RollerCoaster Tycoon: Deluxe

95%
Game Brain Score Based on 4,898 reviews
  • graphics
  • gameplay
  • music
RollerCoaster Tycoon: Deluxe Game Cover
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RollerCoaster Tycoon: Deluxe is a popular simulation game that challenges you to build and manage a successful theme park. With various coaster types, in-park attractions, and customizable themes, design and construct the ultimate amusement park experience. Meet the needs of your guests and watch your profits soar in this engaging and replayable tycoon game.

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

95%
Audience ScoreBased on 4,898 reviews
graphics68 positive mentions
stability34 negative mentions
  • graphics229 mentions

    The graphics of the game are widely regarded as dated, reflecting its origins from the late 1990s, yet they evoke a strong sense of nostalgia and charm for many players. While some reviewers note that the simplistic, pixelated visuals may not appeal to modern gamers, others appreciate their timeless quality and the engaging gameplay that overshadows graphical limitations. Overall, the retro aesthetic is celebrated for its ability to create an immersive experience, despite lacking the polish of contemporary titles.

    • “The isometric graphics combined with pre-rendered 3D and a vast color palette is absolutely timeless, and the graphics of the first two games aged much better than the third game's graphics.”
    • “The graphics are timeless and hold up nicely.”
    • “The graphics may be old-fashioned, but they're classic and quite simple.”
    • “The graphics are very dated and the UI is as well, but if you can overlook those details, this game is a nice break from bigger, flashier titles.”
    • “The only downside is that the graphics are primitive in regards to modern-day gaming.”
    • “For the most part, I play them for a half hour until my nostalgia meter is full and the dated mechanics and graphics start to become grating.”
  • gameplay166 mentions

    The gameplay of "RollerCoaster Tycoon" is characterized by its intuitive controls, engaging mechanics, and a balance of complexity and simplicity that allows for both creative freedom and strategic management. Players appreciate the nostalgic charm and addictive nature of the game, despite some frustrations with ride maintenance and dated graphics. Overall, it offers a satisfying and rewarding experience that has stood the test of time, making it a classic in the theme park simulation genre.

    • “The intuitive controls and endless customization keep the gameplay fresh and engaging.”
    • “The difficulty is balanced nicely, keeping the gameplay engaging without being frustrating.”
    • “Its combination of creative freedom, challenging objectives, and enduring gameplay makes it a must-play for fans of theme park management simulations.”
    • “My rides keep breaking down and my mechanics don't do anything.”
    • “Great game, but I ran into the issue with my mechanics being unable to fix random rides consistently.”
    • “Sometimes, mechanics pay no attention to rides and they just get fixed on their own by some means.”
  • music66 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its nostalgic charm, particularly the iconic merry-go-round theme that evokes fond memories for many players. While the soundtrack enhances the overall atmosphere and fits well with the park's themes, some users noted that the repetitive nature of certain tracks can become overwhelming. Overall, the music contributes significantly to the game's enjoyment, making it hard to feel anything but joy while listening to the catchy tunes.

    • “The music fits each of the theme parks and rides, the little details of customers laughing or screaming on rides are a nice touch, and I can still recall the catchy intro music to this day.”
    • “The music is so extravagant and makes me feel like I'm really at a theme park; the guest thoughts are very clever, and making money in a video game has never been more fun.”
    • “This game has enough nostalgia to make me sit at the title screen and listen to the theme music for a good 10-15 seconds before I actually play.”
    • “Oh yeah, and occasionally whenever I had a lot of rides playing music, the music would suddenly just turn into extremely loud gibberish for like half a second and then go back to normal.”
    • “You can also add theme music and sound effects to your rides or the park itself, but after a while, it gets annoying.”
    • “However, the music that can be played from the rides gets repetitive very quickly.”
  • stability48 mentions

    The game's stability is a mixed bag, with many users reporting significant bugs and glitches, particularly on modern systems, which can lead to crashes and freezing. While some players have managed to run it smoothly with troubleshooting and workarounds, others find it frustratingly unstable, especially in fullscreen mode or when changing window sizes. Overall, while it can evoke nostalgia and runs well for some, the frequent issues make it a less reliable experience for many.

    • “Game runs great on modern systems (Windows 10) with no need for dangerous third-party programs to let it run on your system.”
    • “Runs great, no bugs that I've noticed in several hours of playtime.”
    • “It still runs great on modern systems too, which is always a massive plus for games like this.”
    • “This game started out great on Steam but somehow turned into a buggy mess.”
    • “Visual halting glitches made the game unplayable.”
    • “Not recommending, but not for the game itself, but because this is a very unsupported and buggy port of the game to Steam.”
  • story35 mentions

    The story aspect of the game is largely criticized for its lack of depth, with many users noting that it feels minimal or non-existent, often comparing it unfavorably to other narratives. While the missions provide varied challenges and a nostalgic sandbox experience, they are seen as straightforward tasks focused on park management rather than a compelling storyline. Overall, players appreciate the gameplay mechanics but express disappointment in the narrative elements, which are often overshadowed by the mission-based structure.

    • “This game is part of my childhood; I still remember when I was a kid and played the original RCT all day, trying to win all maps in no particular order. The idea of the game is to create an amusement park and complete a mission to proceed and unlock a new map. Everything else is up to you, as a sandbox game, the player is free to create the park as wacky as they please, create your own roller coaster tracks, and save them for future use.”
    • “Every mission (or park) is different, and they have their own challenges.”
    • “Sometimes, it can be challenging when you must finish a mission in a certain time and solve the problems in your theme park when issues arise (such as a roller coaster exploding, overcrowding, or litter).”
    • “☑ no story”
    • “At RC2, the missions are meaningless, unfinishable, and less fun.”
    • “So, after playing through a few of the campaign missions (although, what else are there in RollerCoaster Tycoon but campaign missions), I've come to realize through my rose-tinted nostalgia glasses that, geeze, RollerCoaster Tycoon is rather slow and unoptimized twenty years later.”
  • replayability34 mentions

    Overall, the game is praised for its high replayability, with many users highlighting the endless variety of scenarios and nostalgic appeal that encourage repeated play. While some mention that replay value may diminish after completing levels, the ability to unlock new parks and create custom attractions keeps the experience fresh and engaging. Many reviewers rate the replayability as exceptional, often comparing it to other highly replayable games like Minecraft.

    • “On top of this, all of the scenarios have virtually limitless replayability, especially once you've completed them all at least once.”
    • “The variety of theme park scenarios provides hours of replay value.”
    • “Hours and hours of fun with infinite replayability.”
    • “Replay value is not that high once you clear a level, and the UI is something to get used to.”
    • “This can severely cut the replay value of the game short, and while it isn't the biggest problem in the world, it can still be considered when arriving at the decision to purchase the game.”
    • “Infinitely replayability.”
  • optimization20 mentions

    Overall, "Rollercoaster Tycoon" demonstrates solid performance and stability, particularly on older systems, but may require some tweaking or compatibility modes to run smoothly on modern operating systems. While the game excels in maintaining a stable framerate and engaging gameplay, it shows signs of age with limited optimization for widescreen displays and newer hardware, leading to potential issues for players seeking a more polished experience. Despite these challenges, many players find the effort to optimize worthwhile, especially with the availability of guides and mods.

    • “Rollercoaster Tycoon still holds up over twenty years later; sure it may take a little bit of love to get working, but it's easy and worthwhile - there are guides and mods to ensure that it runs smoothly too.”
    • “The performance is at a stable framerate constantly, and while I'm not sure where this cap sits, it's at least 40 fps and never drops.”
    • “In terms of optimization (for 90s PC), nothing can beat this game.”
    • “It isn't very optimized or brought up for new video cards or operating systems or whatever the problem is, just a forewarning.”
    • “For users running widescreen and/or 1080p+ monitors, this game was not optimized for you, much less were those screens widely available in 1999.”
    • “It is not optimized for Windows 7 in any way, constant crashes, lots of Windows errors, plenty of bugs.”
  • humor17 mentions

    The humor in RollerCoaster Tycoon is a standout feature, with players enjoying the absurdity of creating chaotic parks and the comedic elements of guest interactions, such as drowning unruly visitors and naming rides with outrageous titles. The game's lighthearted approach, catchy music, and enduring memes contribute to its charm, making it a nostalgic and entertaining experience for both casual and dedicated players. Overall, the humor enhances the gameplay, allowing for both creative amusement and playful mischief.

    • “Hilarious to see some of the user designs that are really just death machines.”
    • “Whether you want to build a legit park from the ground up or just want to screw around and have fun making the most hilariously awful parks around, RollerCoaster Tycoon is for you.”
    • “You can charge people for many things, including to use the bathroom, which can be hilarious when they really need to go, but don't want to.”
  • grinding10 mentions

    Reviews indicate that the grinding aspect of the game can be both tedious and rewarding, often requiring significant time investment to progress, especially in modes without sandbox options. While some players find the experience enjoyable and nostalgic, others feel it can become monotonous, particularly when waiting for resources to accumulate or when building complex attractions. Overall, the game offers a mix of creativity and grind that appeals to fans of tycoon-style gameplay.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “Nothing about this game is particularly challenging, and building your own coasters from scratch is tedious as hell, but it's all rewarding in its own way.”
    • “While you can build pretty much whatever you want in sandbox mode, in other modes it can get a bit grindy waiting for money to trickle in.”
  • monetization8 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the absence of microtransactions and the focus on in-game management elements like loans and advertising. However, disappointment arose when microtransactions were introduced, leading to frustration among users who valued the game's initial commitment to a fair play experience. Overall, while the game offers engaging mechanics for growth and investment, the introduction of microtransactions has marred its reputation for some players.

    • “No microtransactions.”
    • “My dad really enjoys playing, as he's fed up with the cheaters, hackers, and other issues with modern games.”
    • “Now that Overkill has made the decision to put microtransactions into the game, I've never been more disappointed in them.”
    • “Now that Overkill has made the bright decision to put microtransactions into the game, I've never been more disappointed in them.”
    • “The least they could've done is ignored the questions about microtransactions, but even so, going against their word is sickening.”
    • “My dad really enjoys playing, as he's fed up with the cheaters, hackers, microtransactions, battle passes, and other issues with modern games.”
  • atmosphere5 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is consistently praised for its cheerful and immersive qualities, enhanced by effective sound design and engaging gameplay elements. While the graphics may be dated, the overall aesthetic and the ability to create a lively environment contribute significantly to the player's experience. The blend of whimsical and dark humor further enriches the atmosphere, making it a memorable and enjoyable setting.

    • “The overall atmosphere of the game is just amazing.”
    • “This music adds up to build an atmosphere.”
    • “The graphic quality is on the lower end, as expected for 1990, however the atmosphere and aesthetics are good.”
    • “The atmosphere feels flat and uninspired, lacking any real sense of immersion.”
    • “Despite the vibrant visuals, the overall atmosphere is surprisingly dull and lifeless.”
    • “The game fails to create a compelling atmosphere, making it hard to stay engaged.”
  • emotional3 mentions

    The game is praised for its wholesome and family-friendly nature, evoking positive emotions and a sense of nostalgia. Reviewers appreciate its simplicity and purity, suggesting that it offers a comforting experience without the need for modern updates or changes.

    • “This is a very wholesome game and nothing bad happens in it.”
    • “Good clean wholesome family fun.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

45hMedian play time
70hAverage play time
15-100hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 17 analyzed playthroughs

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