Revision 2

Weather is an environmental system in Railborn. The dying alien world the train crosses has changing weather that affects travel and survival rather than being purely cosmetic.

Weather Types

The developers have confirmed thunderstorms and sandstorms so far and have said more weather effects will be shown in the future. Each type changes the conditions around the train as it moves through the world.

Shelter on the Train

The train is the main protection from the elements. When a thunderstorm rolls in, staying aboard keeps the player dry and safe, and the same applies to other severe weather such as sandstorms. This reinforces the train's role as a mobile home base rather than only a vehicle, and it ties into the wider survival loop of keeping the crew alive.

Weather and the Tracks

Weather also interacts with the rail network. Some routes are weather-affected, and being able to handle those conditions is one of the reasons players upgrade their train. For the wider route system see Tracks, and for the state of the planet itself see The World.

Snow

Released footage also shows the train running at night through deep snow with snow falling across the track, so snowfall and a snow-covered region are both part of the world. The developers have not yet described how snow affects the train or the player, so it sits alongside the confirmed thunderstorms and sandstorms as something shown rather than explained.

Notes

Weather is an in-development feature. The confirmed effects, and how strongly they influence gameplay, may change before and during Early Access.