Way back in 1990, Sid Meier’s Railroad Tycoon was a revelation. Nobody had done an economic sim based on the railroad expansion across the United States in the 19th century, so the whole idea of the game seemed fresh – and also boring as hell, until you played it and were hooked.

Sixteen years later, the concept isn’t so new thanks to a couple of sequels and some imitators that have borrowed the concept, but Sid Meier’s Railroads! still manages to bring back the magic of that golden oldie from yesteryear.