Japan railway simulation games see new releases and developer milestones

The Japanese railway simulation game market continues to expand with new releases and developer insights. Shini-se Games, led by a YouTuber and developer known as ‘Shini-se’, has released ‘Train Plus West Japan’ for Nintendo Switch and PC. Developed with official licensing from JR West, the game features real vehicles and aims to serve as a form of digital archiving for train models that might otherwise be scrapped after retirement.

Separately, Sonic Powered has announced the sixth installment of its ‘Railway Nippon! RealPro’ series, titled ‘Limited Express Hida Nagoya–Toyama JR Central/JR West Edition’. Scheduled for release on December 17 for the Nintendo Switch, the game features real-life footage from driver cockpits. It covers a 256.1 km route between Nagoya and Toyama, allowing players to operate the next-generation HC85 series hybrid train through various landscapes and technical maneuvers.