Unrailed!: Complete Co-op Guide

How to keep the train on the rails: the core resource loop, job splitting for 1 to 4 players, how stations and bolts work, which wagons to prioritize, biome and creature threats, and tips for Versus and Time Mode.

Researched September 2026 — current as of the final Unrailed! 1 builds (the 2025 macOS/Linux/Steam Deck fix, changelog 2.1-01101f40a). The sequel, Unrailed 2: Back on Track, is a separate game in Early Access since November 2024. Live games change; check the linked sources if something differs.

Quick Start

The train never stops. It moves forward on its own and speeds up over time. If it runs off the end of your track, it derails and the run ends.
One of each tool. There's only one axe, one pickaxe, and one bucket in the world. Whoever holds a tool is the only person who can do that job, so hand tools off deliberately.
The basic loop: chop trees for wood, mine rocks for iron, drop both in the storage wagon, the crafting wagon turns them into track pieces, then someone carries the tracks and lays them ahead of the train.
Water stops fires. The engine heats up and catches fire. Fill the bucket at water and douse the burning wagon, or the train is lost.
Stations are checkpoints and shops. Reaching a station pauses the run, gives you bolts, and lets you buy new wagons and upgrades.
Talk (or ping) constantly. Unrailed is a communication game. Call out who has which tool and where resources are.
Solo is possible. A single player gets a bot helper you can direct toward jobs.
Lay track in straight lines when you can. Every turn costs more track pieces and more walking.

The Resource Loop in Detail

Step	Tool / wagon	Output
Chop trees	Axe	Wood
Mine rocks	Pickaxe	Iron
Store resources	Storage wagon (box wagons add more capacity)	Stockpile for crafting
Craft	Crafting wagon	Track pieces
Build	Hands	Track ahead of the train
Cool	Bucket (and the water tank wagon)	Fires put out

Key idea: the crafting wagon only produces as fast as it gets fed. Two resource gatherers feeding a crafter while a third player carries and lays tracks is the classic 3-player rhythm.

Roles for different team sizes

Players	Suggested split
1	You plus the bot. Gather and lay yourself; send the bot to the resource you're shortest on
2	One gatherer swaps between axe and pickaxe as needed; the other lays track, fetches water, and handles fires
3	Wood gatherer, iron gatherer, track layer/firefighter
4	Wood, iron, track layer, and a floater who scouts the route, carries water, and deals with creatures

Rotate roles when one resource runs out nearby — a gatherer who walks too far is a sign the route or the roles need to change.

Route Planning

The map scrolls in one direction toward the next station, and the track has to get there before the train does. Good routing is the difference between a relaxed run and a panic:

Scout first. Before laying the first piece after a station, have someone run ahead and look for water, obstacles, and the station's position.
Go around, not through. Hard obstacles that need extra work (large rock clusters, water crossings) often cost more time than a short detour.
Keep resources near the track. Route past trees and iron deposits so gatherers stay close to the train and the crafting wagon.
Leave space for turns. Laying track tight against obstacles can trap you in a dead end; keep a tile of breathing room.
Plan the station approach. The last stretch is where many runs die, especially later in a run when the train is faster. Build extra buffer before the station comes into view.

Solo Play With the Bot

Solo runs pair you with a bot that you command with emoji (pick the emoji for the job you want it to do). Practical rules:

Give the bot a single, continuous job — usually gathering one resource — and handle the other resource plus track-laying yourself.
Re-assign it when the resource runs out nearby. An idle or wandering bot is lost production.
Watch for creatures. Patch notes say the bot prioritizes hostile creatures like bandits, blobs, and yetis over harmless animals, which helps, but you still need to protect the train.
Pick automation wagons at stations. In solo, any wagon that gathers, collects, or moves resources automatically is worth more than in a 4-player game.

Stations, Bolts, and Upgrades

Reaching a station pauses the train. You're awarded bolts, the upgrade currency.
Spend bolts at the station on new wagons and on upgrading existing ones (a higher-level crafting wagon, bigger storage, a better engine).
You leave the station when your team is ready; take the time to rearrange tools and plan.
In Kids difficulty, runs restart at every station rather than from the beginning, which makes it a good way to teach newcomers.

Priority upgrades

Upgrade	Why
Crafting wagon	Faster track production solves most early deaths
Storage / box wagons	More buffer means fewer idle moments
Water tank wagon	Slows how fast fires become a crisis
Engine upgrades (up to the atomic engine)	More stable late runs
Supercharger	A late-run option listed on the store page; take it once the basics are covered

Specialty wagons

Wagons named in official patch notes include the Milk wagon, Box wagon, Vacuum wagon (pulls nearby items into box wagons), Collector wagon, Mining wagon, Buckinator wagon, and the Compass wagon (reworked in the Underwater update; the former compass behavior now belongs to the Map wagon, which shows a mini-map). Station offers are random, so you won't see every wagon every run. Pick automation wagons (vacuum, collector, mining) when your team is small — they replace a pair of hands.

Biomes and Threats

Biome	What changes
Starting grassland	Plentiful trees and rocks; learn the loop here
Desert	Different resource layout; scout water sources before you need them
Snow	Yetis roam here; keep an eye on the train and the track ahead
Lava	Lava blobs can ignite the train; keep water close
Underwater	Added in the Underwater update; its own layout and hazards
Space and Mars	Later biomes with harder layouts and a faster pace

Time Mode shuffles biomes into a random order, so don't assume you'll always get the gentle ones first there.

Creatures mentioned in patch notes include bandits, yetis, ghosts, and blobs (including lava blobs). Harmless animals also wander around; the bot prioritizes hostile creatures over them. Bandits can steal resources, so keep someone near the train when they appear.

Game Modes and Difficulties

Mode	What it is
Endless	The main mode; go as far as possible with station upgrades
Quick	Shorter games
Time Mode	Race the clock through a randomized biome sequence that gets harder over about 20 minutes (added in a post-launch update; later made cross-play compatible)
Sandbox	Free play, up to 4 players
Versus	2 vs 2; two teams build competing railways and try to out-build each other

Difficulties range from Kids (restart at every station, with tweaks for younger players) up to Extreme, which the developers say "should be a challenge even for experienced Unrailed players." The 1.0 release on September 23, 2020 added Kids and Extreme and a new unlockable character. Maps can also be generated without enemies (bandits, yetis, ghosts, and blobs), which is handy when teaching the basics.

Online play supports up to 4 players, and local couch co-op supports split keyboard and split controller; you can mix local and online players in one lobby. Crossplay between Steam and Switch started on November 23, 2020.

Your First Run: A Checklist

Before the train moves: agree who holds the axe, the pickaxe, and the bucket. Put the gatherers on opposite sides of the track.
First few minutes: feed the crafting wagon with both wood and iron. If one pile is much bigger than the other, the slower gatherer gets help.
First fire: the bucket holder drops what they're doing. Fill up at the nearest water, douse, then refill so the next fire is a single trip away.
First creature: someone steps away from gathering to deal with it; don't let bandits walk off with the stockpile.
Station in sight: stockpile resources and lay a generous stretch of track so you arrive with a buffer.
At the station: spend bolts on crafting and storage first, then on water and automation wagons. Talk through the next leg's route before you leave.
After a derailment: check the replay. Most runs die to one repeated problem (no buffer, idle tool, or a fire that went unanswered).

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Hoarding a tool. If you're holding the pickaxe and not mining, drop it where the iron-gatherer can reach it.
Laying track too close to the train. Build a buffer — several tiles ahead at minimum — so a fire or creature doesn't end the run.
Letting fires linger. A burning wagon spreads trouble. Water first, tracks second.
Overfilling one resource. Storage full of wood with no iron means the crafter stalls.
Winding routes. Scout before laying. Straight lines to the station are cheaper and faster.
Spending bolts on flash wagons over the basics. Upgrade crafting and storage before specialty wagons.
Ignoring the bot in solo. Give it jobs; idle bots mean a slower crafter.

Advanced Tips

Pre-lay track near stations. When a station is in sight, sprint the last stretch with extra track so the train arrives fast and you bank time.
Stockpile before the station. Fill storage before arriving so you leave the station with a full buffer.
Use the train's speed-up only when safe. Speeding the train into a station saves time, but only if the track is complete.
Split the map. In 4-player runs, gatherers take opposite sides of the track to avoid collisions and tool arguments.
Keep the bucket moving. The bucket's owner should shuttle water continuously late in runs, even without a fire, to keep the water tank topped.
Versus mindset. In 2v2, efficiency beats speed; a steady, well-supplied train outlasts a rushed one.
Watch replays. Online highscores include replays — study top runs for route and role ideas.

Unrailed 2 vs. Unrailed!

Unrailed 2: Back on Track launched into Early Access in November 2024 with Endless, VS, and a Terrain Conductor map-building mode. It's a separate purchase (Unrailed 1 owners got a loyalty discount at launch). The original still works on Windows, macOS, Linux, and Steam Deck; the 2025 fix restored Steam Deck/Linux launch and updated controller support on macOS.

FAQ

Can I play Unrailed! solo? Yes, with a bot helper you direct toward tasks.

How many players? Up to 4 in co-op (online, local, or mixed), and 2 vs 2 in Versus.

What are bolts for? They're the currency for buying and upgrading wagons at stations.

Why does my train keep catching fire? The engine overheats over time. Keep the bucket and water tank wagon handy and put fires out immediately.

Which difficulty should beginners pick? Easy or Kids. Kids restarts at every station, which is ideal for learning.

Is there crossplay? Yes, between Steam and Switch, since November 23, 2020.

Should I buy Unrailed 2 instead? Unrailed 2 is the actively developed game; Unrailed! is complete and usually cheaper on sale. Both are good; the original has a more settled feature set.