Life simulator games encompass a wide variety of subgenres that are generally predicated on management and construction-based gameplay. Building sims grew in popularity in the '90s, with notable titles like SimCity, and have again rose in popularity recently as more and more players are attracted to more simplistic, retro-style games. Recently added to Xbox Game Pass, Planet Coaster gives players the opportunity to enjoy a more refined version of '90s classics like Rollercoaster Tycoon.
Planet Coaster has been compared to 2016's Parkitect, which also replicates the style and gameplay of Rollercoaster Tycoon. Management and construction sims don't appeal to all players, as while other games give high octane action, building sims are slow games with dedication being rewarded. However, with the success of games like Animal Crossing and a slew of other simulation games, it's clear that there's a large audience who connect with the appeal of these types of games. As such, it's always good to check out newer games in the genre, and Planet Coaster being on Xbox Game Pass makes it even more convenient to do so.
Planet Coaster: Spiritual Successor to Rollercoaster Tycoon
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The development team behind Planet Coaster, Frontier Developments, had previously worked on Rollercoaster Tycoon 3, and have been candid about how Planet Coaster is a spiritual successor to that game. Planet Coaster was even originally titled "Coaster Park Tycoon" during development, further emphasizing the connection between these games. Frontier Developments also have plenty of additional experience in creating sim games, such as Zoo Tycoon and Thrillville.
One of the key elements of Rollercoaster Tycoon that made it successful was the depth of the world players could create and populate, from coaster creation to watching park guests ride them. The console version of Planet Coaster recreates this experience with current-gen capabilities. Since Planet Coaster is so readily availble, the game gives players unfamiliar with the genre an easy and fun introduction to building sims.
Planet Coaster Gameplay
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The simulation genre is usually associated with relaxing gameplay, though some are more fast paced. Planet Coaster features multiple different modes that play at different speeds, including a challenge, sandbox, and career mode. For the more destruction-minded, the game also had a dedicated crash mode which lets players purposefully crash their coasters into park guests. Aside from building rollercoasters, players will also manage the park facilities and hire staff to achieve a park rating. Planet Coaster maintains the same colorful visual design as Rollercoaster Tycoon, wtih fun and unique park visitors and mascots scattered throughout the world.
One of Planet Coaster's biggest benefits is the huge amount of DLC content available for the game. For players who revel in the fun of designing and executing unique parks, there is the option of sharing parks through a feature called Global Village. Like many games of the genre, there is also a ton of cheat codes players can utilize to tailor their experience. There is admittedly more of these cheats available on the PC version, but console players can get in on the fun too.
Furthermore, Planet Coaster is a game well suited to Xbox Game Pass, since players can check it out without inherently making a dedicated investment. The console version of the game also lets players see their parks on bigger screens more readily, making it fun to show off park creations to friends or family.
Planet Coaster: Console Version released in November 2020 for PS4, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.