Unrailed 2 is a chaotic party game in which players team up to build tracks for a train that never stops moving. The game recently launched on Steam Early Access, and it’s already lots of fun. To find out more about Unrailed 2, we interviewed Thomas Wolf, the founder of Indoor Astronaut.
Co-Optimus: Thanks for taking the train to visit our hidden compound for this obviously in-person interview. First, could you tell us a little about your experience in game development and some of your favorite games?
Thomas: Thanks for letting us in the compound! Unrailed was our first commercial game, and prior to that, I played around with smaller pet projects, experimenting with mechanics and design. My personal favorite games include Outer Wilds and Supraland. While they differ greatly from Unrailed in genre, they share elements I deeply admire: elegant design, clever puzzles, and the rewarding feeling of discovery.
Co-Optimus: Unrailed is kind of a chaotic multiplayer party game series. What other classic and/or modern co-op/party games have struck your fancy?
Thomas: When I was younger, I played a lot of Guild Wars, which I’d describe as an 8-player online co-op RPG, and Ratchet: Deadlocked in co-op that I enjoyed a lot. Today, we’re struck by Risk of Rain and of course Overcooked and PlateUp. On the AAA side, I enjoyed Elden Ring’s co-op mode and It Takes Two.
Co-Optimus: Now let’s focus on Unrailed. How did the idea for the first game come about?
Thomas: The original Unrailed prototype originated from a university course where I met my team as well. The game back then already offered the core mechanics but felt more like a simple endless runner without interruptions (shops) and no upgrade system.
Co-Optimus: Can you describe the basic Unrailed gameplay to us?
Thomas: Sure! In Unrailed, players work together to build train tracks in front of a train without brakes. Once the train hits the end of the railroad, the game is over. To build rails, you need to mine and collect resources and bring them to the train to craft tracks. On top of that, you’re driving through a procedurally generated world, and you need to adapt to each environment. On your journey, you find stations to upgrade your train and to counter [its] ever-increasing speed.
However, Unrailed isn’t just about building train tracks; it’s about how you and your friends come together under pressure to solve a relentless and ever-changing problem. The core of the game lies in effective communication, quick decision-making, and adapting to challenges as a group.
Co-Optimus: Given the success of the first game, it’s only natural that you’ve created Unrailed 2: Back on Track. What are some of the changes and enhancements in the sequel?
Thomas: Compared to Unrailed, the sequel offers a lot more options in the endless mode: players can now choose paths with different objectives and rewards. Additionally, not only can the train be upgraded, but players themselves can also gain upgrades via cartridges, and each biome culminates in a boss encounter.
Where all progress was lost after a round in Unrailed 1, the sequel introduces permanent progression. Players can now unlock lasting upgrades, such as player abilities or new locomotives. Moreover, already-discovered biomes can be permanently selected as starting points, allowing players to progressively uncover the game at their own pace.
We’ve also added the “Terrain Conductor Mode,” enabling players to create their own maps and share them with the community.
An expanded versus mode allows two teams of up to 4 players (or smaller teams) to compete against each other, either racing to build a fixed number of stations or continuing indefinitely until one team derails.
Co-Optimus: What are the long-term goals for the player?
Thomas: As biome progression is now permanent, the endless mode can be played in the style of a campaign, and there is actually an ending. To cope with the increasing difficulty in later biomes, it’s beneficial to unlock some permanent player abilities before that. While we added tiny story elements, explaining for example why the train has no brakes, it’s not the focus of the game. Next to that, the game collects everything you encounter in our in-game handbook, giving you small hints, but also a sense of what there is left to discover.
Depending on your playstyle, some players might just build some maps, others might only be interested in the versus mode, others might want to find secrets, or some might only want to join a few rounds with their friends.