Atari has announced RollerCoaster Tycoon Wonderworks, a new entry in the park-management series planned for Steam Early Access. Springloaded, the indie studio behind Let’s Build a Zoo, will lead development.
The reveal took place during Gamescom Opening Night Live, where the game’s first trailer was presented. Atari and Springloaded currently plan to launch Wonderworks in Steam Early Access this winter, although its Steam page still lists it as coming soon rather than giving a specific date. The developers also want the community involved as development continues, giving players a chance to offer feedback before the full release.
Springloaded takes on RollerCoaster Tycoon
Springloaded has already built a name in management games through Let’s Build a Zoo, which has 90% positive reviews on Steam. That makes the studio a natural fit for a series centered on designing attractions, managing visitors, and keeping an entire amusement park from turning into a very expensive pile of broken roller coasters.
Wonderworks is leaning into the series’ classic presentation. The game uses an isometric camera, a miniature plastic-diorama art style, and a retro-inspired interface to keep that old-school flavor front and center.
Coaster construction is receiving a fresh design mode, alongside physics that will make keeping each ride on the rails part of the challenge. Random events can also bring disasters and ride breakdowns to a park, meaning even a carefully planned resort may suddenly become a very busy day at the office.
Springloaded founder and lead developer James Barnard said the studio wanted to imagine how RollerCoaster Tycoon might look if it had been designed today without losing the systems that made the originals so appealing. Building parks, creating memorable coasters, and solving management problems will remain central as the newer systems add more room for both smooth operations and spectacular chaos.
RollerCoaster Tycoon’s history will be difficult to ignore. Chris Sawyer’s original game launched in 1999, and the developers say Wonderworks will respect the series’ earlier strengths while bringing in new ideas.
“We have a tremendous legacy to uphold, beginning with Chris Sawyer’s original RollerCoaster Tycoon in 1999,” the developers wrote on the game’s Steam page. The team is asking players to support the project as it works toward a version that can carry the series forward.
The approach gives Wonderworks a different identity from RollerCoaster Tycoon World, the previous PC-focused entry in the series. That game currently carries a “Mostly Negative” rating on its Steam page, while Planet Coaster and Planet Coaster 2 have become major competitors in the theme-park-building genre on PC.
RollerCoaster Tycoon Wonderworks will cost $24.99 when it enters Early Access on Steam this winter. Springloaded will use that period to polish the game before the final version arrives later on PC and consoles.
For now, RollerCoaster Tycoon Wonderworks has no public Early Access date beyond “coming soon.” Atari and Springloaded have not announced additional release details beyond the planned PC and console versions.
Are you interested in seeing Springloaded’s take on the series? Share your thoughts in the comments, and follow us on X, Bluesky, YouTube, Instagram, Steam, and Telegram.
RollerCoaster Tycoon Wonderworks
Developed by Springloaded
