In parallel with the re-release of RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 on Steam and other online stores, the Epic Games Store has decided to give the game away for free this week. For a $19.99 USD value, it’s hard to say no this offer. Epic Games has worked tirelessly to turn public opinion about its store venture. You can’t help give them a thumbs up for this day one free availability.
The RollerCoaster Tycoon franchise is a classic in the world of sims that many likely have fond memories of playing. It allowed players to create and manage their own theme parks with plenty of options for creating unique experiences. I got hooked on the second game in series and remember building out some seriously wicked rollercoasters. Guests would leave feeling ready to lose their lunches, which I often charged them top dollar for. Then it was up to me to clean up after the messes those same guests left splattered on the walkways. Well, okay, I paid someone to clean up those messes actually. We’re tycoons afterall, right?
For RollerCoaster Tycoon 3, developer Frontier Developments greatly expanded on its core concepts from previous games. You still manage, finance, entertain, and build ultimate theme parks, but there’s a lot more content to love. In the case of the Complete Edition, there’s even more still. The game boasts 300 coasters and rides, 500 scenery pieces, 60 shops and services, and 20 animals to raise and showcase.
All in all, you can build expansive entertainment utopias with traditional theme park rides, live concerts, zoo attractions, and water parks. There’s also a wide array of themes you can choose to model your park after. The trailer provides a glimpse at all of that, but if you can dream it, you can probably build it.
Play testing and investing
However what impressed me the most about RollerCoaster Tycoon 3, were the improvements made to how players can experience their own parks. The previous entries were fun, but I always felt they were lacking, because there wasn’t away to see things from the perspective of guests. In this game though, you can create your own guests and experience the park through their eyes. One of my favorite features is watching them speed along on the coasters and seeing how they react to different attractions.
The art style holds up rather well for such an old game. The color palette is enchanting as well.
There are also improvements to the overall experience in this latest version of the game. While RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 doesn’t support 4k or 1440p, you can at least still play this 16 year old game in 1080p, and there’s even widescreen support now. The graphics also received a small bump in fidelity, so while this game is old, it still puts on a good showing.
You can claim RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 for free right now on the Epic Games Store, but don’t wait too long, as this game offer will be gone on October 1 at 11 AM ET. Also, don’t forget to hike the prices up on those fries and drinks.
