Grandpa’s decided he’s had enough of running the railway. After years of keeping trains The trouble is, somebody still needs to run the actual station, and that responsibility has landed squarely on his grandson Abraham.
Grandpa Loves Trains is a cozy incremental roguelite from Armored Cat and 2Tellers that’s taking part in October’s Steam Next Fest. Its free demo is available now, inviting players to take charge of a humble railway station, collect upgrades, build miniature train sets, and gradually turn Grandpa’s old business into a rather impressive railway empire.
All Aboard! You’ve Got a Railway to Run
Abraham’s new job begins with a modest station and a steady stream of passengers who need somewhere to go. Your task is to get people aboard the trains, earn money, and use your profits to improve the operation. At first, things should be fairly straightforward. You’ve got passengers waiting, trains to fill, and a station that could do with a few improvements. But as your business grows, you’ll unlock new abilities that make the entire operation more efficient.
The game features a skill tree that allows you to develop your railway, improving how quickly you can earn money and expanding what your station can accomplish. The more you invest, the more opportunities you’ll have to increase your earnings and push the business farther.
Grandpa may be perfectly happy watching his tiny trains circle the living room, but Abraham’s got a real railway to turn into a money-making machine.
A Few Cards Could Change Everything
Running a successful railway isn’t simply about sending trains out and watching the money roll in. Grandpa Loves Trains also introduces roguelite progression through a collection of more than 30 cards. These provide different abilities and upgrades, allowing you to experiment with how your railway develops during each run.
You could find a combination that helps you earn money faster or discover upgrades that work well with the abilities you’ve already unlocked. The trick is deciding which options are most useful for your current setup. That also means two attempts won’t necessarily develop in the same way. One run may see you concentrating on getting passengers through the station as efficiently as possible, while another could encourage you to invest in different upgrades and see where they take you.
Grandpa’s Toy Trains Are Making Money, Too
While Abraham is busy running the real railway, Grandpa’s collection of miniature trains can become another source of income. You’ll build and expand a collection of toy train sets, creating little railway scenes that generate passive earnings in the background.
That means your miniature railways can continue contributing to the business while you’re concentrating on boarding passengers and improving the main station. The model trains also give the game much of its cozy personality. Rather than dealing exclusively with spreadsheets and railway upgrades, you’ll be collecting colorful little train sets and watching your miniature empire grow alongside the real one.
It’s a nice contrast to the roguelite progression, giving you something relaxing to develop between decisions about upgrades and profits. Grandpa may have retired from the railway business, but it turns out his favorite hobby can still bring in a little extra cash.
Next Stop: Steam Next Fest!
Grandpa Loves Trains is participating in Steam Next Fest and the full game is currently targeting a release in the fourth quarter of 2026. With passenger management, a growing skill tree, more than 30 upgrade cards, and miniature train sets generating passive income, it’s an interesting little combination of cozy simulation and incremental roguelite progression.
The demo offers a chance to see whether Abraham has what it takes to transform his grandfather’s station into a thriving railway business.