Come with me, because today’s ride is by train, roller coaster and truck. Chris Sawyer wrote Transport Tycoon, RollerCoaster Tycoon 2 and Locomotion almost entirely in x86 assembly, and fans did something lovely: they reimplemented each one as open source. These are three living projects, with new versions coming out in 2026.
OpenTTD: the only one that asks for nothing
OpenTTD is the open version of Transport Tycoon Deluxe and reached version 15.3 on April 4, 2026. It is free, runs on Windows, macOS and Linux and has been on Steam since April 1, 2021. The sweet detail: it has its own free graphics, sounds and music, so you do not need the original MicroProse game to play. It has multiplayer, huge maps and a mountain of community-made content.
OpenRCT2: your park, your way
OpenRCT2 reimplements RollerCoaster Tycoon 2, and version 0.5.6 came out on October 10, 2026. It brings an improved interface, cooperative multiplayer, higher limits and more editing tools. There is one rule here: the project asks for the original RollerCoaster Tycoon 2 files, which you can buy on Steam or GOG. If you own the first RollerCoaster Tycoon, you can even play the old scenarios.
OpenLoco: the youngest of the family
OpenLoco does the same for Chris Sawyer’s Locomotion, the spiritual successor to Transport Tycoon. Version 26.09 came out on September 18, 2026. Like OpenRCT2, it needs the files from the original game, sold on Steam and GOG.
Why this matters
These projects keep classics running on current computers without piracy: either the content is free or you use your own copy. It is the same spirit as ScummVM and its freeware adventures. There is more in our guide to games ported to the browser and PC and the Preservation section.
Where to buy: RollerCoaster Tycoon on Amazon
Source: OpenTTD, OpenRCT2 and OpenLoco.
