move by themselves here, except limited road transportation when raw material industries are close to specific cities. Cities will basically grow only if you meet cities' demand.

2) Yes, you can buy and operate and upgrade industries in the game.

3) AI in this game is poor, and rarely or never bid on industries.

4) Yes, you can purchase stocks in AI companies, buy them, and then merge them with your company - or just remove everything outright.

5) In Railway Empire 1, yes, plus Workshop support. Unfortunately, as of now, there is no map customization in RE2, why is that the case is beyond me other than either a rushed release or forcing people to buy DLCs in the incoming months. Neither game offers mod support. If these are of paramount importance, then Transport Fever 2 or OTTD are better choices.

[Lateralus]

For me this game is closer to Sid Meier’s Railroads. It’s simple but fun and is more of a tycoon puzzle game. If you want more of a sandbox simulation then buy Transport Fever 2.

[w.f.schepel]

Hi fellow RRT afficionado!

This game is mostly dumbed down compared to RRT. The one thing this series does better than RRT is the use of track signals. No trains fading in or out with opposing traffic, everything needs to work.

It is still a game about trains, though. Even if it is rather easy, I am still having a lot of fun playing it and I expecy you might, too.