Dovetail Games
Dovetail Games is a UK-based developer and publisher of digital hobby simulation games, primarily the Train Sim World franchise built on proprietary Simugraph and Unreal Engine, serving hundreds of thousands of global consumer enthusiasts across PC, console, and VR platforms.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2009
- HeadquartersChartham, United Kingdom
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingSoftware
What Dovetail Games does
Dovetail Games is a UK-based developer and publisher of digital hobby simulation games, headquartered in a river-front studio at the Historic Dockyard in Chatham, Kent. The company employs approximately 170 people and operates primarily in consumer entertainment, serving rail simulation enthusiasts, fishing hobbyists, families, and VR gaming communities across global digital storefronts (Steam, Epic, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch).
The company's core product is the Train Sim World franchise, a realistic rail simulation built on a proprietary Simugraph engine combined with Unreal Engine, supported by an extensive back-catalogue of DLC route packs and locomotives. Dovetail's product portfolio extends to Train Simulator Classic (legacy title with modding community), Fishing Sim World, City Transport Simulator: Tram, CATAN - Console Edition, and the family-oriented Thomas & Friends: Wonders of Sodor (via a Mattel licensing partnership). A near-future NYC subway title, Metro Rivals: New York, is slated for early 2026, signalling expansion beyond rail. VR support (Train Sim World VR) won the Ukie Best UK Mixed Reality Game award in 2026.
Dovetail monetises through one-time perpetual game licences plus ongoing DLC sales across all major platforms, supplemented by licensing royalty arrangements on branded IP (Mattel, CATAN) and charitable partnership campaigns (Humble Bundle sales for SpecialEffect, Macmillan, CALM). The company was acquired by PULLUP Entertainment (formerly Focus Entertainment, Euronext Paris: ALPUL) in February 2025, following a multi-million pound growth capital investment from Alcuin Capital Partners in January 2024. Leadership transitioned to Co-CEOs Gemma Brown and Rob O'Farrell in February 2025, succeeding Jon Rissik.
Dovetail Games firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Dovetail Games
- Legal name
- RailSimulator.com Limited
- Website
- https://dovetailgames.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2009
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Dovetail Games is a UK-based developer and publisher of digital hobby simulation games, primarily the Train Sim World franchise built on proprietary Simugraph and Unreal Engine, serving hundreds of thousands of global consumer enthusiasts across PC, console, and VR platforms.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Dovetail Games industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Simulation Video Games
- SIC
- Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Serious Games & Simulation Studios (Training, Defense, Enterprise) (MPAFAAAH)
Keywords
Where Dovetail Games is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Chartham
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Dovetail Games business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Licensing
Revenue model
- Game Sales (Base Games): One-time purchase revenue from selling base simulation game titles across PC and console platforms including Train Sim World series and Train Simulator Classic.
- Downloadable Content (DLC): Additional revenue through route packs, locomotive add-ons, and expansion content sold as downloadable content for existing games.
- Licensed IP Games: Revenue from branded games based on licensed intellectual property such as Thomas & Friends and CATAN, combining licensing royalties with game sales.
- Partnerships and Sponsorships: Charitable partnerships and cause marketing initiatives that generate goodwill and community engagement, including CALM mental health awareness campaigns integrated into games.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Thomas & Friends: Wonders of Sodor - Available on multiple platforms |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Train Sim World 6 - Multiple editions available |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels6 records
Dovetail Games product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Dovetail Games develops and publishes simulation video games focused primarily on rail and transport experiences, with its flagship Train Sim World franchise built on proprietary Simugraph technology combined with Unreal Engine. The company also publishes DLC route and locomotive expansions, family-friendly branded titles (Thomas & Friends), fishing simulations (Fishing Sim World), and licensed board game adaptations (CATAN) across PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch platforms.
Product overview
Dovetail Games is a developer and publisher of simulation games, primarily focused on transportation simulations. The core product portfolio centers on Train Sim World, their flagship train simulation franchise built on Unreal Engine and Simugraph technology, which coexists with Train Simulator Classic as their legacy title. The company has expanded into family-friendly content through Thomas & Friends: Wonders of Sodor, and diversified into adjacent simulation genres including fishing (Fishing Sim World) and board games (CATAN - Console Edition). Train Sim World serves as the primary platform delivering realistic rail simulation with regular DLC expansions for routes, locomotives, and gameplay features across PC and console platforms.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Train Sim World 6 Flagship rail simulation game offering authentic train physics, signalling, and route environments powered by Unreal Engine and proprietary Simugraph technology; for rail enthusiast hobbyist gamers on PC and consoles, with regular DLC route and locomotive expansions.
- Train Simulator Classic Legacy train simulation title offering extensive route and locomotive content with modding support through the Creation Centre community platform; for long-standing rail simulation hobbyists on PC.
- Thomas & Friends: Wonders of Sodor Family-friendly train simulation built on the Train Sim World engine featuring Thomas, Percy, Gordon, Emily, Diesel, and other franchise characters with character-driven stories, mini-games, and free-roam exploration; for children, families, and Thomas & Fans fans.
- Train Sim World VR: New York Immersive virtual reality train simulation experience developed in partnership with Just Add Water, offering realistic train physics and New York rail environments; for VR hardware owners and mixed-reality gaming enthusiasts.
- Fishing Sim World Fishing simulation game featuring realistic fish behaviour, varied fishing techniques, and multiple venues, with support for tournament gameplay and equipment customisation; for fishing hobbyist and casual simulation gamers on PC and consoles.
- CATAN - Console Edition Console adaptation of the classic board game CATAN featuring multiplayer gameplay and traditional Settlers of CATAN mechanics; for board game and family gaming audiences on consoles.
- City Transport Simulator: Tram Tram simulation game within Dovetail's transport simulation portfolio; for transport and rail enthusiast hobbyist gamers seeking alternatives to mainline rail simulation.
Quantifiable outcome
- Hundreds of thousands of passionate enthusiasts across the globe engage with Dovetail Games simulation products
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Dovetail Games
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Dovetail Games technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Dovetail Games partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM)coreSuicide prevention charity partnership including in-game activity, staff fundraising and customer engagement. Train Sim World 6 displays CALM posters prompting conversations around suicide and providing access to lifesaving services. Partnership includes in-game messaging and prompts for mental health awareness.
- SpecialEffectcoreCharity partner supporting accessibility within games for those with physical disabilities. Train Sim World 4 Humble Bundle sale raised over £20,000 for this cause. Dovetail Games actively supports their mission to transform lives through innovative technology.
- Macmillan Cancer SupportminorCharity of the year partner for 2023 alongside SpecialEffect, with over £30,000 raised for the cause through various fundraising activities.
- Just Add WatercoreDevelopment partnership for Train Sim World VR: New York, which won Best UK Mixed Reality Game at Ukie Awards 2026. Collaborative development of virtual reality train simulation content.
- Women in GamesminorCo-CEO Gemma Brown serves as Co-Director and Ambassador Director leading a global Ambassador Programme of more than 2,500 ambassadors across more than 100 countries to create opportunities for girls and women in the games industry.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Dovetail Games competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Aerosoft: German/UK publisher of professional and hobbyist simulation titles, especially in flight simulation and transport categories. Comparable as a mid-sized European simulation publisher with similar enthusiast customer base and DLC catalog approach.
- N3V Games: Australian developer of the Trainz franchise, the longest-running direct competitor to Dovetail's rail-simulation products. Highly comparable in product category (rail simulation), enthusiast audience, and lifetime DLC content model.
- Just Flight: UK-based publisher of high-fidelity flight simulation add-ons and standalone titles. Comparable to Dovetail as a UK hobbyist simulation specialist with deep enthusiast community and catalogue-DLC monetization.
- Astragon Entertainment: German publisher behind Bus Simulator, Construction Simulator, and Police Simulator. Directly competes with Dovetail in the transport/work-simulation genre and shares the same enthusiast PC/console audience plus DLC-driven catalog model.
- GIANTS Software: Swiss developer of the Farming Simulator series, the dominant hobbyist lifestyle simulation franchise. Closely comparable to Dovetail's Train Sim World in business model, audience profile (passionate enthusiast community), DLC monetization, and cross-platform distribution strategy.
- Coffee Stain Studios: Swedish developer of Satisfactory, Goat Simulator, and Deep Rock Galactic. Comparable as a mid-sized European studio building simulation-leaning games with strong enthusiast communities and ongoing content updates.
- SCS Software: Prague-based developer of the Euro Truck Simulator and American Truck Simulator franchises. Directly comparable to Dovetail as a vehicle/hobbyist simulation studio monetized through base game plus extensive paid DLC, targeting enthusiast audiences across PC and consoles.
- Kunos Simulazioni: Italian developer of the Assetto Corsa racing simulation franchise. Comparable to Dovetail as a European simulation studio targeting enthusiast hobbyists with high-fidelity physics and ongoing content/DLC support.
Broad incumbents
- Paradox Interactive: Swedish publisher known for grand strategy and simulation franchises (Cities: Skylines, Europa Universalis, Stellaris). Comparable as a larger European publisher with simulation-tilted portfolio and DLC-heavy monetization, though it operates at significantly broader scale.
- PULLUP Entertainment: French publicly-listed entertainment group (Euronext Paris: ALPUL, formerly Focus Entertainment) and Dovetail's parent company since February 2025. Comparable as a broader publisher operating multiple gaming labels and IPs, providing benchmark for group-level valuation dynamics.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Dovetail Games social profiles
Digital presenceDovetail Games financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Dovetail Games leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
Dovetail Games funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Dovetail Games M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Dovetail Games
What does Dovetail Games do?
Dovetail Games develops and publishes simulation video games focused primarily on rail and transport experiences, with its flagship Train Sim World franchise built on proprietary Simugraph technology combined with Unreal Engine. The company also publishes DLC route and locomotive expansions, family-friendly branded titles (Thomas & Friends), fishing simulations (Fishing Sim World), and licensed board game adaptations (CATAN) across PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch platforms.
Is Dovetail Games a public or private company?
Dovetail Games is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Dovetail Games founded?
Dovetail Games was founded in 2009. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Dovetail Games based?
Dovetail Games is headquartered in Chartham, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Dovetail Games make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Game Sales (Base Games) is the primary driver. The others are downloadable Content (DLC), licensed IP Games and partnerships and Sponsorships.
Who are Dovetail Games's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Aerosoft, N3V Games, Just Flight, Astragon Entertainment, GIANTS Software, Coffee Stain Studios, SCS Software and Kunos Simulazioni. Broad incumbents are Paradox Interactive and PULLUP Entertainment.
Does Dovetail Games have an API?
No public API is recorded for Dovetail Games.
What industry is Dovetail Games in?
Dovetail Games's product category is Simulation Video Games. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAFAAAH, Serious Games & Simulation Studios (Training, Defense, Enterprise). Its SIC code is 7990.