Comparison
Transport Fever 3 versus Transport Fever 2
Same engine, same largest map size, same single-player design. The changes are in modding, city growth, cargo deadlines, junctions and stations.
Last verified: September 20, 2026
Side by side
| Transport Fever 2 | Transport Fever 3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Largest map | Grössenwahnsinnig | Same size |
| Engine | Urban Games' own | Same engine, further optimised |
| Multiplayer | No | No |
| Mod platform | Steam Workshop | In-game mod hub, cross-platform |
| Console release | No | PS5 and Xbox Series X|S |
| Cargo deadlines | No | Yes |
| Junction editing | Limited | Modular |
| Stations | Fixed sets | Modular |
| Historical buildings | No | Yes |
| Weather effect on gameplay | Cosmetic | Cosmetic |
| Timetables | Mod | Not in base, mod planned |
| Vehicles at launch | See game | 300+ |
Sources: Gamescom hands-on reports and official developer videos.
The engine question
Transport Fever 3 runs on Urban Games' own engine, the same family Transport Fever 2 uses. A viewer asked whether it had been optimised enough. The answer was that the engine is still being optimised daily, and that the advantage of owning the engine is being able to reach into every system.
The team also repeated a caveat that applies to any simulation of this kind. Every resident is calculated, so if you build long enough and big enough, you will eventually push any system to its limit.
Mods are the biggest practical difference
Transport Fever 2 lives on its Steam Workshop library. Transport Fever 3 replaces that with an in-game mod hub that works on every platform, and adds a curated programme with over 50 mods ready at launch. That helps console and GOG players most, since they never had a Workshop.
A new mod platform starts with a small library. Transport Fever 2's Workshop has years of content. Judge the mod question on what exists, not on what the hub promises.
What has genuinely changed in play
- Cargo has deadlines, so routing decisions carry a time cost
- Cities grow according to infrastructure, with districts as a new lever
- Road junctions and stations are modular rather than fixed
- Buildings can be locked to a historical style
- Traffic light phases can skip when nothing is waiting
What has not changed
- No multiplayer, in either game
- Weather and day-night are still cosmetic
- Maps are still capped at the same largest size
- Every sim is still simulated individually
FAQ
Should I buy Transport Fever 2 now or wait for 3?
Transport Fever 2 is a finished game with a large mod library. Transport Fever 3 has the new mod hub, reworked cargo and better road tools, but its mod library starts from scratch. If you want to play right now, 2 is the safer purchase.
Do Transport Fever 2 mods work in 3?
They carry over with rework, mostly for lighting and technical elements. Nothing migrates automatically.
Is the map bigger in 3?
No. The largest size matches Transport Fever 2.
Sources: Squirrel hands-on report, Täglich Angespielt Gamescom Q&A (German), Official First Look: Highlights. Transport Fever 3 is a trademark of its respective owners.