Planet Coaster
A spiritual successor to RollerCoaster Tycoon 3.
Planet Coaster is a business simulation video game developed and published by Frontier Developments for Windows, released worldwide on 17 November 2016. It is a spiritual successor to RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 and part of Frontier's second self-published franchise, following Elite Dangerous. The game received positive reviews for its sandbox mode and creation tools, and sold over 2.5 million copies as of January 2020.
- Developer
- Frontier Developments
- Publisher
- Frontier Developments
- Initial release date
- 17 November 2016
- Platforms
- Windows, macOS, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
- Genre
- Business simulation, construction and management simulation
- Modes
- Sandbox, Challenge, Career, Scenario Editor
- Copies sold
- Over 2.5 million as of January 2020
Lore & Background
Planet Coaster was originally called Coaster Park Tycoon and was revealed on 29 January 2015, then renamed during E3 2015 on 16 June 2015. Frontier Developments spent $6 million on development and $1.5 million on marketing. The game uses an advanced version of the Cobra engine, an in-house proprietary engine previously used for Elite Dangerous and RollerCoaster Tycoon 3. Multiple alpha and beta tests were organized before launch, with the first alpha released on 22 March 2016 emphasizing modular building and paths. The game was released with Denuvo's anti-tamper technology.
Reader's Guide
Planet Coaster is a construction and management simulation that allows players to build theme park rides and roller-coasters. It features four modes: Sandbox (unlimited funds, all features unlocked), Challenge (limited funds with difficulty settings), Career (complete objectives like constructing coasters or hiring janitors), and Scenario Editor (added in the 1.4.0 update on 22 November 2017, allowing custom objectives). The console edition, Planet Coaster: Console Edition, released on 10 November 2020 for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S, with a PlayStation 5 version following in November 2020. A macOS version developed by Aspyr released on 17 November 2020. The game was supported with free and paid downloadable content, including props inspired by Back to the Future, Knight Rider, and The Munsters. A sequel, Planet Coaster 2, released on 6 November 2024 for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S. Critics praised the sandbox mode and creation tools but criticized the career mode.
Did You Know?
- The game was originally called Coaster Park Tycoon before being renamed at E3 2015.
- The game's fictional language, Planco, contains about 7,000 words.
- Cheat codes discovered on 26 April 2017 included the ability to drive go-karts and for security guards to plow through guests like a bulldozer.
- The soundtrack, titled You, Me & Gravity: The Music of Planet Coaster, was composed by Jim Guthrie and JJ Ipsen.
More in Characters
Elsewhere in Planet Zoo
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced