Best Theme Park Games 2022. Which roller coaster tycoon game is the best

Whatever the reasons, it’s not a good move for Atari and NVIZZIO to have such a clunky and bad game loosen up in the world, as Roller Coaster Tycoon World doesn’t have many pieces that are integral to the series – and the overall playability of the game. Let’s look at a few:

RollerCoaster Tycoon Adventures (PC) Review: A Nostalgic Mom’s Honest Opinion

I received a free PC copy of RollerCoaster Tycoon Adventures to facilitate this review. This post contains affiliate links which I will earn a commission from if you click and make a purchase at no extra cost.

I was about 15 when the original computer game RollerCoaster Tycoon came out (don’t count!). I loved the game (and its future releases) as well as some other 90s and early 2000s favorites like The Sims, Petz, Zoo Tycoon etc. When I wasn’t at school I was doing homework, studying or visiting the beach with my friends , I played on the computer.

Since then, my kids have joined me playing The Sims 4 (holy cow – where’s the time?) And I love that they can enjoy something that I had so much fun with as a kid. My daughter is the same age now when I first entered the franchise, so it’s really fun to see it all come full circle.

You can imagine my excitement to learn that Atari recently released a brand new RollerCoaster Tycoon game for PC called RollerCoaster Tycoon Adventures. My inner child nearly popped out of my body. We usually spend a small part of our weekends together playing games (computer, video or board), so I knew this weekend would be all about having fun at the amusement park.

My kids and I gathered a ton of information for this RollerCoaster Tycoon Adventures review so you can decide for yourself if you want to try it!

RollerCoaster Tycoon Adventures Review for PC

What do you do?

RollerCoaster Tycoon Adventures is an amusement park simulator that builds on the original version of the series with brand new graphics, rides, adventures and ways to play. You can choose from ready-made scenarios that you need to follow to build your park, or you can build it from scratch.

One of the new features that I really like is the Choose Your Own Adventure event system. As you play the game, you will occasionally be asked questions with several answer options. Choose the one you want and something good or bad may happen to you. For example, one time I got a negative result which reduced the number of visitors by 50% for one month, but another gave me a sales increase for 75 days with season passes. This is a fun way to change a game that wasn’t offered in previous versions.

Of course, you can always build your own roller coasters in RollerCoaster Tycoon Adventures! Choose from pre-built tracks to customize or build one from scratch. The latter can be a bit complicated for younger kids, but the tools make it simple for older kids and adults.

You can also decorate your theme park with various types of terrain, fences, foliage, fountains and more just like in the real world. Add decorations to your rides to please your guests!

Here’s the official trailer for the Nintendo Switch version, but the PC version offers most of the same features:

Graphics and Playability

The graphics of the RollerCoaster Tycoon weren’t that bad then, but they look a little rough now. Understandably, Atari has launched a new RollerCoaster Tycoon Adventures graphics update with a more vibrant, engaging atmosphere. It won’t reflect what you would expect from other simulators like The Sims 4, but it’s certainly a welcome refreshment.

In terms of playability and controls, it can take a while to get used to the new console. There are several tutorials worth checking out that will introduce you to the game and its controls. Once you’ve got through that, you should go on your own.

I’ve seen some hiccups during my game, like guests complaining about the lack of rides even when it’s packed to the brim with the latest and greatest. I also don’t think my restaurant score exceeds 80%. And I’m worst fortunate enough to pick the right responses to events. I’ve always stuck with reduced visitor numbers or sales. Overall, I’ll take some weird stuff here and there as the charm of the game is still at its best.

Long-Term Fun

One of the most important features of the game for me is long-term commitment. Will it be fun for more than a day? Can we still enjoy it and get our money’s worth? The original game provided me with hours of entertainment, so I was hoping this one would do the same.

I am pleasantly surprised that even as an adult I can still have fun building and enjoying my amusement parks. Since there are several different game modes and virtually countless ways to build a park, each game you start can be something new.

Playability for Kids

As someone who played the original RCT series when I was a teenager, I was looking forward to having fun with my kids. However, I wasn’t sure if the new version would be more complicated or more user-friendly. It’s officially E-rated for everyone, which just means most age groups can enjoy it.

I am pleasantly surprised that even as an adult I can still have fun building and enjoying my amusement parks. Since there are several different game modes and virtually countless ways to build a park, each game you start can be something new.

Planet Coaster

Platforms: Windows, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X / S, Mac

Our first recommendation is Planet Coaster, the spiritual successor to Roller Coaster Tycoon, where you are free to create unique theme parks and share them with players from all over the world.

Features a career mode where you can complete various scenarios with specific conditions, in addition to sandbox modes and challenges where you can find yourself on an empty lot with all items unlocked.

Planet Coaster offers an impressive 40+ rides and attractions to help attract customers, as well as numerous themed decorations to give the park a unique look.

There are also plenty of DLC packs that expand the number of themes available, ranging from Fantasy to Sci-Fi, Hollywood Sets, Pirates, and everything in between.

Parkitect

Platforms: Windows, Linux, Mac

Another theme park management simulator worth checking out is Parkitect, which targets a more casual audience compared to solid park builders like Planet Coaster.

It’s the perfect solution for nostalgic Roller Coaster Tycoon fans who want a new customizable amusement park but don’t need as many bells and whistles.

With that in mind, the game is still quite flexible when it comes to construction tools, allowing you to change terrain, place bodies of water, and create custom paths for visitors to walk through the park.

It also offers a deep library of decorative objects across several themes that can be further expanded with Steam Workshop mods.

While many of the games on this list do play with creating roller coasters, No Limits 2 focuses on the more technical aspects of building your own fast death tracks.

The best Rollercoaster Tycoon for Mac

In theory, Mac players should rest easy knowing Rollercoaster Tycoon World is coming to Mac. RCT World is the latest installment in the series and is said to be the best game so far.

And the developer in charge, Nvizzio Creations, has already released the game on Steam Early Access and confirmed that the game will be coming to Mac:

@me_be_eric support for Mac is coming! The date has not been set yet, but stay tuned at http://t.co/IHz1ckO5r4.

– RollerCoaster Tycoon (@OfficialRCT) October 8, 2015

This should be great news, but that was in 2015 and the game still isn’t available on a Mac. Worse, the game doesn’t feel good… RCT World has over 2,500 of the most negative user reviews on Steam. That’s a lot of bad reviews… And according to Eurogamer:

Rollercoaster Tycoon World can in no way be described as a good game in its current state. […] The combination of poor visuals and inferior performance makes Rollercoaster Tycoon World a rather unpleasant experience

So we’re not getting RC World anytime soon, and it seems like you’d be better off without it. You’d better look elsewhere for the worthy Rollercoaster Tycoon 3… So what are the alternatives?

Rollercoaster Tycoon Classic for Mac

RollerCoaster Tycoon Classic is a 2017 remaster created by franchise creator Chris Sawyer who tries to combine the best features from the original RollerCoaster Tycoon and RollerCoaster Tycoon 2.

The remaster obviously comes with more treats and has been well received, with over 250 of most positive reviews. But in essence, it remains very close to the original 1999 RCT. It was a great game at the time, but not quite the type of amusement park simulator that today’s gamers are looking for.

Are we doomed to settle in with a nearly 20-year-old amusement park simulator?

The best rollercoaster tycoon Mac alternatives

Fortunately, other studies have taken steps to fill the void. Two games immediately come to mind. One, Parkitect, is an independent sensation, while the other, Planet Coaster, comes from the original Rollercoaster Tycoon creator, Frontier.

Parkitect for Mac

Parkitect is about building and managing your amusement park. It lets you build your own rides, shops, and roller coasters, and manage your staff, budgets, and happiness levels. Basically, do everything in your power to make your park a huge success.

Basically, it takes the amusement park genre to modern times. And unlike Planet Coaster, it’s natively available for Mac. All of this in a beautiful 3D world. As Destructoid rightly said, Parkitect is “the roller coaster simulator you’ve been waiting for”.

Planet Coaster on Windows

Planet Coaster is somewhat of a natural heir to the now defunct RCT 3. Planet Coaster was developed by Frontier Developments, the same team that made the RTC 3, and the studio experience shows. The game has 87% positive reviews from over 20,000 Steam users, which is crazy.

And professional reviewers totally agree. According to IGN, “Planet Coaster is pretty much everything I could have asked for in a modern day revival of the theme park simulator genre – and more”.

But Planet Coaster is not available on Mac.

You can of course play by using one of several ways to play Windows games on a Mac:

This should be great news, but that was in 2015 and the game still isn’t available on a Mac. Worse, the game doesn’t feel good… RCT World has over 2,500 of the most negative user reviews on Steam. That’s a lot of bad reviews… And according to Eurogamer:

Unlimited possibilities

The main front that makes the Rollercoaster Tycoon 3 stand out is the sheer freedom with which it provides players with the job. Be it coasters, race tracks, animal pens or water slides, you can create almost anything. And while the tools provided for this are far from flawless, they have the potential to create truly breathtaking amusement parks.

I’m not talented enough to make the most of these tools, but YouTube searches will tell you everything you need to know. Despite its age, Rollercoaster Tycoon 3 provides a level of creative freedom very comparable to its successor, Planet Coaster.

If you’re the chaotic bad type, you’ll be glad to hear that you can still make pads for deadly vomiting.

Overall, this is a bit too little as RollerCoaster Tycoon is still based on a grid-based system and the size of your parks is relatively limited. As to which one is the better product, it is debatable. Certainly Planet Coaster is more visually appealing, but it effectively gives way, having a defined progression system to optimize the creation process.

By comparison, RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 has three separate campaigns: one for the base game and one for each expansion pack. They combine well with each other and each time you learn a new mechanic or take on a more difficult challenge. This was a huge selling point for me, as I prefer to work on the set goal than jump into sandbox mode and build roller coasters freely. Although for those who want exactly that, the tools are still available.

A fun ride

All things considered, I had a lot of fun playing Rollercoaster Tycoon 3: Complete Edition. No wonder most of the flaws in the original game still exist. However, all the positives also remained. This is not exactly a dream remaster that I would love to do, but it is a faithful re-introduction of a Tycoon classic that now works properly on modern machines.

The caveat is that its starting price of $ 19.99 on Steam puts it in direct competition with Parkitect, the game that’s closest to a true successor you can find on the market. Is RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 a better game than Parkitect? Not quite. So if you were you, I would either buy it from the Epic Store while it’s still free, or buy it because you want to support Frontier Developments.

And professional reviewers totally agree. According to IGN, “Planet Coaster is pretty much everything I could have asked for in a modern day revival of the theme park simulator genre – and more”.

Thrillville

Thrillville, released in 2006, was a unique example of the theme park management game genre. You can of course build and manage your own park, but you can do a lot more. Instead of just pointing and clicking the screen to skip rides or view stats, you would create your own custom character and run around the park. Not only can you place and manage new rides, you can also ride them in first-person view! You can also play skill games and companion games that you have placed in your park, some of which have rewarded you with prizes such as teddy bears.

You can also interact with guests, which was a great way to get feedback on your park, as well as make friends (and romance if you played as a teenager!) And even give guests VIP passes or bonus rewards to make them happy. Each park also had its own missions, revealing more information about the story and allowing you to meet and interact with some interesting characters.

There were plenty of fun theme parks around Thrillville, such as Superheroes and the Wild West, but unfortunately it wasn’t possible to chart new paths or scenery; everything that has been done for you, and stands and other rides and attractions could only be placed in designated areas. In addition, there was a limit to the number of rides and attractions that could be placed in each area; Especially the roller coasters were devouring a lot of power!

Thrillville: Off the Rails followed in 2007. Frontier Developments, which developed Thrillville, released Planet Coaster in 2016.

Efteling Tycoon

Based on the Dutch theme park Efteling Tycoon was another amusement park management game released in 2008. Gameplay-wise, it was compared to RollerCoaster Tycoon, with 3D graphics like the RollerCoaster Tycoon 3. The Efteling Tycoon was quite unique in itself, especially as the game allowed you to build your own Efteling theme park, complete with your own attractions based on actual rides. There is nothing wrong with that if you like Efteling theme parks, although you may only feel limited to a specific topic (Efteling is based on myths and legends, fairy tales etc). One of the interesting features was that some of the rides allowed you to watch footage of a real ride.

The Efteling Tycoon was originally delayed as the developers wanted to make improvements to the game, but unfortunately they missed the deadline and the game was only released on PC.

Although Efteling Tycoon seems to be quite a niche Dutch game, it’s not necessarily a bad move to make an amusement park management game centered around one theme park, as Efteling is one of the oldest amusement parks in the world (opening in 1952!). It is also one of the most popular attractions in the Netherlands, visited by millions of tourists every year. New attractions only appeared in 2020, it even has its own hotels, a theater and a large golf course. Lego created a game based on real Legoland parks, so why not Efteling?

Of course, the research and financial aspects are a bit too much for him too, so I help with these functions. For the most part, however, she is able to play with little support, which makes tying time fun.

Final Thoughts

Many players expressed similar problems and disappointments, saying they weren’t having a good time because many of the features were broken or that they were severely limited in what they could create. The core of such a game is its fun factor, so when the main objections are to the basic concepts of the game, something is wrong.

Summary: Don’t buy this game. Spend $ 10 more on Planet Coaster, a better and funnier version of what it should be. While it’s unfortunate that the developers were having problems with the game, they should have played it safe and waited for the release. That would give them a little more time to make a nice game that they wouldn’t spend an hour playing.

In addition, you cannot unlock new rides until you have completed certain events in the in-game campaign mode, which greatly reduces the fun of sandbox mode.

RollerCoaster Tycoon Classic

Price: $ 5.99 with in-app purchases

RollerCoaster Tycoon was one of the first big tycoon games. The mobile port is pretty good. Includes all of RollerCoaster Tycoon 1 and 2. There are also two expansion packs and a park scenario editor as downloadable DLC. Rollercoaster Tycoon is a fairly simple game. You set up a park with a goal in mind. You build the park as you see fit, trying to achieve the parameters of the scenario. Players can do anything from custom building bases to demolishing landscapes to suit their needs. There is an official free version (Google Play) but this version is much better.

Tiny Tower

Price: Free Game

Tiny Tower is a small building management simulation. Your job is to manage the businesses inside the tower. Each floor can be something separate, which will bring you more income. From there, you just use your income to build more tower businesses. This is one of the few decent free tycoon games for mobile devices. It doesn’t rely too much on microtransactions, which we like very much. The mechanics of the game are quite simple. With BitBook, you can hire and trade people, customize the look of your place, and even see what people in your world are saying. This one is a good time killer for tycoon fans who may not want hour-long gaming sessions.

If we missed any great Android tycoon games, feel free to tell us about them in the comments. You can also click here to check out our latest list of Android apps and games.
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