Transport Tycoon Lite 0.16.0112

The fact that Transport Tycoon is anything but some obscure game from the nineties is a testament to its importance in the history of video games. 1994 was the year in which the "Tycoon" genre was invented. Those were the days in which innovation was abundant as games could hardly be categorized.

In the original Transport Tycoon, as well as in the Deluxe Edition that followed, you are set free on a map that's filled with cities and industries, but that's also completely lacking in transport infrastructure. You start with a hefty loan, which you can increase or pay off as you see fit. The money is used to create the road, rail, water, and air routes, that you will use to transport people and wares from one location to the other. The scenarios vary in size and complexity and often include AI competitors.

The key to winning a scenario is identifying the most lucrative routes and setting them up for maximum efficiency. For example, you could start by linking towns using passenger buses, but an internal bus route could prove much more profitable if the city is big enough. Also, you might consider switching the road for a monorail or even a train track if the flux or distances are big enough.

Beyond passengers, the industries also present a reason to create a parallel transportation network. Usually, the map contains several resource extraction plants, which, if linked to the relevant industries by a robust transportation system, can become the most important source of income. It's good to know that you can also build these industries to fill-up missing chain links.

Topography is also a significant aspect to take into consideration. Uneven terrain can be evened out, but a massive mountain between two cities could be better overcome by building an expensive tunnel, or by avoiding it altogether by establishing an air route. The multitude of situations and ways in which to tackle these challenges make Transport Tycoon one of the best games ever created.

The 2013 Android version also comes with the bonus of a completely revamped user interface. Passengers and cargo now also appear as bubbles on the map, giving you a clear at a glance picture of what's where. Menus and bars are also very touchscreen friendly, so if you've played the original or OpenTTD, you'll find this to be a very welcome change. The road and track building system is very well implemented, where you add curves and change the elevation as if you were giving driving directions.

Although I've played some Transport Tycoon in the ancient past, I do recall it being a little bit more complex. For example, you had to purchase trucks and buses at a vehicle depo building, which was also needed to service these vehicles whenever they broke down. However, in this version, you can place a new bus in the middle of a road, and you're set. I suspect that vehicles also no longer break down. So there may be others aspects that have been simplified or outright removed. It's hard to tell since Transport Tycoon Lite only allows two years of play.

If you find this version or the game, in general, to be to your liking, then I highly recommend getting the full version. You'll get an unbridled experience of planning and executing grand infrastructure projects without worrying about tapping on coins, buying freemium exclusives, or any other crap that comes with "modern" games of this sort.

Final Thoughts

Transport Tycoon has always been a model for games that wanted to simulate economy on a map. It was also one of the first games in which you could terraform the land to suit your needs. The full game features many scenarios that you can approach in various ways, a map builder, and an entirely revamped interface. For five dollars you can enjoy a deep, well-made system, that to this day is the economic game of choice for many.