I picked up Railworks 3/Train Simulator 2012 for $4 during last year's Christmas sale, and it was totally worth it. I think I have like ~20 hours logged in it. It's rekindled my love for trains that I had as a kid. Except now I can actually simulate driving one.
There's these "scenarios" that you complete in the game, with all different kinds of locomotives in different locations. Select one with your desired difficulty level and estimated duration (how long it will take to complete), and go for it. There are some scenarios that are two or three hours long I think. You're graded on how well you stick to the time tables (for dropping off freight or passengers), keeping under the speed limit, controlling wheel slippage in harsh weather, etc, etc.
There's something very surreal and relaxing about operating a train through the green European countryside, in the rain, seeing the rolling hills and plains, and hearing the engine roar beneath you. I love it.
There's a ton of content in the vanilla game, and there's no need to buy any of DLC. If you'd like to support the developer, then buying the DLC is a good idea though. There's thousands of dollars worth of DLC, you're not expected to buy all of it like a regular game. Rather, think of it as being a train enthusiast. You're not going to go to the store and buy every model train ever. You're only gonna buy the stuff you like. If you only like diesel locomotives, then only buy the diesel DLC. If you only like electric trains, then only buy the electric train DLC. Simple, really.
They give permanent free upgrades to every new version of Railworks, which is why the developers are awesome. If anything, buy the
Trains vs. Zombies DLC. It's actually quite brilliant and a great DLC for people who aren't terribly interested in trains, but want to try something more wacky.
If you have any interest in trains at all, definitely check it out.
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