RollerCoaster Tycoon, an all-time great PC game, is now available on Nintendo Switch with RollerCoaster Tycoon Classic. It’s out now on the Nintendo eShop, and dropping April 25, 2025 as a physical release.
“The new Nintendo Switch version of RollerCoaster Tycoon Classic deserves a physical release and I am glad our team could make it happen,” said Ethan Stearns, VP of Games Publishing, Atari. “The RollerCoaster Tycoon franchise just keeps getting stronger and stronger, and fans can only expect more in the coming year.”
The box art isn’t exactly pretty, though. I appreciate the nostalgic pixel art, but surely there’s a better, less-zoomed picture we could have used?
RollerCoaster Tycoon Classic combines the original RollerCoaster Tycoon (1999) and it’s even-better sequel, RCT2 (2002), into one nostalgic package. It was originally built for mobile platforms in 2016 by Origin8 Technologies with help from original developer Chris Sawyer.
It’s basically RollerCoaster Tycoon 2, with the first-game’s scenarios, along with the Wacky Worlds and Time Twister expansion packs.
If you have a PC, you’re probably better off getting RollerCoaster Tycoon Deluxe (or the original RollerCoaster Tycoon 2) and applying the OpenRCT2 mod. The mod is like a big unofficial patch that cleans up many bugs, adds HD resolution support, and even multiplayer.
RollerCoater Tycoon 3, released in 2004, brought the theme park sim series to 3D, and builders and managers could ride their own coasters and rides.
The Planet Coaster series are spiritual successors, though the recently released sequel is a bit disappointing.
The RollerCoaster Tycoon series is rated E for Everyone.
