OpenBVE is a license-free, open source, free of charge train driving simulator.
This program includes detailed per-car simulation of the brake systems, friction, air resistance, toppling and more. In 3D cabs, the driving experience is augmented with forces that shake your simulated body upon acceleration and braking, as well as in curves. Besides that, OpenBVE features a 3D positional sound system best enjoyed with surround speakers, train exteriors and timetables for the current run. Finally, via the main menu, routes and trains be easily selected to start a new session, the controls can be configured to keyboard or joystick devices, and a variety of options can be selected.
Compared to other simulators of the genre, especially compared to commercial games, OpenBVE has its main focus on realism, not necessarily on user-friendliness. You should be willing to study operational manuals for the routes and trains you want to drive, and will in many cases not get along by just memorizing a few keystrokes. If you can identify with this focus, OpenBVE might be the right simulator for you.
Publisher’s description
What is openBVE?
openBVE is an open-source pc game program for Windows from The OpenBVE Project. It is written in C#. Besides Windows, it is available for Linux.
Installation and requirements
Official installers exist for 64-bit and 32-bit as EXE (Inno Setup). Installation asks for administrator rights. The installer supports unattended (silent) installation.
Updates and version history
The current version is 1.14.1.2, released on October 7, 2026. 62 versions are listed since August 23, 2021, each with links to its own installer files. That is about 12 releases a year. The last update is less than a month old.
Popularity and file types
The Chocolatey package has been downloaded 3,839 times. The source code on GitHub (leezer3/OpenBVE) has 380 stars. Similar programs include OpenTTD, RetroArch and Steam.
Project description on GitHub: “OpenBVE- A free train simulator”
Pros / Cons
Pros
- Open source: the code can be inspected and built by anyone
- Documented silent install
- Frequent updates (about 12 a year)
- Also runs on Linux
Cons
- No native ARM64 build
- Installation needs administrator rights
In short: openBVE is an open-source pc game tool for 64-bit and 32-bit PCs. It is actively maintained. Administrators can deploy it unattended.
Is openBVE safe to download?
- The file is served by github.com, the publisher’s own domain
- The download link uses HTTPS
- A SHA256 hash is published, so you can verify the file:
D1EA8EDB2A2A015C62B8630D82BC4EB80A4CD36A4FD0276FA776C3F013EC3D6F· Open the VirusTotal report for this hash - The link has not been checked yet
- The source code is public
- ExeAtlas does not host, wrap or modify installers
Related guide: How to check a file’s SHA256 hash on Windows
Recent versions
All 62 versions ›62 versions over 5 years · about 12 a year
| Version | Date | Size | Files |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.14.1.2Latest | October 7, 2026 | — | 64-bit EXE (Inno Setup)32-bit EXE (Inno Setup) |
| 1.14.1.1 | October 7, 2026 | — | 64-bit EXE (Inno Setup)32-bit EXE (Inno Setup) |
| 1.14.0.3 | August 10, 2026 | — | 32-bit EXE (Inno Setup)64-bit EXE (Inno Setup) |
| 1.14.0.2 | August 3, 2026 | — | 64-bit EXE (Inno Setup)32-bit EXE (Inno Setup) |
| 1.13.0.8 | July 9, 2026 | — | 64-bit EXE (Inno Setup)32-bit EXE (Inno Setup) |
| 1.13.0.7 | July 6, 2026 | — | 64-bit EXE (Inno Setup)32-bit EXE (Inno Setup) |
| 1.13.0.5 | June 9, 2026 | — | 64-bit EXE (Inno Setup)32-bit EXE (Inno Setup) |
| 1.13.0.4 | June 8, 2026 | — | 32-bit EXE (Inno Setup)64-bit EXE (Inno Setup) |
Install from the command line
Silent install ›winget install --id leezer3.OpenBVE -echoco install openbve -yopenBVE-1.14.1.2-setup.exe /VERYSILENT /SUPPRESSMSGBOXES /NORESTART /SP-Related guide: How to use winget: install and update apps
Also for other systems
flatpak install flathub net.openbve_project.OpenBVEInformation
- Publisher
- The OpenBVE Project
- Category
- PC games
- Licence
- BSD-2-Clause
- Price
- Free
- Source code
- github.com/leezer3/OpenBVE
- Written in
- C#
- Content rating
- All ages
- Requires
- Windows 11 / 10
- Architecture
- 64-bit, 32-bit
- Installer
- EXE (Inno Setup)
- Other platforms
- Linux
- Version
- 1.14.1.2
- Released
- October 7, 2026
- Added to the catalogue
- August 22, 2021
- Versions listed
- 62
- Updates / year
- 12.1
- Chocolatey downloads
- 3,839
- GitHub stars
- 380
- GitHub forks
- 71
- Website
- openbve-project.net
- winget ID
- leezer3.OpenBVE
- Chocolatey package
- openbve
Ratings and reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to rate it.
Alternatives to openBVE
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Frequently asked questions
Is openBVE free?
Yes. openBVE is open-source software under the BSD-2-Clause licence.
Is openBVE safe to download?
The download comes from github.com, which belongs to the publisher; ExeAtlas does not host or change the file. Compare its SHA256 hash with the one shown here, or open the VirusTotal report for that hash.
How do I install openBVE with winget?
Open PowerShell or Windows Terminal and run the winget command shown on this page. winget downloads the official installer and checks its SHA256 hash before running it.
Can openBVE be installed silently?
Yes. The silent install page lists the exact command for each installer.
Does openBVE run on ARM (Windows on Arm)?
There is no ARM64 build; Windows 11 on Arm can run the 64-bit and 32-bit version through emulation.
Where can I download an older version of openBVE?
The versions page lists all 62 versions with links to their official installer files, back to August 23, 2021.
What are alternatives to openBVE?
OpenTTD, RetroArch, Steam, PPSSPP and Celestia. The alternatives page compares them.
