Theme Park Management Games to Play if You Like Planet Coaster 2

Key Takeaways

• Mars Attracts offers a unique twist on theme park management with Martian-themed attractions.
• Megaquarium provides a deep gaming experience with unique fish care requirements.
• Thrillville is a timeless classic with creative control, immersive storytelling, and nostalgic appeal.

There’s plenty to love about Planet Coaster 2. With its realistic gameplay features like the weather systems and guest behaviors, its great graphics, and the ultimate creative freedom for players to design unique parks, there’s something for every fan of management games.

For those who have been loving Planet Coaster 2 since its release, and even those still waiting in anticipation to play the game, these are some of the best theme park management games along the same lines. They offer great visuals and physics, satisfying management tools and open-ended design opportunities. This list seeks to highlight both fan favorites and more niche alternatives, all of which can satisfy the craving created by Planet Coaster 2.

8 Megaquarium

Surprisingly Complex Aquarium Management

• Released: September 2018
• Developer: Twice Circled
• Platforms: Steam, Microsoft Windows, MacOS, Linux

Putting an aquatic spin on classic management games, Megaquarium has a surprising amount of depth. Players can design, organize, and research to their heart’s content in this game, with each fish having unique care requirements and economic consequences.

Granted, the graphics are somewhat less sophisticated in Megaquarium when compared with other park management sims on the market. Yet it still has all the addictive charm of similar games. There’s a lot of variety for players to experiment with, from a complete sandbox mode to the sheer variety of livestock and object operations for decorating the aquarium.

7 Mars Attracts

Heading For Early Access Soon

This upcoming game offers a fun twist on the traditional theme park management setup. Play as Martians designing a theme park on their home planet. The star attraction? Human abductees. This game promises all the fun of the more classic theme park games, with added tension and humor from its unconventional premise.

While this game will naturally attract lovers of theme park management, it also offers a twisted edge that could be great for lovers of psychological thrillers and interplanetary adventures. Mars Attracts is planned for release in 2025 on Steam.

6 Thrillville: Off The Rails

A Classic Theme Park Game

Thrillville was an early classic of the theme park game genre, and the inspiration for many latter iterations. Fans love it for the combination of creative control, its immersive story, and the mini-games embedded throughout.

While it is quite different from a lot of newer theme park games, it remains popular today because it is so nostalgic. For lovers of the theme park management style, this genre-defining game is surely a must-play that is just as enjoyable today as it was when it was released.

5 RollerCoaster Tycoon 3

Dated Graphics, But Still Heaps Of Fun

• Released: October 2006
• Developers: Frontier, Aspyr
• Platforms: Windows, macOS, iOS, Nintendo Switch

Another classic theme park game that’s stood the test of time, RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 is another genre-defining pick. Despite its dated look, it offers much the same in terms of fun challenges players can expect from any great management game. This game gives players maximum creative control, with the ability to create park guests, multiple game modes including a sandbox, and various park design options.

RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 remains available on a variety of platforms, including handheld on the Nintendo Switch, which is rather unusual for theme park management sims. Players are sure to find this game immersive.

4 Jurassic World Evolution 2

A Narrative Driven Theme Park Game

This is a park management game and so much more. Jurassic World Evolution 2 lets players manage and construct their own park, inspired by the Jurassic Park franchise. It also immerses them in a rich narrative campaign with action and plenty of nods to the world-famous series.

Gameplay options are endless in Jurassic World Evolution 2. The game offers what-if scenario options that throw the player into dramatic story-driven gameplay, and a wealth of prehistoric species that rule over the park and fight for dominance. What’s more, the visuals are absolutely stunning, and will reel in even the most apprehensive player.

3 Indoorlands

Classic Theme Park Management — Indoors

• Released: October 2022
• Developer: Pixelsplit
• Platforms: Microsoft Windows, MacOS

This super affordable game offers a lot of the classic theme park management features players know and love, with one key twist: parks are designed entirely indoors. Indoorlands offers a lot of player control, from building design and decor, to a design-your-own-ride mode that encourages maximum creativity. This game also offers a satisfying achievement unlocking system that keeps momentum high throughout.

Overall, this is a very impressive game that brings all the classic management features and more. Developed by small developer Pixelsplit, it offers a refreshing indie alternative to the bigger games in the genre.

2 Planet Zoo

From The Creators Of Planet Coaster

For fans of traditional theme park management games, Planet Zoo offers something a little different. Swap all the typical roller-coaster design for creating inspiring animal habitats at a wildlife park. Planet Zoo retains all the classic management game features, like customer and staff interaction, and detailed design features, as well as adding the joy of animal care and conservation.

This game is from the creators of the Planet Coaster series, so chances are, players who enjoy those games will love this one just as much. The visuals are just as impressive and the different game modes are particularly engaging.

1 Parkitect

One Of The Best Theme Park Management Games Out There

• Released: November 2018
• Developer: Texel Raptor
• Platforms: Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux

It’s true that Parkitect is often compared to the Planet Coaster franchise. Yes, they deal in much the same material, and offer similar opportunities to build great theme parks, but there’s no need for competition here. Both Parkitekt and Planet Coaster 2 do their jobs well. While Planet Coaster 2 offers a more immersive experience with high-impact graphics, Parkitect‘s interface is simpler, but the gameplay is considerably more relaxing, and better for beginners.

This game takes everything great about the theme park management genre and does it all very well. The visuals are charming, reminiscent of earlier theme park games, and the Steam Workshop integration is a favorite with fans who like to show off their creative projects. Simply put, this is a must-try.