RollerCoaster Tycoon pinball rules and strategy
The Strategy
RollerCoaster Tycoon advances each ride from red to yellow to green; opening a ride lights a lock at the Chicago Loop or Rocket. After two locks, start three-ball Multiball at Flying Turns or the Rocket, shoot every lit ride Jackpot, then shoot the Rocket for the Super Jackpot. Start FUN modes behind the Handyman; playing all six lights Park Tycoon.
The goal
Shoot the Chicago Loop or Rocket to open rides and collect locks, then start three-ball Multiball. Use a Start FUN mode before the final lock only when its shot and return are controlled.
Use the plunge to test the Start FUN feed, A-B-C lanes, and upper-left flipper.
Shoot the nearest ride's associated targets or ramp only from controlled returns.
Shoot the Chicago Loop or Rocket when lock is lit.
If Start FUN is one safe shot away, start the selected mode before collecting the final lock.
Start three-ball Multiball, shoot every lit ride Jackpot, then shoot the Rocket for the Super Jackpot.
- The first lock can be easier than later locks. Read the lit Chicago Loop and Rocket arrows before repeating either shot.: The first lock can be easier than later locks. Read the lit Chicago Loop and Rocket arrows before repeating either shot.
After multiball, resume ride and guest progress instead of forcing an unlit lock lane.
Alternative route: Recovery: Start FUN route
Recovery pivot: Use this when lock entries reject but the inner loop and mode feeds are reliable.
- Shoot the inner loop or use the shooter-lane Handyman path.
- Start the safest available FUN mode.
- Complete its broadest lit shots rather than forcing the Dummy bank.
- Return to ride and lock progress after the timer ends.
Need to know
- Ride progress
- Advance a ride's red, yellow, and green stoplights to open it. Each opened ride lights a lock and becomes a Jackpot shot during Multiball.
- Three-ball Multiball
- Lock two balls at the Chicago Loop or Rocket, then start Multiball at Flying Turns or the Rocket.
- Start FUN
- The inner loop or shooter-lane Handyman path starts one of the available timed modes.
RollerCoaster Tycoon opens rides by advancing their red, yellow, and green stoplights; each opened ride lights a lock at Chicago Loop or Rocket. Prepare a FUN mode, collect two locks, start Multiball at Flying Turns or Rocket, then clear every lit ride Jackpot before the Rocket Super. Playing all six FUN modes lights Park Tycoon; Guests set its Jackpot value rather than qualifying it.
The goal
Shoot the Chicago Loop or Rocket to open rides and collect locks, then start three-ball Multiball.Use a Start FUN mode before the final lock only when its shot and return are controlled.
- Use the plunge to test the Start FUN feed, A-B-C lanes, and upper-left flipper.
- Shoot the nearest ride's associated targets or ramp only from controlled returns.
- Shoot the Chicago Loop or Rocket when lock is lit.
- If Start FUN is one safe shot away, start the selected mode before collecting the final lock.
- Start three-ball Multiball, shoot every lit ride Jackpot, then shoot the Rocket for the Super Jackpot.
Lock progression setup details
- The first lock can be easier than later locks. Read the lit Chicago Loop and Rocket arrows before repeating either shot.: The first lock can be easier than later locks. Read the lit Chicago Loop and Rocket arrows before repeating either shot.
- After multiball, resume ride and guest progress instead of forcing an unlit lock lane.
Builds toward: Park Tycoon
- Play all six FUN modes. On factory settings, the Flying Ghost relights Start FUN; harder settings require completing R&D at the upper standups.
- After Park Tycoon lights, shoot behind the Handyman through the FUN orbit to start it.
- During the 50-second four-ball mode, open rides and shoot their lit Jackpots. Each Jackpot raises the Super Jackpot multiplier.
- Shoot the Rocket to collect the Super Jackpot. Guests collected before the mode set the base Jackpot value.