The once legendary Eagleland theme park is but a mere shadow of its former self, and it is up to you and one enthusiastic mechanic to bring back the park’s glory days in RollerCoaster Tycoon Story! In this exciting match-3 puzzle game based on the iconic theme park simulator, you will be solving matching rail puzzles to resurrect the park.
In our RollerCoaster Tycoon Story tips and tricks guide, we will go over the basics of the rail system and how it sets this game apart from other match-3 puzzle games. We will go over the special pieces and how to build the park, so let’s get started with our RollerCoaster Tycoon Story tips and tricks strategy guide to beating more levels!
Introducing the rail system!
Welcome to RollerCoaster Tycoon Story! The main mechanic that sets this game apart from other match-3 puzzle games is the rail system. In this game, you cannot move pieces one at a time, as every column and row on the board is connected through rails.
To match pieces, you must move the rails up, down, left, or right, and the pieces will move accordingly. When one pieces goes off the top or bottom or sides, it will reappear on the opposite side, so you can use this to make some tricky matches.
Remember that pieces do not need to line up in traditional match-3 fashion – pieces can match as long as they are touching each other in some way, whether that be in a L shape or a T shape, it does not matter!
Check all the rails for potential matches!
The key to RollerCoaster Tycoon Story is to approach from all different angles. What that means is that if you are having trouble finding a match, it may help to try a different rail and come at the piece you are trying to match from a different angle, literally!
When a potential match is found, the pieces will light up but they will not actually match until you let go of the screen. This is helpful if you want to find the best possible match by experimenting and checking all the different rails. Remember that there is no time limit so go ahead and be as thorough as you wish!
Conserve your moves and plan ahead!
As is the case with most match-3 puzzle games, RollerCoaster Tycoon Story has a move limit on each level. You must complete the required objective within the move limit, otherwise you will lose a life and be forced to retry.
As tempting as it is to just move the rails around until you get a match, try to be efficient! If you plan out your moves just right or end up lucky, you may get multiple pieces in one match. That can happen as you moving pieces around and they just happen to line up with other matches that you did not even see!
Any moves you have left over when you reach the objective are converted into special pieces that are randomly strewn out across the board. This can help bring in some bonus coins!
Go for the special pieces!
Matching 4 pieces at once results in the jackhammer. This will thing will automatically pop the surrounding four pieces around it in a plus-sign formation.
Matching 5 pieces at once will result in a balloon piece. The balloon piece explodes and destroys all surrounding pieces in a plus-sign formation. It has longer reach than the jackhammer, so it will reach up to two blocks out.
Matching 6 pieces results in a fireworks bundle. This explosive bundle will immediately clear the row and column it is in when you set it off by tapping on it.
And the ultimate piece, the party barrel, requires a match of 7 pieces. When the party barrel is set off, a HUGE explosion will occur that wipes out most of the board. These things can really save your butt!
Build up to the rainbow tile!
Every time you create and use a special piece, the Park Promotion meter at the bottom left corner will fill up. Once it fills up all the way, a rainbow tile will spawn somewhere on the board.
When you activate the rainbow tile, the four pieces that are are adjacent to it will be highlighted. Tapping on any of them will result in all pieces of that same color being immediately cleared from the board. Use this when you are in a jam to immediately hit your objective!
To get the rainbow tile as quickly as possible, you need to be constantly making special pieces, so always keep an eye out for potential matches.
Choose your favorite decor!
When you use the tickets to unlock a new part of the park and decide on decor, choose your favorite design! You can eventually change to different designs, but that feature does not unlock until much later in the game, so make sure you choose wisely!
Each design functions the same, it is simply a matter of your personal preference and what you like the most. Don’t think about it too hard – it is just for looks!
There are certain times where you may see a locked design. These are special designs that must be researched before they can be used. To start research, you must spend coins. When research has started, you have to wait a certain amount of time before the research finishes.
You may have noticed that there are multiple coin options. The more coins you deposit into the research, the faster it will go, and the sooner you will unlock the design. You should only do this if you REALLY want the design right away, as you are better off saving your coins for boosters and the like.
Don’t forget about the elite boosters!
After clearing stage 14, you will gain access to the elite boosters. These boosters are different from the regular boosters you choose before you enter a stage, as they have much greater effects, hence the “elite”!
The Screechin’ Eagle clears an entire row, the Launched Freefall lets you remove a single targeted piece, and Sam’s Broom lets you shuffle the entire board. Elite boosters are very helpful on the levels where you need to get to hard-to-reach areas.
Elite boosters are VERY expensive though, as they cost over 3,000 coins, so make sure you use them only when you really need them. The regular boosters are a little cheaper and can get you by in most cases.
Get rid of the obstacles first!
There are certain levels that have trash and crates lying around the board. Trash is very annoying since it basically takes a block away from the board, but destroying it allows you to match through.
Crates are arguably even worse, as they travel along the rail like a normal piece whenever you move them. You must make a match adjacent to them to destroy them. When you play a level that has these kinds of obstacles, it is very important to deal with them first and foremost before they become a real problem.
And that’s all for RollerCoaster Tycoon Story! Your own theme park story is about to unfold, so have it! If you have any other tips or tricks to share, let us know in the comments below!
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RollerCoaster Tycoon Story Guide: Tips & Tricks To Beating More Levels