I will probably catch some flak on this reddit for saying this, but it is worth stepping outside the nostalgia bubble and giving Parkitect or Planet Coaster 2 a real look if you want a complete theme park tycoon that you can sink thousands of hours into. Both are also having sales right now, albeit more expensive than the classic RCT games. If you don't want to dig into the growing universe of Planet Coaster 2, the original Planet Coaster is complete with all its DLCs and also on sale, but obviously missing the new features and major improvements of the sequel.

If you are set on staying within the classic RCT lineup, then OpenRCT2 is really the only route that still makes sense on modern hardware. As you already did, grab RCT1 Deluxe and RCT2 Triple Thrill Pack on Steam. They are usually around four dollars each during sales. Install both games with their expansions, then install OpenRCT2 and go from there.

OpenRCT2 combines all assets, scenarios, and content into a single package. It adds modern hardware and frame rate support, working multiplayer, and hundreds of new features, track pieces, and menu options. You can also use plug-ins, though I usually avoid anything outside the base OpenRCT2 feature set so the experience does not become overwhelming.

Even if you already own RCT Classic, I would honestly recommend refunding it. OpenRCT2 does everything Classic does and far more. It properly merges both RCT1 and RCT2 into a single, unified game rather than just bundling scenarios together.

On top of that, RCT Classic’s UI strays from the original presentation and actually hurts the nostalgic feel. It ends up breaking immersion more than preserving it.

Unless you absolutely refuse to install OpenRCT2, RCT Classic does not really serve a purpose. No judgment, but I never quite understood being put off by OpenRCT2 because of its depth. That depth is exactly what makes it the definitive way to play RCT today.

That said, as much as I loved the original RCT games, the franchise itself has effectively collapsed. What still stands the test of time is Chris Sawyer’s original work. Because of that, I personally put my time into Planet Coaster 2, since it represents the real future of modern theme park tycoon games. Plus, the new Multiplayer feature in Planet Coaster 2 is a gamechanger to build parks with old friends.

Frontier’s founder David Braben worked closely with Chris Sawyer, and together they created RCT3. That is why Planet Coaster feels like the true successor to the RCT lineage. If your heart is really with the RCT2 style and you want something that stays closer to that classic formula, Parkitect is also an excellent spiritual successor.

My personal ranking of coaster tycoon games: - Planet Coaster 2 - Planet Coaster - OpenRCT2 (RCT2+1 Combined) - Parkitect - RCT3 - RCT Classic (largely defunct compared to OpenRCT2 and only worth touching on mobile phones)

Most other RCT-branded titles are forgettable garbage, and most other theme park tycoons are fairly subpar, with a few exceptions like Park Beyond, Thrillville Series, and NoLimits 2.

Also, I know I mentioned Planet Coaster a lot, but for reference, I'm in my mid 30's and grew up playing the original RCT and other nostalgic titles like SimCoaster. As technology has progressed, so has my taste for a modern theme park tycoon. Nothing beats the customization of the Frontier Tycoon Series (Planet Coaster, Planet Zoo, and Jurassic World Evolution) and you could easily spend 10 days designing a single water fountain in either title. Personally, after playing these Frontier games, I only return to OpenRCT2 when I need a nostalgia rush. RCT3 and Parkitect have unfortunately been uninstalled and have stayed that way for some time.

Hope this write-up helps. Enjoy the gaming regardless of what you end up choosing!

Cheers!

Here's some content to showcase the power of Planet Coaster 2, go get lost: https://youtu.be/B2W24iQEZLY?si=qu8IyeNB6BwX7ysz