Game Modes
Three ways to play. Adjustable to your taste.
Every mode is fully customisable. Disable pollution, traffic, or even the entire economy to play pure route-building in Sandbox.
The modes differ in what you are being asked to manage, not in how much map there is. A sandbox removes the failure condition entirely, a campaign adds one, and a scenario asks for a specific outcome and checks it. The same map plays very differently in those three cases, and the reason a session that felt relaxed turns frustrating is usually that a wrong choice can now end it.
Where two modes share a map format, that is stated rather than repeated, because the distinction that actually matters is whether there is a goal, not how large anything is. If you are unsure which mode you are in, the objectives section at the top of a mode is usually clearer than its name.
For the campaign specifically, see Campaign. For the rules that apply in every mode, including income and difficulty, see Mechanics.
"Don't care about pollution? Disable it. Don't want to have the company headquarters? Don't place it. If you just want to connect towns and industries without concerning yourself about noise, pollution, speed of delivery, or anything else you can do just that. If you want the challenge associated with these additional mechanics you can tailor the way they operate to suit your mood. For those who just want to build beautiful lines and towns, you can disable the economy and all these tycoon elements entirely."
— Urban Games, First Look: Tycoon developer reply
Tycoon mode
The flagship mode with adjustable difficulty.
Run a transport company with adjustable difficulty across economy, world, and citizens. Balance maintenance, wait times, cargo priorities, traffic, noise, pollution, and reputation to build a profitable empire.
Sandbox mode
Unrestricted creativity, economy optional.
Build without economic pressure. Economy can be disabled entirely for pure route-building and diorama play. Strong mod support.
Campaign mode
Historic missions across the 20th century and beyond.
Solve epic transport missions inspired by real historic events. The largest vehicle roster in the series, spanning over a century of transport evolution — from horse-drawn wagons to high-speed trains.