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Planet Coaster
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Planet Coaster
DeveloperFrontier Developments
PublisherFrontier Developments
Directors
  • James Dixon
  • Gary Richards
Producers
  • Richard Newbold
  • Steve Wilkins
  • Lloyd Morgan Moore
  • Luke Hale
  • Joseph Phillips
DesignerAndrew Fletcher
ProgrammerOscar Cooper
Artists
  • John Laws
  • Matthew Preece
  • Marc Cox
  • Sam Denney
Composers
EngineCobra Engine v4[1]
Platforms
Release
17 November 2016
  • Windows
    • WW: 17 November 2016
  • PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
    • WW: 10 November 2020
  • PlayStation 5
    • NA: 12 November 2020
    • AU: 12 November 2020
    • EU: 19 November 2020
  • macOS
    • WW: 17 November 2020
GenreConstruction and management simulation
ModeSingle-player

Planet Coaster is a business simulation video game developed and published by Frontier Developments for Windows. It was released worldwide on 17 November 2016. Frontier had previously worked in the amusement park construction and management simulation genre with RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 (to which Planet Coaster is a spiritual successor), Thrillville, Thrillville: Off the Rails, and Zoo Tycoon. A version for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S, known as Planet Coaster: Console Edition, was released worldwide on 10 November 2020.[2][3] The PlayStation 5 version was released in North America and Australia on 12 November 2020 and in Europe on 19 November 2020.[4][5] A macOS version, developed by Aspyr, was later released on 17 November 2020 on both Steam and Mac App Store.[6][7]

There are four different modes in the game, namely Sandbox, Challenge, Career, and Scenario Editor. In the career mode, players assume the role of a theme park manager and must complete tasks such as constructing unfinished roller coasters or hiring janitors. In Sandbox mode, players are tasked to construct their own theme park on an empty plot of land. The challenge mode is similar to the sandbox mode, but with added difficulty, as players need to take funds into account. The scenario editor mode, which was added in the 1.4.0 update on 22 November 2017, is similar to the career mode, but allows players to customise their own task in all saved parks.

Originally called Coaster Park Tycoon, the game was revealed on 29 January 2015 and was renamed during E3 2015. Planet Coaster is Frontier's second self-published franchise, following Elite Dangerous. Frontier organised multiple alpha and beta tests before launching the game in November 2016. The game was supported with free as well as paid post-release downloadable content upon launch. The title received positive reviews upon release, with critics praising the game's sandbox mode and creation tools. Criticism was mainly directed to the game's career mode. It was a commercial success, with more than 2.5 million copies sold as of January 2020.

A sequel, Planet Coaster 2, released for PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and Series S on 6 November 2024.[8]

Gameplay

[edit]
Promotional image of guests riding a pirate ship ride

Planet Coaster is a construction and management simulation video game. Similar to its spiritual predecessor, the game allows players to build different theme park rides and roller-coasters.

Before starting the game on the computer version, the player must create their own avatar. This game function though, is not used or even done in the Console versions. Afterward, the player is able to choose between four game modes: sandbox, challenge, career, and scenario editor.

Similar to Frontier's previous game, RollerCoaster Tycoon 3, the Sandbox Mode enables players to construct their own theme park on an empty plot of land. In Sandbox Mode, all features and rides of the game are unlocked and the player's funds are unlimited. This is the mode most players use to create items (parks, coasters, scenery, etc.) and then post them to Steam's Planet Coaster Workshop (not available for Mac App Store version), or the Frontier Workshop on the console versions.[9]

In the Challenge Mode, the player must construct an amusement park on an empty lot (similar to Sandbox Mode) but with limited funds and research depending on chosen difficulty—Easy, Medium, or Hard. As the player develops their park, the game presents the player with challenges that the player must accept or decline.[a] Upon completion of a challenge, the player is given a reward such as a park rating boost or a sum of money.

In the Career Mode, the player must complete objectives such as constructing roller coasters, achieving park ratings or hiring janitors.[10] Similar to RollerCoaster Tycoon 3, Career Mode allows players to progress by completing scenarios with objectives in different difficulties.

On 26 April 2017, Frontier revealed the existence of several cheat codes that were previously undiscovered on their official forums. These included the ability to drive go-karts and the ability for security guards to plough through guests similar to a bulldozer.[11][12]

On 22 November 2017, the Scenario Editor mode was added in 1.4.0 update, which same to Career Mode, but allow player customize their own objectives in all saved parks, then post them to Steam's Planet Coaster Workshop.[citation needed]

The console edition has various differences from the PC/Mac version, such as a tutorial, a revamped career mode with voice acting, and a counter that tells the player how much they can place in their park.[citation needed]

Development

[edit]
Concept art of an animatronic redcoat

Before the development of Planet Coaster, Frontier Developments had developed several other construction and management simulation video games, including 2004's commercial and critical success RollerCoaster Tycoon 3, which sold over 10 million copies.[13] Planet Coaster serves only as a spiritual successor to RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 instead of a direct sequel, as the company considered the use of the brand Tycoon "didn't carry the cachet anymore" due to the releases of mainly poorly-received Tycoon games in recent years.[14][15] In a December 2016 interview with Cambridge News, David Walsh (the Chief Operating Officer of Frontier Developments) said that the success of Elite Dangerous enabled the company "to bring Planet Coaster to the market, which is highly significant as it demonstrates we are not a single game company".[16] Frontier Developments spent $6 million on the game's development and an additional $1.5 million on marketing.[17]

The game was announced on 29 January 2015, by Frontier Developments.[18] Originally called Coaster Park Tycoon, the game was renamed into Planet Coaster on 16 June 2015, during the PC Gaming Show at E3 2015.[19] Frontier Developments aimed to turn the game into the company's second self-published franchise, along with the Elite series.[20] The game uses an advanced version of the Cobra engine, which is an in-house proprietary engine developed by Frontier previously used by games like Elite Dangerous and RollerCoaster Tycoon 3.[13] Features confirmed for the game include a hybrid spline/piece-by-piece coaster builder, modular structure building, a voxel terrain editor among others detailed through Q&A's and "Dev Diaries."[21] On the second live stream, the release date of the alpha was announced. Released on 22 March 2016, the alpha emphasized on modular building and paths. The alpha contained two themes: "Planet Coaster" and "Pirate". Although disabled by default, Coaster Building was included in the first alpha through a cheat code.[22]

On 24 May 2016, Frontier released the second alpha build. This build included finances, terrain tools, improved path building, and the official release of a coaster builder.[23] Also, on 25 August, Frontier discontinued further alpha purchases.[24] On 24 September, Frontier announced at EGX 2016 that players who had pre-ordered the "Thrillseeker Edition" would be able to test the game that October.[25][26] At Gamescom 2016, Frontier announced that the game would be released on 17 November 2016.[27] The game was released with Denuvo's anti-tamper technology.[28][29]

To record the audio for the game, sound designer Watson Wu took over the Holiday World & Splashin' Safari theme park in Santa Claus, Indiana, to record the sounds of various attractions.[30] Guests in the park and park staff speak their own fictional language, known as "Planco".[21][31] According to James Stant, Frontier's senior audio designer, the language contains about 7,000 words.[32] After the game's release, Frontier Developments released an official Planco dictionary.[32]

Soundtrack

[edit]

Planet Coaster features an adaptive soundtrack composed by Jim Guthrie and JJ Ipsen, released under the album titled You, Me & Gravity: The Music of Planet Coaster.[33][34] Additionally, players may upload their own sound files to use in their parks.

Downloadable content

[edit]

On 21 July 2017, Frontier launched paid downloadable content for the game featuring props inspired by Back to the Future, Knight Rider, and The Munsters.[35]

In August 2017, Frontier partnered with Cedar Point to provide an in-game version of the park's upcoming Steel Vengeance roller coaster before the ride officially opened in 2018.[36]

On 21 September 2018, Frontier announced the "Thememaker's Toolkit". This toolkit will enable players to import custom 3D models into Planet Coaster itself. This was released on 20 November.[37]

The console version adds in an exclusive coaster for those who pre-ordered the game.

Name Release date Description
Winter Update 15 December 2016 The Winter Update added new rides, blueprints, stores, and staff features.[38][39] One of the newly added rides, the "Collider", was determined by a community vote.[38][40]
Spring Update April 2017 The Spring Update added new rides and a crime system.[41]
Summer Update 27 June 2017 The Summer Update added the ability to create firework shows, such as for the American Independence Day, New Year's Day, and Bonfire Night. Furthermore, the fireworks can be triggered by other events in the park and can be synced to custom music.[42] This update also added the ability to add customizable images and video into the game.[42][43]
Spooky Pack 25 September 2017 The Spooky Pack is a paid DLC pack that includes over 200 new building and scenery pieces as well as two new tracked ride types and a new entertainer, "King Ghoster".[44]
Anniversary Update 22 November 2017 The free Anniversary update included several new rides and roller coasters in addition to picnic benches and a custom scenario editor - other smaller features allow for interchangeable coaster cars and relaxed track restrictions. More management features were also introduced including more control over vendors and staff rooms for tired employees.[45]
Adventure Pack 18 December 2017 The Adventure Pack is a paid DLC pack that includes new water boat rides, a swinging mine train roller coaster and 320 new scenery and building pieces in addition to a new entertainer, "Renée Feu".[46]
Studios Pack 27 March 2018 The Studios Pack is a paid DLC pack inspired by movie studio theme parks such as Disney's Hollywood Studios and Universal Studios. This pack includes new scenery, animatronics and three dark ride systems. This was released alongside a free update containing hotels, glass walls and path tunneling.[47]
Vintage Pack 10 July 2018 The Vintage Pack is a paid DLC pack inspired by classic amusement parks. It includes new coasters, rides, scenery and audio.[48] This was released alongside a free update containing a wild mouse coaster, vending machines, camera effects, scenery grouping, and custom staff uniform coloring.[49]
World's Fair Pack 16 October 2018 The World's Fair Pack is a paid DLC pack introduction theming elements inspired by ten different countries. It includes new coasters, a transport ride and scenery.[50]
Magnificent Rides Collection 18 December 2018 The Magnificent Rides Collection is a paid DLC pack that features 10 new rides including attractions based on Vekoma, Schwarzkopf and Mack Rides roller coasters. This pack features little theming elements compared to previous DLCs.
Classic Rides Collection 18 April 2019 Like the Magnificent Rides Collection, the Classic Rides collection adds in 10 rides. This was released along with a free update that contains a virtual recreation of Carowinds' Copperhead Strike coaster.
Ghostbusters Released: 4 June 2019 Discontinued: 4 September 2024 Ghostbusters is a paid DLC pack featuring a story-driven scenario, new gameplay mechanics, new rides, characters and scenery from the classic 1984 film, Ghostbusters. The pack also features Dan Aykroyd reprising his original role as Raymond Stantz and William Atherton as Walter Peck.[51] This was released along with free downloadable content containing a shooting dark ride.

Reception

[edit]

The game was met with praise upon release of the alpha. Andy Kelly of PC Gamer commented that Frontier was "off to a tremendous start", adding that creating buildings with the creation tools hinted at "immense possibilities".[66] However, Mark Walton of Ars Technica noted several small flaws including the "hard to navigate" menus and the lack of custom built roller coasters.[67] On 27 April 2016, about a month after the release of the alpha, Frontier announced that Planet Coaster had grossed nearly two million dollars.[68]

Matt Wales of Eurogamer recommended the game, concluding that the game is "the finest simulator yet".[69] Meanwhile, Ben Reeves of Game Informer praised the game for its creative mode but criticized the game's career mode, referring to it as "boring" and "tedious".[61] TJ Hafer of IGN compared the game's integration of Steam Workshop to Minecraft and Second Life.[64] Edmond Tran of GameSpot praised the game for its accessible creative tools and for its evocative tone.[63] Jonathan Leack of Game Revolution claimed that the game "resurrected the [theme park simulation] genre".[62] In a critical review of the game, Jody Macgregor of PC Gamer praised the game's challenge mode but criticized the game for not innovating enough from RollerCoaster Tycoon 3. The original score (70/100) was retracted due to miscommunication between Frontier Developments and PC Gamer with the game version they received; its reevaluated score is 75/100.[65] Patrick Hancock of Destructoid noted that the game suffers frame rate issues in larger parks.[59] Furthermore, Edge noted that the game's "fiddly" camera makes some actions harder.[60]

In 2020, Rock, Paper, Shotgun rated Planet Coaster in their top 10 management games for the PC.[70]

Many fans made favourable comparisons to RollerCoaster Tycoon World, which received largely negative reviews.[71] The game has "very positive" reviews on Steam.[72]

Sales

[edit]

Upon release, the game topped the Steam "top sellers" charts.[16] The game sold over 400,000 copies in the first month of its release.[73] Despite being released in the later part of the year, Planet Coaster was featured on Steam's "Top 100 Best Sellers of 2016" chart as a "silver tier" game.[74] In August 2017, the game sold its one millionth copy.[75] In July 2018, a leak in Valve's API revealed that over 1.68 million Steam users owned Planet Coaster.[76] Two million copies of the games were sold by January 2019.[77] As of January 2020, 2.5 million copies of the game had been sold.[78]

Accolades

[edit]
Year Award Category Result Ref.
2017 13th British Academy Games Awards British Game Nominated [79]
Develop Industry Excellence Awards Animation Nominated [80]
Music Design Nominated
New Games IP Nominated
Sound Design Nominated

Sequel

[edit]

A sequel, Planet Coaster 2, released on 6 November 2024. The sequel allows players to build water parks, with the ability to construct pools and waterslides. The sequel also gives players the ability to add tilt tracks, track switches, and turntables to their rollercoasters.[81]

Notes

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Planet Coaster

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Planet Coaster is a focused on building and operating theme parks, developed and published by . Released for Windows on November 17, 2016, and for macOS on November 17, 2020, it emphasizes creative design of roller coasters and park layouts using an intuitive piece-by-piece building system, alongside simulation elements for managing finances, staff, and guest happiness. A console edition followed on November 10, 2020, for , , and Xbox Series X/S, with support launching on November 12, 2020. The game offers three primary modes: Career Mode, where players complete themed scenarios with objectives; Challenge Mode, which tests management skills under resource constraints; and Sandbox Mode, providing unlimited freedom for unrestricted park creation. Key features include over 100 ride types, extensive scenery and terrain editing tools, and a physics-based coaster simulation for realistic thrill experiences. Community integration via the in-game Planet Hub and Steam Workshop allows players to share and download custom blueprints, rides, and parks, fostering a vibrant user-generated content ecosystem. Often hailed as a spiritual successor to the RollerCoaster Tycoon series—given Frontier Developments' prior work on RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 and expansions for RollerCoaster Tycoon 2—Planet Coaster received critical acclaim for its depth and accessibility, earning an aggregate score of 84/100 on Metacritic based on 57 reviews. It has sold over 7 million copies as of 2025 and inspired multiple DLC expansions, including themed packs for worlds like Vintage and Studio. The title's success paved the way for Planet Coaster 2, released on November 6, 2024, which introduced water parks and enhanced management features.

Gameplay

Core Mechanics

Planet Coaster offers three primary game modes that shape player interaction with the theme simulation: , Challenge, and Sandbox. In mode, players begin with pre-built parks featuring existing infrastructure and guests, tasked with completing tiered objectives across three difficulty levels to progress and unlock new scenarios. Challenge mode starts players in similar pre-built environments but imposes stricter financial constraints, requiring them to generate revenue and conduct to expand the . Sandbox mode provides an empty landscape with unlimited funds, allowing unrestricted building and experimentation without management pressures. Resource management forms the backbone of park operations, centered on finances, staff oversight, and addressing guest needs to sustain profitability and satisfaction. Players monitor income from ride tickets, shops, and other sources while controlling expenses through pricing strategies and campaigns, with poor decisions leading to in constrained modes. Staff hiring includes mechanics for ride maintenance, janitors for cleaning paths and facilities, and entertainers for boosting guest morale through performances; these roles can be trained for improved , though overworking leads to unhappiness and reduced performance. Guest needs encompass , , access, and overall , which must be met via strategically placed stalls, vendors, restrooms, and scenic elements to prevent complaints and departures. The game's dynamic guest AI simulates individualized behaviors, with each guest possessing unique preferences for ride intensity, themes, and amenities that influence their navigation and spending. Guests exhibit realistic reactions, such as excitement from thrilling or from long queues and unclean areas, directly impacting ratings and revenue streams—high satisfaction encourages repeat visits and higher spending, while neglect causes negative feedback and reduced attendance. Guests employ advanced to compute the shortest routes to desired destinations, avoiding dead-ends and prioritizing urgent needs like restrooms over random wandering, which can lead to if pathways are poorly designed. Specific like the research tree add progression layers in and Challenge modes, where players allocate points earned from mechanics' workshops to unlock new , scenery, and features through branching categories such as coasters or theming elements. This system encourages , as unlocking advanced options requires fulfilling prerequisites and balancing with immediate needs.

Ride and Park Building

Planet Coaster features a sophisticated piece-by-piece coaster builder that empowers players to design roller coasters with granular control over every element of the track. This system supports multiple track types, including steel coasters for smooth, high-speed layouts; wooden coasters that introduce natural sway and creaks for a rustic feel; and water-based options like log flumes for splashy descents. Supports are generated automatically based on the track's geometry but can be manually adjusted or themed, ensuring structural integrity while allowing aesthetic flexibility. Once constructed, players can engage in physics-based testing, where the game simulates realistic forces to measure G-forces—both positive and negative—along the ride path, influencing the overall excitement rating that determines guest satisfaction. For instance, excessive lateral G-forces might lower the score, prompting redesigns to balance thrill and comfort. This testing mode also lets players experience the coaster firsthand from a guest's perspective, highlighting any discomfort or exhilarating moments. Beyond coasters, the game offers extensive options for flat rides, transport rides, and water coasters, each with deep customization to fit park themes. Flat rides, such as spinning teacups or drop towers, come as modular components that players can recolor, resize, and animate—adding effects like flashing lights or synchronized music to enhance immersion. Transport rides, including monorails and chairlifts, facilitate guest movement across the park and can be routed freely, with options to theme stations as futuristic pods or . Water coasters extend the builder's capabilities, allowing hybrid designs that combine track sections with aquatic drops and , customizable via effects, types, and surrounding foliage for a seamless river adventure. All ride types integrate theming packs, such as Western motifs with saloon facades or pirate coves complete with animations, enabling players to apply colors, textures, and dynamic elements like waving flags or robotic performers directly to ride vehicles and structures. Park construction tools emphasize creative freedom through terrain editing, blueprint placement, and vast scenery libraries. Terrain manipulation includes brushes for raising, lowering, smoothing, or roughening landscapes to form natural hills, valleys, or custom elevations, paired with surface painting to apply textures like sandy beaches, grassy meadows, or rocky outcrops—essential for integrating into immersive environments. Blueprint placement streamlines building by letting players snap pre-designed templates for , shops, or full scenes into position, with the ability to edit and expand them on-site using community-shared creations downloaded directly in-game. Scenery libraries are expansive, offering thousands of assets categorized into walls for enclosures, winding paths with benches and lamps, lush foliage like trees and flowers for landscaping, and buildings ranging from quaint cottages to elaborate themed pavilions, all scalable and rotatable for precise placement. These elements draw from diverse themes, ensuring cohesive without repetitive designs. At the core of these features is a system that eschews rigid grid constraints, allowing infinite customization through free-form snapping and layering of pieces. Walls, roofs, and facades can be pieced together like digital , with automatic alignment aids to maintain structural logic while permitting unconventional shapes, such as curved enclosures or elevated walkways. This approach extends to all park aspects, from ride enclosures to guest facilities, fostering limitless creativity in layout and detail without predefined limits on scale or complexity. The system's seamlessness integrates with the game's , ensuring built elements interact realistically with guests and rides for a believable theme park simulation.

Development

Production History

Frontier Developments announced Planet Coaster on June 16, 2015, at the PC Gamer Show during E3, positioning it as a spiritual successor to the RollerCoaster Tycoon series, for which the studio had previously developed the third installment in 2004. The game was built using Frontier's proprietary Cobra engine, originally introduced in RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 and later refined for titles like Elite Dangerous, which influenced its emphasis on procedural generation for landscapes and coaster tracks alongside expansive player freedom in park construction. Development focused on balancing accessibility for newcomers—through intuitive building tools and simplified interfaces—with depth for experienced players, drawing from the studio's expertise in simulation genres to create a "fresh start" on theme park management without the baggage of prior "Tycoon" branding. A closed alpha phase launched in March 2016 for pre-order customers on , allowing community testers to provide feedback that directly shaped features like the coaster editor, which was added mid-alpha based on player requests. A public beta followed in November 2016, further incorporating user input on park management and theming systems before the full release. The project was handled by a dedicated team within Frontier's studio, amid the company's growth to approximately 300 employees by 2016. Planet Coaster launched on November 17, 2016, exclusively for Windows on , with an initial standard price of £27.99 for the base edition and higher tiers like the £34.99 Thrillseeker Edition offering beta access and exclusive content. sales during the alpha phase exceeded 34,000 units, generating significant early revenue and validating the community-driven development approach.

Soundtrack Composition

The soundtrack for Planet Coaster was composed by Jim Guthrie and JJ Ipsen, with the full album titled You, Me & Gravity: The Music of Planet Coaster released on November 17, 2016. This 16-track collection blends , and ambient elements to evoke the wonder and creativity of theme park management, drawing on Guthrie's indie background and Ipsen's collaborative style. The game's audio implementation features a dynamic system that adapts in real time to player actions and park conditions, seamlessly transitioning between the core and contextual in-park . For instance, during periods of low activity like paused building, the system shifts to non-ambient tracks, while active park scenarios incorporate layered sounds such as cheerful melodies aligned with guest levels. This adaptive approach ensures the enhances the immersive atmosphere without overwhelming gameplay audio cues. Notable tracks include "The Light in Us All," which serves as the main theme and sets an uplifting tone from the start, and "Small Hands Make Big Things," played during building phases to inspire creativity. The album is available digitally on platforms like and as a limited-edition vinyl pressing on "Day Turns to Night" colored double LP. By relying entirely on original compositions, the avoids licensed music to prevent potential usage conflicts, allowing it to play a pivotal role in fostering emotional immersion through its evocative, narrative-driven progression.

Post-Release Content

Updates and Expansions

Following its launch, Planet Coaster received multiple free updates that introduced new features, , and improvements while addressing bugs and player feedback. The 1.4 Anniversary Update, released on November 22, 2017, added the scenario editor for custom challenges, five new rides including the Interactive Shooting Ride, additional scenery items such as picnic benches, enhanced tools, and Halloween-themed with seasonal decorations and guest behaviors. This patch also improved AI for guests and staff, making pathfinding more efficient and reducing congestion in crowded parks. Subsequent updates, such as patch 1.5 in December 2017 alongside the Adventure Pack, focused on stability fixes and minor quality-of-life enhancements like better ride testing tools. Support continued with regular patches through 2019, emphasizing bug fixes, performance optimizations, and small feature additions without overhauling core mechanics. For instance, update 1.11 in March 2019 refined guest satisfaction algorithms and added minor UI tweaks for blueprint sharing. The final significant PC update, 1.13 in November 2019, included quality-of-life improvements, performance optimizations for large parks, and various fixes. By , updates shifted toward console ports, with ongoing minor hotfixes for PC ensuring compatibility until support tapered off. No further DLC or major updates were released after 2019, as development efforts shifted to the sequel, Planet Coaster 2, launched in November 2024. Paid DLC expansions significantly broadened thematic options, introducing new rides, scenery, and facilities priced between $2.99 and $10.99 each. The Adventure Pack, launched December 18, 2017, brought jungle theming with structures like pyramids and temples, snapping crocodiles, mummies, two new coasters, and over 200 scenery pieces for ancient trap scenarios. The Studios Pack, released March 27, 2018, focused on movie sets with Hollywood props, three new rides including a for dark rides, nearly 400 scenery items, and 100 blueprints for tours. The Vintage Pack, arriving July 10, 2018, emphasized classic rides with two wooden coasters, five flat rides, over 230 retro scenery pieces, interactive vending machines, and architecture inspired by early theme parks. In October 16, 2018, the World's Fair Pack added international themes from ten countries including , , and , featuring two coasters, one tracked ride, over 390 scenery items, and new food stalls reflecting global cultures. The Magnificent Rides Pack, released December 18, 2018, introduced nine high-thrill attractions like the extreme coaster Banzai Blaster, two tracked rides, and five flat rides, emphasizing customization without new themes. Collaboration packs included the content on June 4, 2019, which added a story-driven campaign, licensed characters and vehicles, new rides, and spooky scenery tied to the franchise. Earlier, the Time Machine Construction Kit in July 21, 2017, provided DeLorean replicas across eras (1985, 2015, 1955, 1885), a track, scaled models, signs, and FX effects. Similarly, the Knight Rider K.I.T.T. Construction Kit from the same date offered vehicle replicas, a themed , backlit logos, and animated effects. By 2021, Frontier had released 11 DLC packs in total, encompassing major packs, smaller sets like the Spooky Set for Halloween theming, and the Classic Rides Collection with recreated historic coasters, all prioritizing thematic variety and ride diversity over gameplay overhauls.

Console Ports and DLC

Planet Coaster: Console Edition launched on November 10, 2020, for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and on November 12, 2020, for PlayStation 5 with backward compatibility support, bringing the theme park simulation to console players with adaptations for controller-based input. The port featured simplified controls optimized for gamepads, including radial menus for tool selection and gesture-based building mechanics, such as using the DualSense touchpad on PlayStation for precise placement of paths and scenery, to accommodate the absence of mouse precision from the PC version. These changes addressed the challenges of translating complex building systems, like coaster track editing, to analog sticks and buttons, though early feedback noted a learning curve for intricate designs. Next-generation enhancements for PS5 and Series X/S included support for higher resolutions up to 4K, , and improved loading times through , without requiring a full native . Post-launch patches focused on technical refinements, such as input remapping for smoother coaster construction and optimizations to maintain stable frame rates during large park simulations, with updates continuing through to mitigate performance dips in crowded scenarios. By 2023, cumulative fixes had enhanced overall stability, allowing for better handling of expansive builds on console hardware. DLC for the Console Edition mirrors much of the PC content but requires platform-specific purchases, with no cross-progression or shared saves between PC and consoles. The Deluxe Edition bundles select packs at launch, including the Classic Rides Collection with eight historic roller coasters and flat rides, and the Magnificent Rides Collection featuring seven modern thrill rides, providing immediate access to additional blueprints and scenery themes. Other expansions, such as the Spooky Pack for Halloween-themed assets, Adventure Pack with jungle motifs, Vintage Pack evoking early 20th-century aesthetics, World's Fair Pack inspired by 1930s expositions, and Studios Pack drawing from film backlots, are available separately or in bundles like Spooky & Adventure, ensuring compatibility across all console versions but necessitating repurchase for full collections.

Reception

Critical Reviews

Planet Coaster received generally positive reviews from critics upon its release, earning an aggregate score of 84/100 on based on 57 reviews. Reviewers frequently praised the game's exceptional building freedom, which allowed for intricate and creative park designs without significant restrictions; sophisticated guest AI that made park visitors feel lifelike and responsive to their environment; and stunning visuals that brought theme parks to vibrant life with detailed animations and lighting effects. However, common criticisms highlighted a steep that could overwhelm newcomers due to the depth of tools and mechanics, as well as occasional bugs and performance hiccups at launch that disrupted . Several prominent reviews underscored these strengths. awarded the game an 8.5/10, calling it the "ultimate theme park sim" for its boundless creativity and immersive first-person mode that let players experience their creations firsthand. gave it a 75/100, describing the experience as one of "joyful creation" thanks to the intuitive piece-by-piece building system and charming cartoonish aesthetic. gave it 4/5, hailing it as a " of " that surpassed predecessors in both management depth and artistic expression. The console edition, released in 2020, received positive reception with Metacritic scores around 81/100 for the PlayStation 5 version, where critics appreciated the enhanced accessibility features tailored for controllers but noted persistent control issues that made precise building more challenging than on PC. Critics often framed Planet Coaster as a modern evolution of the RollerCoaster Tycoon series, updating its core formula with advanced 3D tools and realistic simulation elements while maintaining the joy of park management. A recurring theme was the game's robust mod support through the Steam Workshop, which extended its replayability by enabling community-shared parks, rides, and assets that kept the title fresh long after release.

Commercial Performance

Planet Coaster achieved strong initial commercial success following its release on November 17, 2016, for Microsoft Windows, topping the sales charts during its launch week. The sold over one million units within its first nine months, reaching this milestone by August 2017. By January 2019, sales had surpassed two million copies worldwide. This momentum continued, with the title exceeding 2.5 million units sold by January 2020. As of 2025, Planet Coaster has sold approximately 2.9 million units on PC platforms, generating around $87.4 million in gross from the base game alone. The game's PC exclusivity in its early years fostered a vibrant Steam Workshop community, contributing to sustained player engagement and word-of-mouth promotion that bolstered long-term sales. Console ports, released in November 2020 for , , and later next-generation systems, expanded its market reach. The title demonstrated enduring viability, with continued revenue from periodic Steam sales, bundles, and expansions; it peaked at 21,971 concurrent players on Steam during 2016–2017, reflecting its launch impact, while maintaining steady sales into 2025 via promotional events.

Legacy

Awards and Recognition

Planet Coaster garnered several nominations from prominent industry awards bodies in recognition of its innovative theme park mechanics, audio design, and status as a new . The was nominated for the Best British Game at the 2017 BAFTA Games Awards, highlighting its development by the UK-based . At the 2017 Develop Industry Excellence Awards, Planet Coaster received nominations in two categories: New IP, acknowledging its debut as a fresh entry in the genre, and Design, praising the original soundtrack composed by Jim Guthrie and JJ Ipsen. In community-driven honors, Planet Coaster was shortlisted for of the Year at the 2017 , where public voting emphasized player appreciation for its creative building tools. The title also earned recognition in editorial lists, such as Polygon's selection of standout 2016 releases during the Steam Winter Sale, positioning it among the year's notable simulation games for its depth in park management and customization. Additionally, the game's robust support fostered a vibrant community, with actively promoting through Steam Workshop integration, leading to widespread acclaim for enhancing replayability and creativity.

Sequel Development

announced Planet Coaster 2 on July 11, 2024, as a direct sequel to the original game, developed using an updated version of their proprietary engine. The game launched on November 6, 2024, for Microsoft Windows via and , , and Xbox Series X/S. Development involved a focused effort by Frontier's studio, emphasizing the integration of water parks alongside traditional theme park elements and expansions to the career mode for deeper challenges. The sequel carries over core features from the original Planet Coaster, including the piece-by-piece building mechanics for rides and scenery, management simulation elements, and gameplay modes such as Career, Challenge, and sandbox. The incorporated extensive feedback from the original game's player base to refine features, ensuring the sequel addressed popular requests without formal public beta testing. A notable addition in Planet Coaster 2 is the introduction of fictional ride manufacturers, which add realism by emulating real-world companies; for example, Anton represents Schwarzkopf for classic coasters, Big M's Rides corresponds to Mack Rides for water attractions, and Dark Kinetics mimics Arrow Dynamics for thrill rides. This system includes new coasters and flat rides branded under these manufacturers, enhancing customization options. Compared to the original, Planet Coaster 2 features improvements in graphics and art direction, reworked animations for ride theming, enhanced path systems for better guest flow, and more intuitive coaster building tools, while maintaining the foundational depth of park construction. Key advancements in Planet Coaster 2 include integrated water coaster building, allowing seamless combination of roller coasters with aquatic elements like flumes and pools constructed piece-by-piece for detailed customization. Enhanced weather systems introduce dynamic effects such as rain and sun that impact guest behavior, requiring park adaptations like shade and umbrellas, which were absent in the original. Additionally, asynchronous cross-platform co-op enables players on different platforms to share and collaborate on parks in sandbox and franchise modes. Following launch, released the Thrill-Seekers Ride Pack in December 2024, adding five high-adrenaline attractions including two new coasters and three flat rides. The Sorcery Pack followed in September 2025, introducing five fantastical rides with enchanted themes and over 300 scenery pieces. The game sold over 400,000 units in its first two months, generating more than £10 million in revenue.

References

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