Unrailed!

Unrailed! is a cooperative multiplayer railroad construction game developed by Indoor Astronaut and published by Daedalic Entertainment. Initially released in early access on September 9, 2019, the game officially launched on September 23, 2020, for Windows, macOS, Linux, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox One. The game was developed as a student project during the Game Programming Lab 2018 at ETH Zurich, and its prototype received positive feedback, leading to its selection for the SwissGames delegation at Gamescom 2018. The game's development was supported by the Ludicious Business Accelerator and Pro Helvetia, which helped the team meet their future publisher, Daedalic Entertainment.

In Unrailed!, players work together to build a train track across procedurally generated worlds, aiming to prevent the train from derailing. The game features various modes, including Endless, Versus, Fast, Sandbox, and Time, each offering different objectives and challenges. Players must gather resources such as wood and iron by chopping down trees and mining stone, while also managing obstacles like wildlife and non-player characters that can disrupt the track. The game incorporates roguelike elements, with procedurally generated terrain and limited saves, adding to the challenge and replayability.

The soundtrack of Unrailed! was composed by Mathilde Hoffmann and Felix Barbarino. Released as downloadable content, the soundtrack complements the game's energetic and chaotic gameplay with dynamic music that adapts to the game's pace. The soundtrack is available on various platforms, including Steam and Bandcamp, allowing players to enjoy the game's music outside of gameplay.

Unrailed! received generally favorable reviews from critics, with particular praise for its cooperative gameplay and chaotic fun. The game won the Swiss Game Awards Audience Choice Award in 2020 and the Best Innovation Award at the Taipei Game Show in the same year. It was also nominated for the Deutscher Computerspielpreis in 2020 and secured third place in the TOMMI Children Software Award in 2019. The game's promotion was primarily through social media platforms like Twitch and YouTube, with influencers and streamers showcasing the game to their audiences. This strategy helped the game gain popularity and reach a broader audience.