Planet Coaster 2 Thrill Seekers Ride Pack DLC Review – Bare Minimum Thrills

Planet Coaster 2 Thrill Seekers Ride Pack DLC Review

One of my biggest gaming disappointments of 2024 was the release of Planet Coaster 2. Not that the game was released, mind you. I was thrilled about that. The problem was that the game was released in an unfinished, suboptimal state. There were a huge number of bugs. Some elements and tools were actually more awkward to use than in the original. There were unnecessary new complications, and in some areas, fewer options or missing content. While the range of new coaster types and water rides was a positive, the vast back catalog of add-on packs and attractions was not compatible. While it means that the developer can endlessly sell new content, players with a major investment in Planet Coaster DLC are out of luck.  In any case, the first major Planet Coaster 2 update released on December 12. At the same time, the game’s first paid DLC — the Thrill Seekers Ride Pack — also hit the digital shelves.

It’s a little like the situation with Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024. In that case, however, nearly all the add-ons from the 2020 version work in the new release.

A Literal Handful of Rides

Of course, the game’s first major update is free, and we’ll get to that. The Thrill Seekers Ride Pack costs $9.99US and it includes five attractions: two new coasters and three flat rides. The coasters are the family-friendly LIM launch coaster Vector and the more extreme spinning coaster called Big M’s Rides. Both coasters come with a blueprint for creating original versions.

The three flat rides are the 540, Whirlpool, and Strike. All three rides are variations on spinning the guests in one form or another. Aside from the rides, there are no new attractions, stalls, or scenic/themed elements. The Thrill Seekers Ride Pack is also included in the $79 Premium Edition of Planet Coaster 2. Given that the Premium Edition only includes two DLCs, the add-ons actually cost more as part of the bundle. The biggest new elements in Planet Coaster 2 are its water park features, so it’s a bit disappointing that the new pack doesn’t include any new water rides.

The Fix is In

Whether they pay for the new content or not, all players will benefit from the game’s 1.0 update. The list of bug fixes is too long to repeat, but they address at least some of the game’s most glaring or frustrating issues. What’s maybe more interesting are the changes and additions, many of which are the result of player feedback (i.e. complaints). For example, rides now have separate loading/unloading platforms, the lack of which was a huge downgrade from the original. New scenic elements include transparent glass, new coaster support, and fireworks.

One complaint that players had with the game’s flumes and water slides is that guests moved very unrealistically when riding them. The update has added some physics-based realism to the way riders move from side to side in the tubes and on the slides. While we’re on the subject of flumes, they can now be opened to guests no matter how deadly the outcome. Want to guide your riders into a spine-breaking collision with the concrete? Have at it. The YouTubers specializing in creating mayhem-filled versions of Planet Coaster and Planet Zoo parks will love it.

Slim Pickins

While I appreciate the changes and fixes that come with Update 1, I can’t help feeling like many of them should have been addressed prior to launch. I’ll go farther and say the handful of new rides should have been free, a token of appreciation for consumers patiently playing through the game’s early issues. DLC packs for Planet Coaster were far more generous than the bare-bones Thrill Seekers Pack. The five rides included are fine and useable in a variety of parks, but unremarkable. Developer Frontier needs to really polish the base game before asking players for more money.

***PC code provided by the publisher for review***