Installation

Install OpenRCT2 on Windows, Linux, macOS, or Android

Prerequisites

OpenRCT2 requires original files of RollerCoaster Tycoon 2 to play. You must own a copy of RCT2.

Before installing OpenRCT2, purchase RollerCoaster Tycoon 2 from:

Steam

RollerCoaster Tycoon 2: Triple Thrill Pack

GOG.com

DRM-free version with offline installers

Choose Your Installation Method

Windows

Windows Installation

1. Download OpenRCT2

   Visit openrct2.io/download and choose:

   • Latest Release: Stable version recommended for most users
   • Latest Development Build: Cutting-edge features and bug fixes

   Download either the installer (.exe) or portable build (.zip).

2. Install the Game

   Using the Installer:

   1. Run the downloaded .exe file
   2. Follow the installation wizard
   3. Choose your installation directory
   4. Complete the installation

   Using Portable Build:

   1. Extract the .zip file to a directory of your choice
   2. No installation required - run openrct2.exe directly
3. Alternative: Use the Launcher

   For automatic updates, download the OpenRCT2 Launcher:

   1. Download and install the launcher
   2. The launcher will automatically update your game
   3. Always have the latest version without manual downloads
4. First Launch

   When you start OpenRCT2 for the first time, it will search for RCT2 files in common locations:

   • C:\Program Files\Infogrames\RollerCoaster Tycoon 2
   • C:\Program Files (x86)\Infogrames\RollerCoaster Tycoon 2
   • C:\Program Files\Atari\RollerCoaster Tycoon 2
   • C:\GOG Games\RollerCoaster Tycoon 2 Triple Thrill Pack
   • C:\Program Files\Steam\steamapps\common\Rollercoaster Tycoon 2
   • C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Rollercoaster Tycoon 2

   If not found automatically, you’ll be prompted to specify the directory manually.

If you wish to use Steam Overlay or capture the game for video recording/streaming, enable hardware display in the options menu. This will render graphics using DirectX or OpenGL.

Linux

Linux Installation

1. Choose Your Installation Method

   Linux users have several options. Choose the method that works best for your distribution.

2. Flatpak (Recommended)

   The recommended method for most Linux distributions:

   flatpak install flathub io.openrct2.OpenRCT2
   

   Then launch with:

   flatpak run io.openrct2.OpenRCT2
   

   When downloading from Flathub, you’ll always receive the latest updates regardless of your Linux distribution.

3. Distribution Packages

   Many distributions offer native packages:

   Arch Linux

   # Latest release from official repositories
   sudo pacman -S openrct2
   
   # Or development version from AUR
   yay -S openrct2-git
   
4. OpenRCT2 Launcher

   For automatic updates, use the OpenRCT2 Launcher:

   1. Download the launcher for Linux
   2. Make it executable: chmod +x openrct2-launcher
   3. Run the launcher to manage your installation
5. Manual Download

   Download from openrct2.io/download:

   1. Download the latest release or development build
   2. Extract the archive
   3. Run the openrct2 binary

FreeBSD

pkg install openrct2

macOS

macOS Installation

1. System Requirements

   • macOS 10.13 (High Sierra) or higher
   • Intel or Apple Silicon (M1/M2) processor
2. Download OpenRCT2

   Visit openrct2.io/download and download:

   • Latest Release: Stable version for most users
   • Latest Development Build: Latest features and fixes
3. Install the Application

   1. Download the .zip file for macOS
   2. Extract the archive
   3. Drag OpenRCT2.app to your Applications folder
   4. Right-click and select “Open” the first time (security requirement)
4. Grant Permissions

   macOS may ask for permissions to access files. Grant these permissions so OpenRCT2 can:

   • Access your Documents folder
   • Read RCT2 game files
   • Save your parks and configuration
5. Locate RCT2 Files

   On first launch, OpenRCT2 will ask you to locate your RCT2 installation:

   • If you have RCT2 from Steam, navigate to your Steam library folder
   • If you have RCT2 from GOG, navigate to where you installed it
   • Point OpenRCT2 to the folder containing the RCT2 data files

Android

Android Installation

1. System Requirements

   • Android 5.0 (Lollipop) or higher
   • ARM processor (most Android devices)
   • At least 1 GB free storage
2. Download OpenRCT2

   Visit openrct2.io/download on your Android device and download the latest Android build (.apk file).

3. Enable Unknown Sources

   To install the APK:

   1. Go to Settings > Security
   2. Enable Install from Unknown Sources or Allow from this source
   3. The exact location varies by Android version and device
4. Install the APK

   1. Open the downloaded .apk file
   2. Tap Install
   3. Wait for installation to complete
   4. You can now disable “Unknown Sources” if desired
5. Copy RCT2 Files

   You need to copy RCT2 game files to your Android device:

   1. Connect your device to a computer
   2. Copy the RCT2 data files from your PC installation
   3. Place them in a folder on your device (e.g., Downloads/RCT2)
   4. Launch OpenRCT2 and point it to this folder

Touch controls are optimized for mobile gameplay, but a stylus can provide more precision when building intricate parks.

Configuring RCT2 File Paths

Automatic Detection

On Windows, OpenRCT2 automatically searches these locations for RCT2 files:

• Infogrames installation directories
• Atari installation directories
• GOG installation directories
• Steam installation directories
• The directory containing openrct2.exe

Manual Configuration

If automatic detection fails:

1. Launch OpenRCT2

   Start OpenRCT2 for the first time. You’ll see a dialog asking for the RCT2 path.

2. Browse to RCT2 Directory

   Click “Browse” and navigate to your RCT2 installation folder. This folder should contain files like:

   • Data/g1.dat
   • Data/CSS*.dat
   • Scenarios/
   • ObjData/
3. Alternative: Edit config.ini

   You can manually edit the configuration file:

   Windows:

   %USERPROFILE%\Documents\OpenRCT2\config.ini
   

   Linux/macOS:

   ~/.config/OpenRCT2/config.ini
   

   Add or modify this line:

   rct2_path = "C:\\Path\\To\\RCT2"
   

Using RCT1 Assets

If you have the original RollerCoaster Tycoon and its expansion packs:

You can point OpenRCT2 to your RCT1 files to play original RCT1 scenarios and access RCT1 content. See the wiki guide for instructions.

Updating OpenRCT2

Launcher

The OpenRCT2 Launcher automatically updates the game. Simply launch it and it will check for updates.

Flatpak

flatpak update io.openrct2.OpenRCT2

Manual

Download the latest version from openrct2.io/download and install over your existing installation.

Display Settings

OpenRCT2 supports DPI scaling in increments of 0.25. To configure:

1. Launch OpenRCT2
2. Open the Options menu
3. Navigate to Display settings
4. Adjust the UI Scale slider

Hardware Display Mode

For better compatibility with recording software, Steam Overlay, or VSync:

1. Open Options > Display
2. Enable Hardware Display
3. Choose between DirectX (Windows) or OpenGL (all platforms)

Hardware display mode still renders graphics on the CPU but displays pixel data using your GPU, which can enable vertical synchronization when “Uncap FPS” is enabled.

Troubleshooting

Verbose Mode

If you encounter problems, run OpenRCT2 in verbose mode for detailed diagnostic logs:

openrct2 --verbose

This log can help identify issues and is useful when asking for help online.

Common Issues

Game won't start

• Verify RCT2 files are correctly located
• Check that all required RCT2 data files are present
• Try running with --verbose flag to see error messages

Can't find RCT2 installation

• Manually specify the path in config.ini
• Ensure you’re pointing to the root RCT2 directory, not a subdirectory
• Verify g1.dat exists in the Data folder

Performance issues

• Try enabling hardware display mode
• Lower the UI scale if on a high-DPI display
• Disable day/night cycle if enabled
• Close other resource-intensive applications

Next Steps

Quick Start Guide

Now that you have OpenRCT2 installed, learn how to set up your first park and start playing!