A new train simulation game titled RUNNING TRAIN officially launched on Steam in Early Access on May 25, 2026. What surprised many players is that the game was not developed by a Japanese studio, but instead created by Novatetsu Games, an indie developer based in Surabaya, Indonesia.
Built using Unreal Engine 5, RUNNING TRAIN features a fictional 40-kilometer railway route inspired by the atmosphere of rural Japan. The game includes highly detailed scenery, seasonal environments such as Sakura Spring and Snowy Winter, as well as realistic train operation systems aimed at railway enthusiasts.
One of the game’s standout features is support for physical train controllers, including devices like the Zuiki Mascon and DGOC controllers, allowing players to experience a more authentic train-driving simulation setup.
For players who simply want to relax and enjoy the scenery, the game also offers an automatic driving mode where the train can operate by itself while users focus on the environment and atmosphere.
Public reception has been highly positive, especially among Japanese railfan communities. Japanese gaming media outlets, including Automaton, highlighted how the game successfully captures the feel and realism of traditional train simulators despite being developed outside Japan.
Only a few hours after release, RUNNING TRAIN already achieved a “Very Positive” rating on Steam, further boosting attention around the project.
Many players were especially impressed by the fact that the game was primarily developed by a single creator, Rizky Nova. His dedication and attention to detail have led many users online to praise RUNNING TRAIN as one of the most internationally recognized indie game projects to come out of Indonesia in recent years.
The success of the game has also become a proud moment for Indonesia’s indie development scene, showing that local developers are increasingly capable of creating niche simulation titles that can compete for attention on the global stage.
As Early Access development continues, many players are now looking forward to future updates, additional train routes, expanded gameplay systems, and even more realistic simulation features for RUNNING TRAIN.
Leave a Reply