Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 15, 2026

OpenRCT2

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.

Last revised
Jun 15, 2026
Read time
≈ 4 min
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885 w
Citations
22
Source
Wikipedia ↗
OpenRCT2
DeveloperOpenRCT2 Team
Initial release7 December 2014 (2014-12-07)
Stable release
0.5.21 Edit this on Wikidata / 7 June 2026 (7 June 2026)
Written inC, C++
Operating systemMicrosoft Windows, Linux, macOS, OpenBSD, Android
Platformx86, x64, ARM
Available in20 languages
TypeConstruction and management simulation
LicenseGNU GPLv3
Websiteopenrct2.io Edit this at Wikidata
Repositoryhttps://github.com/OpenRCT2/OpenRCT2/

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 2.2 In order to create an accurate clone of RollerCoaster Tycoon 2, the game was incrementally written in the platform-independent C++ programming language.3 In addition to various gameplay changes, the developers fixed a number of bugs and issues that were in the original game.4

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.5 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:6

  • Fast-forward mode
  • Multiplayer support
  • Support for high-definition resolutions7
  • Support for higher framerates8
  • Support for content from the original RollerCoaster Tycoon, such as scenarios
  • Increased previous software limits on parks, such as scenery availability9
  • Options to exceed or tweak restrictions such as height clearance4
  • Optional early victory conditions, should goals be met before time runs out
  • Improvements to pathfinding AI10
  • Cheats

Development

Development of the game was started on April 2, 2014, by Ted "IntelOrca" John, and was continued by 250 other contributors.1112

In 2019, the game was brought to custom firmware Nintendo Switch systems by modder rsn8887 as a homebrew game, including touchscreen support.2

A major update in 2022 allowed the game to use RollerCoaster Tycoon Classic (an official port of the original games) as a base install path.13

Main theme by Allister Brimble

In May 2023, Allister Brimble, the theme composer for the first two RollerCoaster Tycoon games, composed a new theme song for OpenRCT2.14 Commissioned by the YouTuber Deurklink, the song was paid for by his Patreon subscribers, in what he said was a community-funded effort.15 The theme was added to the game in a September 2023 update, which also added new backgrounds selected through a contest to the main menu. The same update also allowed for camera and UI frame rates to be unlocked from the previous 40 Hz limit.16

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."6 Vice noted that OpenRCT2 "allows players much greater freedom in what they are able to build."10 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.17

In 2020, Nerdist suggested OpenRCT2 among other stress-relieving games to play during the COVID-19 pandemic.18

See also

See also

References

References

  1. "Release 0.5.2". 7 June 2026. Retrieved 8 June 2026.
  2. Walker, Alex (7 May 2019). "Open Source RollerCoaster Tycoon Hits The Switch". Kotaku. Archived from the original on 31 October 2020.
  3. "OpenRCT2/OpenRCT2". OpenRCT2. 14 July 2020.
  4. Maaz, Wajeeh (21 August 2018). "This Is the Most Intense 'RollerCoaster Tycoon' Coaster You Can Possibly Build". Motherboard. Archived from the original on 23 March 2021.
  5. "Getting Started". OpenRCT2.io. Archived from the original on 26 January 2024. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  6. Lucas, Daniella (23 July 2018). "Returning to RollerCoaster Tycoon 2 with new tools". PC Gamer. No. 319. Archived from the original on 28 November 2020.
  7. Gach, Ethan (6 May 2017). "Player Spends A Decade Polishing Epic Theme Park In Rollercoaster Tycoon 2". Kotaku. Archived from the original on 12 November 2020.
  8. Dawe, Liam (11 September 2023). "RollerCoaster Tycoon 2 reimplementation OpenRCT2 gets a new title theme". GamingOnLinux.
  9. Koczwara, Michael (30 May 2017). "After a decade of construction, this RollerCoaster Tycoon megapark is finally finished". PC Gamer. Archived from the original on 6 March 2020.
  10. Truong, Kevin (6 August 2020). "This 'RollerCoaster Tycoon' Maze Takes Trillions of Years to Complete". Waypoint. Archived from the original on 29 November 2020.
  11. "About". OpenRCT2.org. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
  12. Luckerson, Victor (1 April 2019). "Time Is a Flat Ferris Wheel: The Enduring Legacy of 'RollerCoaster Tycoon'". The Ringer. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
  13. Dawe, Liam (12 October 2022). "RollerCoaster Tycoon 2 game engine OpenRCT2 gets another big upgrade". GamingOnLinux.
  14. Allister, Brimble [@AllisterBrimble] (14 May 2023). "I was pretty excited to be asked by the OpenRCT2 community who have created an open source version of Rollercoaster Tycoon 2 to make a brand new title theme for the game.. My third main tune in the series of games! Coming soon here!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  15. Yarwood, Jack (15 May 2023). "Original RollerCoaster Tycoon Composer Creating New Theme For Fan Project". Time Extension. Retrieved 2 July 2023.
  16. Dawe, Liam (11 September 2023). "RollerCoaster Tycoon 2 reimplementation OpenRCT2 gets a new title theme". GamingOnLinux.
  17. Walker, Alex (27 September 2017). "I'm Not Sure Rollercoaster Tycoon Needs That Much RAM". Kotaku. Archived from the original on 23 April 2018.
  18. Tremaine, Morgan (19 March 2020). "6 Relaxing Video Games to Ease Your Stress". Nerdist. Archived from the original on 2 January 2021.
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