Planet Coaster 2

Even with a handful of last minute bugs to iron out, Planet Coaster 2 lets me build the park of my dreams. More than a water park expansion, it takes everything the first game did well and makes it better. Don’t wait, get your ticket now – heck, this one is even worthy of a fast pass.

Planet Coaster 2 wanted to be the ultimate theme park creation game, and it succeeded. The level of detail, the range of parameters to consider, and the number of creation possibilities offered are dizzying. The risk of being discouraged by so much wealth is real, especially since the unclear interfaces and incomplete tutorials will not help you enough. But, in the same way that your visitors will be able to choose whether or not to dive into your new pools, it is up to you to decide which game you will dive into: a demanding micro-management game? An ultra-complete construction game? Or just a fun time on the career mode, borrowing magnificent creations from the community? Everything is possible, and the frustration of not being able to do what you want is reduced. Who said it was easy to tame an almost perfect game?

Planet Coaster 2 is a fantastic second entry to Frontier Developments’ spiritual successor to one of gaming's greatest titles. I might be a little disappointed that the core behind these games' formula hasn’t changed in 25 years, but if it ain’t broken why fix it? Aside from little issues like guests' pathfinding being borked on occasion and my spiteful relationship with the way paths snap to each other, I’m overjoyed to share that this game will continue to consume my life in the near future. While the simulation sicko in the back of my mind wishes there was a little more depth to managing my parks, all the other voices fight over what to build next, and there are certainly worse problems to have.

Planet Coaster 2 will take you on a new adventure that combines the charm and joy of the original with its own brand-new highs. While there are a couple of dips along the way, they are short-lived and simply part of the experience that doesn’t diminish the joy.

Despite many improvements over the original, it's hard to recommend Planet Coaster 2 to absolutely everyone. The lack of previous themes and other minor issues make Planet Coaster 2 less complete than one would hope. That said, as a deeply crafted and detailed sandbox, Planet Coaster 2 still shines in similar ways to the original, such as the coaster editor that allows you to create any coaster you could ever want. At its core, Planet Coaster will make some ask if enough changes were made to improve the sandbox or if it's just the same Planet Coaster with some new bells and whistles.