Quick Start

Get playing OpenRCT2 in minutes

Prerequisites

Before starting, ensure you have:

1. OpenRCT2 Installed

   Follow the installation guide for your platform.

2. RCT2 Files Configured

   OpenRCT2 must be able to locate your RollerCoaster Tycoon 2 game files.

First Launch

1. Start OpenRCT2

   Launch OpenRCT2 from your applications menu, desktop shortcut, or by running the executable.

   Windows

   # If installed
   # Launch from Start Menu or Desktop
   
   # If portable
   .\openrct2.exe
   
2. Verify RCT2 Asset Path

   If this is your first launch, OpenRCT2 will attempt to locate your RCT2 files automatically.

   • If successful, you’ll see the title screen
   • If unsuccessful, you’ll be prompted to browse for the RCT2 directory

   Point OpenRCT2 to the root RCT2 folder containing the Data directory with g1.dat inside.

3. Welcome Screen

   You’ll see the OpenRCT2 title screen with several options:

   • New Game: Start a new scenario
   • Continue Saved Game: Load a previously saved park
   • Scenarios: Browse and play different scenarios
   • Sandbox Mode: Build without restrictions
   • Multiplayer: Join or host multiplayer games

Your First Park

Let’s create your first park in OpenRCT2!

Option 1: Start with a Scenario

1. Select a Scenario

   From the title screen, click New Game or Scenarios.

   For beginners, try:

   • Forest Frontiers (RCT1) - Easy, gentle introduction
   • Crazy Castle (RCT2) - Medium difficulty
   • Any scenario marked as “Beginner” difficulty
2. Review the Objective

   Each scenario has specific goals:

   • Achieve a certain park value
   • Attract a number of guests
   • Have rides with specific excitement ratings
   • Complete within a time limit

   Read the objective carefully before starting!

3. Start Playing

   Click Start Scenario to begin. The game will load your park.

Option 2: Sandbox Mode

1. Launch Sandbox

   From the title screen, navigate to Sandbox Mode.

2. Choose Your Settings

   Configure your sandbox experience:

   • Map Size: Small to huge (recommend medium for first park)
   • Terrain: Flat, hills, mountains, or custom
   • Money: Unlimited or starting amount
   • Park Rating: Enable/disable guest happiness requirements
3. Start Building

   Click Start to begin building your dream park!

Basic Controls

Navigation

Camera Movement

• Arrow Keys: Pan camera
• Mouse Wheel: Zoom in/out
• Right Click + Drag: Pan camera
• Page Up/Down: Rotate view

Game Speed

• Pause: Space bar or pause button
• Speed Up: + key
• Slow Down: - key
• Normal Speed: 1 key

Interface

The toolbar at the top contains all main functions:

• Disk icon: Save/Load games
• Wrench: Build rides and attractions
• Footpath: Build paths
• Scenery: Place scenery objects
• Terrain: Landscaping tools
• Guest: View guest information
• Staff: Hire and manage staff
• Finance: View park finances
• Map: View park map

Essential First Steps

Follow these steps to build a successful park:

1. Build Park Entrance

   If not already placed, position your park entrance:

   1. Click the Park button in toolbar
   2. Select Park Entrance
   3. Choose a location near the map edge
   4. The entrance determines where guests spawn

   In most scenarios, the entrance is pre-placed. You can see it on the map as a building with a path leading to it.

2. Build Paths

   Guests need paths to navigate your park:

   1. Click the Footpath button (shoe icon)
   2. Select a path type (concrete paths are fine for starters)
   3. Click tiles to lay path from the entrance
   4. Hold Shift while clicking to queue multiple tiles

   Guests cannot walk on grass! They need paths to reach attractions.

3. Place Your First Ride

   Time to add some attractions:

   1. Click the Wrench icon (Build Rides)
   2. Browse the ride categories in tabs:
      • Transport Rides: Gentle rides for all ages
      • Gentle Rides: Merry-go-rounds, ferris wheels
      • Thrill Rides: Intense attractions
      • Roller Coasters: Custom-built coasters
   3. Select a ride (try Merry-Go-Round for your first)
   4. Click on the map to place it near your path

   Pre-built rides (gentle rides, transport rides) are easiest to start with. Roller coasters require track construction.

4. Connect Ride to Path

   Guests need path access to ride entrances:

   1. Look for the ride entrance (marked with an arrow)
   2. Build paths connecting to the entrance
   3. The entrance should highlight when properly connected
5. Open the Ride

   Before guests can ride:

   1. Click on the ride to open its window
   2. Review the ride settings (usually defaults are fine)
   3. Click the Open button (flag icon)
   4. Set a price (or leave free to start)

   For your first rides, leaving them free or very cheap ($0.20-$0.50) helps attract guests and build park rating.

6. Add Essential Facilities

   Keep guests happy with amenities:

   1. Open the Build Rides menu
   2. Go to the Shops & Stalls tab
   3. Place essential facilities near your rides:
      • Information Kiosk: Provides maps and umbrellas
      • Toilet: Prevents unhappy guests
      • Food Stall: Burgers, pizza, etc.
      • Drink Stall: Soda, juice
   4. Connect them to paths
   5. Open each facility and stock them
7. Hire Staff

   Your park needs maintenance:

   1. Click the Staff button (person icon)
   2. Hire staff members:
      • Handymen: Clean litter, mow lawns, water gardens
      • Mechanics: Repair and inspect rides
      • Security Guards: Prevent vandalism
      • Entertainers: Keep guests happy
   3. Click on staff to set their patrol area
   4. Right-click map tiles to define where they work

   Start with 2-3 handymen and 1 mechanic. Add more as your park grows.

8. Set Patrol Areas

   Assign staff to specific zones:

   1. Click on a staff member
   2. Click the Patrol button
   3. Click tiles to create their patrol zone
   4. They’ll only work in this area

   This prevents staff from wandering too far from their assigned section.

9. Monitor Your Park

   Keep an eye on important metrics:

   1. Guest Count: Bottom-right of screen
   2. Park Rating: In the park window
   3. Finances: Click the banknote icon
   4. Ride Status: Click rides to check queue length, excitement rating

   Park Rating

   Affected by ride variety, cleanliness, scenery, and guest happiness. Keep above 700 for good results.

   Guest Thoughts

   Click on guests to read their thoughts. This reveals what they want or problems in your park.

Building Your First Roller Coaster

Ready for more advanced construction?

1. Select a Coaster Type

   1. Open Build Rides menu
   2. Click the Roller Coasters tab
   3. Choose a coaster type:
      • Steel Roller Coaster: Most versatile
      • Wooden Roller Coaster: Classic style
      • Junior Roller Coaster: Gentle for beginners

   For your first coaster, try the Junior Roller Coaster or browse Track Designs for pre-built layouts.

2. Option A: Use a Track Design

   The easiest way to build your first coaster:

   1. In the ride selection window, click Track Designs
   2. Browse available designs
   3. Select one that fits your park
   4. Place it on your map
   5. Connect entrance and exit to paths
   6. Open the ride

   Track designs are pre-built coasters tested for excitement, intensity, and nausea ratings. Perfect for beginners!

3. Option B: Build Your Own

   For custom coaster construction:

   1. Select the coaster type and click Place Ride Entrance
   2. Click on the map to place the entrance/exit building
   3. Click Construct New Design
   4. Click the green tile to start building track:
      • Choose track pieces from the menu
      • Chain lift for going uphill
      • Curves and turns
      • Drops and hills
   5. Connect back to the station to complete the circuit
   6. Click Test to simulate the ride

   Coasters need:

   • A complete circuit back to the station
   • Chain lift or powered launch to get over the first hill
   • Reasonable excitement vs. intensity ratio
   • Safe G-forces (game will warn you)
4. Test and Adjust

   Before opening:

   1. Click the ride window’s Test button
   2. Watch the test car complete the circuit
   3. Review the ratings:
      • Excitement: Higher is better (aim for 4.00+)
      • Intensity: Moderate is best (under 10.00)
      • Nausea: Lower is better (under 4.00)
   4. If test fails, modify the track design
   5. Test again until it passes
5. Enhance with Scenery

   Improve excitement ratings by adding scenery:

   1. Click the Scenery button
   2. Place trees, shrubs, and decorations near the coaster
   3. Add themed scenery matching your coaster style
   4. Scenery within view of the track increases excitement

   Underground sections through tunnels add excitement! Use the terrain tools to lower ground around track sections.

Tips for Success

Start Small

Begin with a few rides and facilities. Expand gradually as guest count and revenue increase. Don’t overextend early!

Balance Your Budget

Monitor income vs. expenses. Keep a cash reserve for emergencies. Take out loans if needed, but repay them to reduce interest.

Guest Happiness

Read guest thoughts by clicking on them. Address common complaints (need toilet, hungry, lost, want more rides of X type).

Ride Variety

Mix gentle rides, thrill rides, and coasters. Different guests prefer different attractions. Variety increases park rating.

Keep It Clean

Hire enough handymen and set patrol areas. Litter and vandalism decrease park rating. Place bins near popular rides.

Research

In the Finances window, allocate budget to Research & Development. This unlocks new rides and attractions over time.

Marketing

Use the Marketing window to run advertising campaigns. Promote your park or specific rides to attract more guests.

Save Often

Save your park regularly! Use multiple save slots so you can revert if you make a mistake or want to try different approaches.

Keyboard Shortcuts

Speed up your gameplay with shortcuts:

General

Shortcut	Action
Space	Pause/Unpause game
+ / -	Adjust game speed
1 / 2 / 3 / 4	Set game speed
Arrow Keys	Pan camera
Page Up / Page Down	Rotate view
Home / End	Change zoom level
F10	Take screenshot
Ctrl+S	Quick save

Construction

Shortcut	Action
Shift + Click	Queue multiple items
Z	Toggle underground view
Ctrl + Z	Undo last action
T	Terrain tools
P	Path construction
V	Scenery placement

View

Shortcut	Action
V	Toggle scenery visibility
F	Toggle full screen
M	Open map window
I	Park information
G	Guest list
S	Staff list

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Forgetting to open rides

New rides default to closed status. Always click the ride and press the “Open” button (flag icon) so guests can use it!

Not connecting paths properly

Ride entrances must connect to paths. If guests can’t reach a ride, they won’t use it even if it’s open.

Building too many rides at once

Each ride has running costs. Build gradually based on guest demand and revenue. Overbuilding leads to bankruptcy.

Ignoring staff needs

Hire mechanics to inspect rides regularly. Neglected rides break down more often, frustrating guests and hurting ratings.

Extreme coaster designs

Very intense coasters (intensity > 10) make guests sick. Aim for balanced excitement and intensity for broad appeal.

No toilets

Guests WILL need toilets. Place them throughout your park. Unhappy guests from full bladders hurt your park rating.

Next Steps

Explore Multiplayer

Join friends in cooperative park building or compete in challenges.

Explore Features

Discover all the improvements and new features in OpenRCT2.

Install Plugins

Extend OpenRCT2 with community plugins for new features and customization.

Join the Community

Connect with other players on Discord for tips, showcase parks, and get help.

Getting Help

If you run into issues:

1. Check In-Game Help

   OpenRCT2 includes tooltips and help text. Hover over buttons and options to see descriptions.

2. Read Guest Thoughts

   Guests tell you what’s wrong! Click on guests to read their thoughts and address their needs.

3. Visit the Wiki

   The OpenRCT2 Wiki has detailed guides and troubleshooting information.

4. Ask the Community

   Join the Discord server to ask questions and get help from experienced players.

Remember: Park building is a learning experience! Don’t worry about perfection on your first park. Experiment, have fun, and learn from your guests’ feedback.

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Happy building, and welcome to OpenRCT2! 🎢