Creating the Perfect Paradise scenario for Rail Nation was an exciting, yet unexpected journey for the Rail Nation team. What started as a last-minute challenge turned into one of the most unique scenarios we’ve ever built. Here’s a behind-the-scenes look at how we brought this island adventure to life, even with time working against us.
The surprise
The Perfect Paradise scenario wasn’t actually part of our original plan for this year. The team had to come up with a solid concept quickly and then make it a reality even faster.
The Game Director admits it was a tight squeeze: “We had to develop the concept very quickly, with super little time. But I’m really proud of how well it turned out.”.
With the clock ticking, the whole team came together to craft something truly special.
Game design: crafting a fair and exciting experience
The idea of creating an island-themed map had been floating around for some time. But, as our Game Designer explains, it wasn’t as simple as just putting a bunch of islands on a map.
One major thing we learned from player surveys was that fairness is key. Many players don’t like sharing industries with other cities. “Players want a fair game”, the Game Designer explained, and this was a major factor in how the islands were created. The game team chose a diamond shape for the islands because it offered the best way to distribute goods equally, keeping the gameplay balanced and enjoyable for everyone. This led to the unique diamond-shaped map. The shape helps ensure that all islands have a balanced and fair distribution of goods, making it easier to design and more enjoyable for players. The islands aren’t random – they’re crafted to give everyone an equal shot.
Another big decision was about whether to implement landmarks or not. In the early design stages, we thought about giving each island its own landmark. However, it turned out to be harder than expected to implement because the functionality would be different compared to the ones in the Steam over Europe scenario. So we decided to focus on the megacities and left the landmarks out of the picture for now.
What we’ve seen in recent rounds of other scenarios is that players tend to migrate to just one or two megacities to play the endgame, which can make things a bit predictable and less thrilling. To shake things up, we decided not to connect the islands. Each island has its own megacity, which adds a fun twist and keeps things competitive. Plus, no one can sabotage anything from a neighbouring island – now that’s a bonus!
When it came to the goods, we wanted to add as much of the Caribbean flavour as possible. We tried to include many goods typical of the Caribbean without inventing completely new ones, ensuring the game stays familiar yet fresh.
Caribbean vibes: the art of Perfect Paradise
In order to bring the Caribbean to life, the art team wanted to create a true tropical paradise. “It’s always our goal to visualise emotions and create connections with the game’s theme,” the Game Artist shared. For the “Perfect Paradise” that meant evoking the feeling of a sun-soaked island getaway.
To do this, they filled the map with bright colours and details that made you feel like you were on holiday. From palm trees to parrots, from lush flowers to refreshing tropical foods, the visuals transport you straight to the Caribbean. You can almost feel the warm breeze and hear the sound of waves!
And speaking of sound…
For the first time in Rail Nation history, the Perfect Paradise scenario features a brand-new background sound! The team wanted to fully immerse players in the tropical atmosphere, so they added a relaxing, island-inspired soundscape. Now, as you build your railway empire, you can enjoy the calming sounds of the ocean, tropical birds and soft island music, adding a whole new level of immersion to the experience.
The end result
When all was said and done, Perfect Paradise emerged as a scenario we are all proud of. From the carefully designed island map that focuses on fairness and competition, to the vibrant visuals and calming new background music that transport you to a tropical haven, it’s been a labour of love that came together against the odds.
So whether you’re plotting your megacity’s rise to the top or just soaking in the tropical atmosphere, we hope you enjoy playing Perfect Paradise as much as we enjoyed creating it. After all, a bit of paradise – even in a competitive railway simulation – is always a good idea.
See you on the sunny tracks
Ready to start the game? Click on your desired game world below:
Tuesday 22.10 – RU901 Pineapple Harbor (1x)
Tuesday 22.10 – INT901 Coconut Cove (1x)
Thursday 24.10 – DE901 Papaya Küste (1x)
Thursday 24.10 – INT903 Manta Reef (2x)
Friday 25.10 – EN901 Macadamia Haven (1x)
Saturday 26.10 – INT902 Shark Lagoon (1x)
Thursday 31.10 – EN902 Turtle Tides (2x)
Thursday 31.10 – DE902 Aeolid Atoll (2x)
Thursday 31.10 – RU902 Barracuda Beach (2x)
Saturday 02.11 – DE903 – Oktopus Bucht (2x)