What this site is
The Train Yarder is a small collection of free train games for young children that runs in any web browser, on a computer, tablet or phone. There are no ads, nothing to buy, and no account to create. The games work offline once they've loaded, and can be added to a device's home screen.
Every game is designed so a child who can't read yet can still play. A friendly voice explains what to do, picture buttons replace words, and gentle hints help when something goes wrong.
The games
There are six games. Each one adds a new idea, and the advanced versions are a challenge a grown-up can enjoy too.
- Build Your Track. Pick a ready-made track or build your own, choose a train, add scenery like a barn, a windmill or a water tower, and drive.
- Expert Builder. Work the train yard: couple the numbered cars in order and park each one on its matching track. A first taste of the job real switch crews do.
- Freight Runner. Load coal at the mine and steel at the mill, then deliver them to the power plant and the factory, stopping each car right under the chute or crane.
- Advanced Freight Runner. Make up the train in the yard first, then deliver coal, steel and oil, using a switch to reach the oil tanks, and finally park every empty car back on its own track.
- Passenger Runner. Help each passenger into the coach that matches their hat: a red cap, a blue top hat or a yellow pompom hat. Then drive the Bullet Express around the railroad and stop each coach at its own station. A glowing switch shows the way.
- Advanced Passenger Runner. The same passengers, with two switches and a siding. The train can only stop at one of the two bottom stations each time around, so the player plans the route, and finding the shortest way earns a star.
None of the games has a game-over screen. Expert Builder and Advanced Freight Runner have an optional timer for players who want to beat their best time; it's off unless you turn it on, and it only counts up, so it never ends the game. Mistakes get a gentle hint and another try, and the passenger games end each shift with a simple choice: keep going, or all done.
Stories and articles
Alongside the games, the site has read-aloud train stories based on real railroad history, and short articles for grown-ups about learning through play, playing together, and enjoying trains off the screen.
Who makes it
The Train Yarder comes from the same small team that makes a family of free browser simulators for older players and grown-ups: The Boat Docker, The Trailer Parker, The Driver Tester and The Drag Car Racer.
No ads, on purpose
The Train Yarder is made for young children, so it has no advertising at all, and no in-game purchases or prompts designed to keep children playing longer than they want to.
Get in touch
Have a question, found a problem, or have an idea for a new game or story? Email theboatdocker@gmail.com.