JR EAST Train Simulator
The official train company's authentic driving simulator is here! JR East Train Simulator" is a train driving simulator that allows you to experience live-action images and realistic driving sounds of JR East's actual train lines in your own home.
JR EAST Train Simulator is a trains, simulation and driving game
developed by ONGAKUKAN Co. and Ltd.
and published by East Japan Railway Company.
Released on November 14th 2022 is available only on Windows
in 2 languages: Japanese and English.
It has received 904 reviews of which 642 were positive and 262 were negative resulting in a rating of 6.8 out of 10. 😐
The game is currently priced at 22.99€ on Steam.
The Steam community has classified JR EAST Train Simulator into these genres:
Media & Screenshots
Get an in-depth look at JR EAST Train Simulator through various videos and screenshots.
Requirements
These are the minimum specifications needed to play the game. For the best experience, we recommend that you verify them.
Windows
- Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
- OS: 64-bit Windows 10
- Processor: Intel Core i (6th generation) 4Cores or AMD Ryzen (1st generation) 4Cores
- Memory: 16 GB RAM
- Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 10 series (VRAM 2GB)
- DirectX: Version 11
- Storage: 45 GB available space
- Additional Notes: need resolution 1920×1080@60Hz,DirectX 11.3
Reviews
Explore reviews from Steam users sharing their experiences and what they love about the game.
The world of train gaming is absolutely massive these days. Spearheaded by the success of Dovetail Games' Train Sim World series, there are currently a vast amount of options when it comes to railway sims. Being a devout sim gamer, I made the switch from farming a few years ago and haven't looked back. With farm sims, one title clearly separates itself from the pack; there's Farming Simulator and then there's everything else. The waters get a bit murkier when it comes to train sims. Ongakukan's iconic series of Japanese rail simulators has existed for nearly three decades. The visual approach is basic, relying on full-motion video capture as opposed to traditional gaming assets (yes, this means you'll see that same dude crossing the street on his bicycle every time you play). There are no cheerful assistants a'la Taito's effervescent Densha De Go, no high scores to conquer, no online co-op, no cool unlocks or traditional gaming rewards. Simply put, you complete a route then you start over again. It's worth mentioning that JRETS was conceived as a virtual utility for operators in training. In other words, a legitimate simulation experience as opposed to entertainment software... and it shows. It's not the friendliest environment for gamers to become immersed in, even if you're already a fan of train sims. But if you're in the proper frame of mind, JRETS' minimalist approach becomes its greatest strength. The absence of scores, medals and rewards (technically there are trophies, but they're sparse) leaves the focus squarely on the vehicle you're operating and the compelling scenery. While many sims offer a multitude of options for North American and European travel, Asian rail options are relatively few. By comparison, JRETS is thoroughly Japanese, shuttling you through dense cityscapes and lush rural terrain. It's a unique gaming experience, but you can get roughly the same experience from your average YouTube cab vid. Really, this is just a deeper level of immersion for those who want to virtually traverse the Land of the Rising Sun. It's worth noting that JRETS features full English menus and option settings, so if the notion of Google Translating your way through tons of Japanese text sounds daunting, you can rest easy in this regard. On the technical side, I'm a bit disappointed the game doesn't play nice with my integrated GPU (frequent video buffer overruns), but it's never really an issue since you can start your progress from any station. I'm a fan of JRETS, it's a fantastic game to chill out and unwind with after a long day at the office (in other words, ending a day of work by pretending to do more work). But that doesn't mean it is an easy recommendation by any stretch; Japanese train aficionados will appreciate the authentic scenery and simple controls (entire routes can be completed with the mouse wheel), while modern gamers may be deterred by the fact that it is more on-rails video simulation than video game.
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Thanks to the addition of GeForce Now support I can finally play this on Linux. I would still like proper Proton compatibility though so I don't have to pay money to Nvidia. As for the game itself, live-action video is actually surprisingly good at immersing you and really does add something that regular 3D simulators can never provide, and the physics feel very good (though obviously I have no personal experience as to their accuracy). My biggest complaint is that there definitely could be more services included with each route - even with lines where there's little variation in services, historical timetables with different timings to the present-day timetable could be included to add replay value. While I do think it's rather expensive for how much content you get, it's the continued support of the base game and existing DLC that makes me happily recommend this - the devs have added large amounts of content and fixes to the base game and existing DLCs for free.
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I have been on an itch for a Japanese train simulator after I played the 2 RealPro games on the Switch (Meitetsu and Odakyu) so I picked this one up after some hesitation because of the price tag. Since now you have the full line to yourself to play with I'd say the game costs the same as other FMV train sims like the RealPro series, but you get better simulation, seamless transition between stations (this is where Sonic Powered's sims seems to fall behind) . All the safety systems worked realistically, and signals are digitally superimposed on the video for higher visibility while driving, (which AFAIK RealPro lacks). You can realistically play this as if you were actually piloting the real thing, using signals, gauges and such. The HUD is entirely optional, so it enables better immersion. It's even better if you know how to do point and calls. Makes it more engaging than just blazing through the tracks willy nilly. Although the base game content is of low quality. The Keihin-Tohoku line's content is considerably worse than other "demo" lines the game includes, lacking in-car announcements. (EDIT: After a recent update the line now includes in-car announcements! Neat! )Also would have been nice if we had a DLC with limited express cars. Commuters can be a bit of a pain in the ass to drive because they stop a lot. A more laid-back and scenic service pattern with little stops could be great. Speaking in terms of a game, the line has D-ATC and in-cab signaling, so it takes the fun out of looking at speed limits a bit, with it being just a little triangle on the speedometer. Though the line do have a section with trackside signs, most of it do not. The game also lacks gamification. No scores, no penalties, no ranks, no nothing. It doesn't even have a G meter. You just kind of play it. It also lacks a tutorial. The game will give you a PDF file showing the basic controls and how safety system works, but that's it. It's confusing considering the simulator at The Railway Museum from the same developer does has a interactive tutorial teaching you how to do basic point and calls, signals and even detailed but important information like brake curves, and such. All in all, I like it because I like Japanese trains, and I wanted FMV because I wanted real scenery. I wouldn't really buy this if you like the freedom of all 3d games like TSW. This game shouldn't be your first into train sims. If you want to try train sims and insist on Japanese trains, try BVE first, and see how you like the idea of trying to realistically drive on a trainsim. I can only barely recommend this game for the average gamer. It's more like work than a game. because, well, it IS work. Also it will probably never be on sale.
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Conclusions first: *Good game depending on people* experiencing JR East service routes as well as exploring views across cities and villages in Japan. Fun if you are a Japanese rail fan looking for some pure simulator and inspirations for rail-associated city-building games, It is definitely worth a shot at classic service routes and learning Japanese-style railway constructions. Me personally, a fan of Japanese rail services and am constantly required to gather inspiration in city-building games, I am fairly happy to enjoy this game and try out some classic DLC routes such as the Chou Line Rapid service and Yamanote Line. If the game is not published by JR East *the real company* I probably wouldn't have bought the 4 DLC I currently have *it's kinda faith-related complex*. ***As for new people hesitating to try this game, you should wait for a discount***
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Ok. I get all the gripes about this simulator only operating in one direction and not being able to set the time or weather and those are all good gripes but the realism on this simulator is awesome. I am a total train sim fan and have everything from the original train sim classic to TSW 4 and they don't even come close as to how real the simulation is on JR East. so yeah there is a lot more to be desired with this Sim but I am still loving it just the way it is. Would totally love to see some night features and return trip runs that would make it perfect.
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Last Updates
| Steam data | 20 December 2024 00:57 |
|---|---|
| SteamSpy data | 16 January 2025 22:56 |
| Steam price | 22 January 2025 20:34 |
| Steam reviews | 22 January 2025 03:51 |
Online players
21
Developer
ONGAKUKAN Co.,Ltd.
Publisher
East Japan Railway Company
Release
14 Nov 2022
Platforms