Atari is bringing RollerCoaster Tycoon back with Wonderworks, a new theme park management game from Springloaded that combines the classic formula with modern coaster building, detailed park management and a much more chaotic physics system.
Revealed during Gamescom Opening Night Live 2026, RollerCoaster Tycoon Wonderworks is being developed by Springloaded, the studio behind Let’s Build a Zoo, and published by Atari.
The game will launch first through Steam Early Access on PC during winter 2026, before expanding into a larger 1.0 release for PC and consoles.
RollerCoaster Tycoon Wonderworks at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Game | RollerCoaster Tycoon Wonderworks |
| Developer | Springloaded |
| Publisher | Atari |
| Series | RollerCoaster Tycoon |
| Genre | Theme park management / simulation / strategy |
| Early Access release | Winter 2026 |
| Full release date | TBA |
| Early Access platform | Windows PC via Steam |
| Console release | Confirmed for the full release; specific consoles TBA |
| Early Access price | $24.99 / €24.99 |
| Game modes | Single-player |
| Steam Cloud | Yes |
| Early Access duration | Approximately one year planned |
| Developer of Let’s Build a Zoo? | Yes |
| Official Steam page | Available now to wishlist |
| Official Atari page | Live |
Atari is positioning Wonderworks as a reimagining of the original RollerCoaster Tycoon formula rather than an entirely different take on the franchise.
Players once again build and expand theme parks, design roller coasters, hire staff, manage visitors, research new attractions and try to keep the entire operation profitable.
But Wonderworks adds something the classics were considerably less sophisticated at handling: complete chaos when things go wrong.
Watch the RollerCoaster Tycoon Wonderworks Trailer
Trailer title: RollerCoaster Tycoon Wonderworks – Official Early Access Announcement Trailer
The announcement trailer provides our first proper look at the new art direction, parks, coaster construction tools and destruction physics.
Instead of adopting the highly detailed visual style of games such as Planet Coaster 2, Wonderworks uses an intentionally colourful isometric presentation that is much closer in spirit to the original RollerCoaster Tycoon titles.
The trailer also gives us a taste of the new physics system — including attractions breaking apart, guests being launched through the air and emergency crews dealing with the aftermath.
RollerCoaster Tycoon Wonderworks Screenshots
RollerCoaster Tycoon Wonderworks retains the overhead park-building perspective associated with the earlier games in the series. Image: Atari.
Wonderworks keeps an isometric-style camera while replacing the original game's sprites with fully rendered 3D environments.
The result is something that feels deliberately nostalgic without simply recreating the graphics of the 1999 original.
The new coaster construction system is designed to make building and editing custom rides easier. Image: Atari.
One of the biggest additions is an entirely redesigned roller coaster builder.
Atari says players will be able to quickly construct, visualise and fine-tune custom coasters rather than fighting against an overly complicated building interface.
The game also lets players adjust individual attraction parameters including:
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Ride duration
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Speed
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Acceleration
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Intensity
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Other operating characteristics
Changes occur in real time, allowing players to see exactly how guests — and the rides themselves — react.
What Platforms Is RollerCoaster Tycoon Wonderworks Coming To?
| Platform | RollerCoaster Tycoon Wonderworks status |
|---|---|
| Windows PC / Steam | ✅ Confirmed – Early Access winter 2026 |
| PC full release | ✅ Confirmed |
| Consoles | ✅ Confirmed for full release |
| PlayStation 5 | ❓ Not individually confirmed yet |
| Xbox Series X/S | ❓ Not individually confirmed yet |
| Nintendo Switch | ❓ Not individually confirmed yet |
| Nintendo Switch 2 | ❓ Not individually confirmed yet |
| PlayStation 4 / Xbox One | ❓ Not announced |
| macOS | ❌ No current confirmation |
| Linux | ❌ No native version currently listed |
Despite references to a console version, Atari has not yet announced exactly which consoles will receive Wonderworks.
For now, Windows PC is the only individually confirmed platform, with Steam listing Windows 10 or later among the minimum system requirements.
When Is RollerCoaster Tycoon Wonderworks Coming Out?
The initial RollerCoaster Tycoon Wonderworks Early Access release is planned for winter 2026.
Atari has not announced an exact day.
Steam currently lists the game's release date simply as "Coming soon."
Springloaded expects Wonderworks to remain in Early Access for roughly one year, although that schedule could naturally change depending on development and player feedback.
That suggests the full 1.0 version could potentially arrive during 2027, but no official full-release date has been announced.
RollerCoaster Tycoon Wonderworks Price
The Early Access edition is planned to cost:
| Region | Early Access price |
|---|---|
| United States | $24.99 |
| Eurozone | €24.99 |
| United Kingdom | TBA |
Springloaded has confirmed that Early Access players will receive a lower price because they are joining the project before completion.
The game's price will increase when RollerCoaster Tycoon Wonderworks reaches its full 1.0 release.
More Than 60 Rides, Coasters and Shops
Players will be able to combine coasters, traditional amusement rides, shops and scenery to build much larger parks. Image: Atari.
The initial version of Wonderworks includes more than 60 rides, roller coasters and shops, alongside over 150 scenery and decoration pieces.
Players will also be able to customise:
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Roller coasters
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Individual rides
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Scenery
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Decorations
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Park layouts
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Paths
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Staff operating areas
More attractions are planned throughout Early Access.
Springloaded says the finished game will feature at least six additional parks, alongside their associated objectives, rides and other assets.
Forest Frontiers Is Coming Back
Long-time RollerCoaster Tycoon players may recognise one particularly important name.
Two parks will be included when Early Access begins:
| Park | Description |
|---|---|
| Hollow Creek | A derelict park that serves as one of Wonderworks' first challenges |
| Forest Frontiers | A new interpretation of the iconic opening scenario from the original RollerCoaster Tycoon |
The return of Forest Frontiers is a clear indication that Springloaded understands the importance of the first two RollerCoaster Tycoon games.
Forest Frontiers was the first scenario encountered by huge numbers of players when Chris Sawyer's original game launched in 1999.
Rather than simply referencing the game's past, Wonderworks appears to be actively building upon it.
Rides Can Now Completely Break Apart
Ride failures in Wonderworks can become considerably more dramatic than the breakdowns seen in the classic games. Image: Atari.
This might be Wonderworks' strangest — and potentially most entertaining — new mechanic.
The new physics engine means rides don't simply stop functioning when something goes wrong.
They can physically break apart.
Components can fly across the park, attractions can cause damage, guests can become injured and disasters can even result in deaths.
According to Atari, particularly bad incidents can result in a helicopter cleanup crew being called into the park.
It adds a slightly darker layer of humour to the traditional RollerCoaster Tycoon formula.
Anyone who remembers deliberately constructing unsafe roller coasters in the originals will probably already have some ideas.
You Can Make Ridiculous Rides
The new physics isn't limited to roller coasters.
Players can modify the operating parameters of traditional amusement rides too.
Atari specifically gives the examples of creating a maximum-intensity Ferris wheel or modifying a Pirate Ship so that it performs complete 360-degree rotations.
Whether that's a brilliant attraction or an impending insurance nightmare is presumably up to you.
Park Management Still Matters
Behind its more chaotic physics, Wonderworks remains a park-management simulator. Image: Atari.
Wonderworks isn't abandoning the management side of RollerCoaster Tycoon.
Guests have individual needs, desires and thoughts about your park.
Players will need to monitor those reactions while keeping attractions running and ensuring visitors have access to everything they need.
Staff currently confirmed include:
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Janitors
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Mechanics
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Mascots
Staff can also be allocated to specific zones, allowing players to organise larger parks more efficiently.
Research returns too, allowing new rides and designs to be unlocked as the park grows.
Players can purchase additional land, expand the park's footprint and gradually build much larger theme park businesses.
RollerCoaster Tycoon Wonderworks Early Access Roadmap
Springloaded has already outlined several features planned during Early Access.
| Planned feature | Status |
|---|---|
| Additional parks | Planned |
| Additional rides | Planned |
| Water | Planned |
| Water rides | Planned |
| Weather effects | Planned |
| Larger progression system | Planned |
| Game ending / final progression | Planned |
| Classic coaster builder mode | Planned |
| Park gridline options | Planned |
| Community-requested improvements | Planned throughout Early Access |
The studio says it intends to listen closely to the existing RollerCoaster Tycoon community when deciding how the game evolves.
That makes Early Access particularly interesting.
Rather than arriving as a completely finished product, Wonderworks could change significantly based on feedback from players who have spent decades playing RCT1 and RCT2.
How Much Content Will Early Access Have?
Springloaded estimates that unlocking all of the content in the initial Early Access build should take approximately six hours.
That doesn't mean the game itself only lasts six hours.
Like previous RollerCoaster Tycoon games, players can continue expanding their parks and experimenting with the simulation after completing progression objectives.
The amount of available content will also grow substantially during Early Access as additional parks and attractions are introduced.
RollerCoaster Tycoon Wonderworks PC System Requirements
Minimum Requirements
| Component | Minimum |
|---|---|
| OS | Windows 10 or later |
| Processor | 3.0 GHz |
| Memory | 8 GB RAM |
| Graphics | Nvidia GeForce GTX 950 or equivalent |
| Storage | 5 GB |
| Architecture | 64-bit processor and operating system |
Recommended Requirements
| Component | Recommended |
|---|---|
| OS | Windows 11 |
| Processor | 3.0 GHz |
| Memory | 16 GB RAM |
| Graphics | Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 or equivalent |
| Storage | 5 GB |
| Architecture | 64-bit processor and operating system |
The relatively small 5 GB storage requirement and GTX 950 minimum GPU suggest Wonderworks should be considerably easier to run than some of the more graphically demanding modern theme park simulators.
Why Springloaded Could Be a Good Fit
There's another reason Wonderworks is worth watching: Springloaded.
The independent developer previously created Let's Build a Zoo, another management simulator built around running and expanding a visitor attraction.
That game combined management systems with colourful visuals and a slightly absurd sense of humour — a combination that makes the studio a surprisingly natural fit for RollerCoaster Tycoon.
Wonderworks looks like an attempt to apply the same philosophy while respecting what made the early RollerCoaster Tycoon games special.
A Real Successor to Classic RollerCoaster Tycoon?
Wonderworks is clearly taking inspiration from the appearance and structure of the classic RollerCoaster Tycoon games. Image: Atari.
The RollerCoaster Tycoon name remains huge, but the series has struggled to produce a genuinely acclaimed new PC entry for years.
RollerCoaster Tycoon World arrived in 2016 to a poor reception, while Frontier's Planet Coaster series effectively became the modern standard for detailed theme park construction.
Wonderworks doesn't seem interested in simply becoming another Planet Coaster.
Its isometric presentation, accessible construction systems, park-management focus and strange destruction physics give it a much more distinctive identity.
That could ultimately be its biggest strength.
Instead of chasing modern theme park games, Springloaded appears to be asking a much more interesting question:
What would the original RollerCoaster Tycoon look like if it were designed today?
We won't know whether it succeeds until we've played it, but Wonderworks is already one of the most interesting RollerCoaster Tycoon projects announced in years.
RollerCoaster Tycoon Wonderworks FAQ
Is RollerCoaster Tycoon Wonderworks real?
Yes. Atari officially announced RollerCoaster Tycoon Wonderworks during Gamescom 2026. It is being developed by Springloaded.
What is the RollerCoaster Tycoon Wonderworks release date?
The game is currently scheduled to launch through Steam Early Access during winter 2026. An exact release date has not yet been announced.
Is RollerCoaster Tycoon Wonderworks coming to consoles?
Yes. Atari has confirmed that the finished game is planned for PC and consoles, although individual console platforms have not yet been announced.
Is RollerCoaster Tycoon Wonderworks coming to PS5?
A console version is planned, but Atari has not yet specifically confirmed PlayStation 5.
Is RollerCoaster Tycoon Wonderworks coming to Xbox?
A console release is planned, but specific Xbox platforms have not yet been confirmed.
Is RollerCoaster Tycoon Wonderworks coming to Nintendo Switch 2?
Nintendo Switch 2 has not currently been announced as a supported platform.
Who is developing RollerCoaster Tycoon Wonderworks?
Wonderworks is being developed by Springloaded, the studio behind Let's Build a Zoo.
How much does RollerCoaster Tycoon Wonderworks cost?
The Steam Early Access edition will cost $24.99 / €24.99. Regional pricing may vary.
Is Forest Frontiers in RollerCoaster Tycoon Wonderworks?
Yes. Forest Frontiers, the iconic opening scenario from the original RollerCoaster Tycoon, is one of the two parks planned for the initial Early Access release.
How long will RollerCoaster Tycoon Wonderworks be in Early Access?
Springloaded currently expects Early Access to last approximately one year.
Will Wonderworks have water rides?
Yes. Springloaded lists water and water rides among the features planned for the Early Access development period.
Official RollerCoaster Tycoon Wonderworks Links
RollerCoaster Tycoon Wonderworks is scheduled to enter Steam Early Access on Windows PC in winter 2026, with the full release subsequently planned for PC and consoles.
