2014 · Mod · City-building · Indie

OpenRCT2

Mod

OpenRCT2 is an open-source re-implementation of RollerCoaster Tycoon 2 (RCT2), expanding the game with new features, fixing bugs and raising game limits. The gameplay revolves around building and maintaining an amusement park containing attractions, shops and facilities. The player must try to make a profit and maintain a good park reputation whilst keeping the guests happy. OpenRCT2 allows for both scenario and sandbox play. Scenarios require the player to complete a certain objective in a set time limit whilst sandbox allows the player to build a more flexible park with optionally no restrictions or finance.

Released: 7 December 2014
Platforms: Android Linux Windows macOS
Genres: City-building Indie Real-time strategy Simulation Strategy
Developers: —
Publishers: —
Modes: Multiplayer Single-player
Perspective: Bird view / Isometric
Themes: Business 4X (explore, expand, exploit, and exterminate)
Composers: Allister Brimble

About

OpenRCT2 is a construction and management simulation video game that simulates amusement park management. It is a free and open-source re-implementation and expansion of the 2002 video game RollerCoaster Tycoon 2. In order to create an accurate clone of RollerCoaster Tycoon 2, the game was incrementally written in the platform-independent C++ programming language. In addition to various gameplay changes, the developers fixed a number of bugs and issues that were in the original game.

Keywords

tycoon
death
open-source
maze
micromanagement
kid friendly
easter egg
capitalism
explosion
cheat code
content editor
kidnapping

Media

The articlegameplay, story, development, reception

Gameplay

As a re-implementation, OpenRCT2 requires a copy of the original game or the "Classic" re-release to already be installed on the computer. The gameplay of OpenRCT2 is, by nature of the project, very similar to the original RollerCoaster Tycoon 2 game upon which it is based. However, the re-implementation features a number of changes:

Fast-forward mode

Development

Development of the game was started on April 2, 2014, by Ted "IntelOrca" John, and was continued by 250 other contributors.

In 2019, the game was brought to custom firmware Nintendo Switch systems by modder rsn8887 as a homebrew game, including touchscreen support.

Reception

PC Gamer praised the increased scope for creativity with the new toolset, adding: "you can build the park of your dreams with coasters that no sane person who values their intestines would think about riding. It's a great way to return to such a wonderful classic PC game." Vice noted that OpenRCT2 "allows players much greater freedom in what they are able to build." Kotaku pointed out that OpenRCT2 allows RollerCoaster Tycoon 2 to run on modern systems "just fine", and features multiplayer support, weakening the incentive to purchase the later released RollerCoaster Tycoon Classic.

In 2020, Nerdist suggested OpenRCT2 among other stress-relieving games to play during the COVID-19 pandemic.