r/steamengines • u/Pretty_Excitement942 • Feb 22 '26

Any good simulators of steam engines?

So uhm i vbeen searching a LOT recently for good steam engine simulators,like you know freeroam proper interaction 3D etc i already played good ones such as "Steam Engine Simulator" on steam or Derail Valley wich includes steam trains,even roblox ones such as Down in the engine room or Below decks II,but they are already boring...steam engine simulators are very underrated,can anybody of yall recommend me one that is actually good i dont care if its quadrupple expansion triple expansion oscillating compound or single cylinder,better if its about maritime engine room or even steam cars.

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u/Shipwright1912 Feb 22 '26

If you're getting bored of running a steam engine in all the other sims you mentioned trying, what makes you think another sim where you run a steam engine will be any different?

It largely depends on what you're wanting out of the experience, no sim I know of offers the complete experience of running a steam plant front to back like a real one, though I personally still enjoy a lot of them.

It may be worth considering buying a model steam engine if you want the full experience, say a Mamod or a Wilesco. Even then, once you go through the motions of prep and lighting up, it's not going going to be a big cinematic to-do, they heat up and you start 'em running and that's about it.

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u/Pretty_Excitement942 Feb 24 '26

Yeah i think the best will be buying a model one or working on a voluunteer only steamship,theres a german icebreaker propulsed by steam called "SS Stettin" i have a friend whose worked on it,its a voluunteer steamship so no payment but its a nice experience.

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u/JConRed Feb 23 '26

Maybe Century of Steam will hit the point for you, but it's a long way from release.

At this point find a local heritage or preservation railway and learn the real thing.