Transport Fever 3 is the Most Expansive Entry Yet

Transport Fever 3 Hands-on Preview

Courtesy of Urban Games, I’ve gone hands-on with Transport Fever 3 for several hours. Between its many trains, planes, and automobiles, fans of the nearly decade-old series are bound to be stoked for the third entry’s vast expansion.

For transparency’s sake, I was abundantly ignorant of Transport Fever’s existence before receiving the preview event invitation. Where have I been all these years? —everywhere but here. Truthfully, tycoon games, particularly modern ones, don’t speak to my gaming interests. 

The Long Game

Fortunately, I found much to appreciate and be impressed by after delving deep into the new game. As of now, Transport Fever 3 has been in development for six years—what a gift, seldom granted to the artists crafting our favorite experiences. Based on the information shared and the time I spent playing, it’s evident that no day has been wasted in forging it. 

Transport Fever 3 is all that fans have loved in the previous games, injected with a potent dose of feedback and developer ambition. Urban Games openly states that they’re aiming to create the best transportation management system. 

Featuring over 290 vehicles with even more planned, players can experience 8 curated missions spanning between 1900 and 2033, as well as Tycoon and Sandbox modes with a map editor. They can incorporate it all across multiple environments, such as savannahs, the Midwest, the tropics, and the subarctic. The game also supports a cross-platform mod browser and library. 

The goal of the game is to design and ensure transportation across an open world. With 35 industries and over 40 cargo types, the gameplay accommodates newcomers and offers advanced features for experienced specialists. 

For Everyone

Some of the advanced features include train priorities and crossing tools. Player expression and the tools at your disposal are vast. I didn’t try any of the advanced features, but I did spend a lot of time experiencing the early stages of other new features. 

During my time hands-on, I played through much of the first and fourth missions. Mission 1 serves as a tutorial, introducing me to the townsfolk of early-20th-century New Orleans as they prepare for Mardi Gras. The game does a good job of introducing you to the basics of its tycoon mechanics.

I struggled to grasp some of the objectives due to the expansive UI, but after a couple of hours, I settled into navigating it. I got a taste of city growth and a drip feed of advanced transportation systems. In mission 4, I was off to the races in applying all I’d learned to make a Woodstock-inspired concert thrive.

Their goals for the campaign are to deliver strong narration, clear progression, increasingly challenging objectives, and greater replay value. The small pieces I’ve played through strongly suggest those goals are being achieved. 

More Than Ever

Some significant new features include cargo trams, helicopters, warehouses, and a reputation system. I’m most interested in how I can manipulate the game, notably through its reputation system. Transport Fever 3 focuses on more than in-game monetary gain. Townsfolk will actively respond to the risk and reward of your expansion choices. 

Whether your worlds are home to eclectic industries or specialize in specific ones like power, consumerism, or commerce, every decision impacts their well-being and outlook toward you. 

Speaking with Publishing Manager, Nico Heini, I learned that Transport Fever is ultimately designed to be a relaxing experience. I asked several tycoon-related questions like: “Does weather impact gameplay? Such as damage inflicting hurricanes, floods, or earthquakes?” And “Can I intentionally create mass hysteria and dystopia, leading to the apocalypse?” Or a classic like, “Can I send a speeding train crashing into the ocean?”

Peace, Not Anarchy

To my dismay, the answer to each of them was a hard no. I’m a Transport Fever 3 layman, after all, and the last tycoon-like game I played was likely Zoo Tycoon or something in my elementary years. My memories of unleashing a herd of bloodthirsty velociraptors upon unsuspecting park visitors are all that remain. 

Perhaps my heart is too dark for the pleasant nature of Transport Fever’s management simulation. The fact remains: this game is shaping up to be a beast for fans.

Other new features include earning the right to create famous landmarks that grant significant tourism bonuses, modular stations, and the ability to expand your company headquarters over time. 

One minor controversy Urban Games is tackling head-on is the recent accusation that AI is used to generate its in-game character portraits. The team states that they’re strictly anti-A.I., a stance I loudly and proudly support. 

They claim that the current character portraits were hand-designed and created before the advent of image-generation AI. However, they’ve taken the criticism to heart and will ensure the designs are replaced before launch. I’m willing to take their word for it, but having stared at the characters’ faces for many hours, player concern is warranted. 

For The Love of the Game

According to Urban Games, they’ve incorporated extensive fan feedback. The best games are developed by teams that create what they want to play, in tandem with their fans. Urban Games is thriving in that regard. 

I’ve seen gameplay showcasing the vastness and intricacy achieved by advanced players in Transport Fever 2. I understand the passion of fans devouring every bit of information shared about the new game. Everything about this series is new to me. Having been highly impressed by everything shared with me and the pieces I played, fans can rest assured they have peak incoming. 

Transport Fever 3 is launching on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series “when it’s ready” in 2026. For more on the game as it approaches its mysterious release date, stay tuned to COGconnected. 

***Travel and hotel provided by Off Base***