New RollerCoaster Tycoon World Screenshots

Over the past month, the RollerCoaster Tycoon World (RCTW) team been sharing a slew of screenshots of the heavily anticipated theme park simulation game, which has been in development for over a year.

The graphics are a noticeable step up from the game’s 2004 predecessor, RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 (let’s forget about the mobile-only RCT4). As seen above, the sun flare, like in RCT3, adds a nice touch of realism to the gameplay.

Back again are the western-themed set pieces…

…and the quirky food and gift stalls. While these might not be the most realistic, they offer a nice throwback to the RCT games of years past.

One of the most exciting (at least to long-time RCTers) features is the curved-path functionality.

While they may not seem as exciting to the casual gamer, they will bring a layer of realism to the game once only possible through custom scenery created by the RCT community.

The game will also feature a “freeform object placement,” which will give players more freedom in their object and ride placements. The lack of this feature was a recurring complaint when RCT3 debuted.

Beyond the park infrastructure, there are signs of improvement — such as the foliage shown in these shots.

While the curved paths will be a welcomed new feature, players will still be able to build traditional grid-like park designs if they so desire.

Earlier in the month, developers shared a closer look at one of the game’s coaster tracks: an Intamin-like steel launched coaster.

RollerCoaster Tycoon World is expected to be released sometime this year. For more information and to preorder the game, visit the RCTW website.

UPDATE: You can pre-order RCTW from Amazon.com for $49.99 and the release date listed is March 30, 2016.

What do you think of RCTW so far? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.