Planet Coaster 2 is now out in the open, and while most players have jumped straight into its amazing Sandbox mode to build the theme park of their dreams with little to no restrictions, diehard completionists might be interested in going through the full Career mode, where research points hold the key to unlocking the potential of the amusement and water parks.
As with past Frontier-developed games, Planet Coaster 2 will surely be expanded over time with user-made content and DLC packs, so this is just the beginning. We’ve got a comprehensive full list of coasters and rides available from the get-go, with more surely coming soon. Of course, user-made content is also at the forefront, with both players and modders already hard at work on blueprints shared through the game’s fantastic content-sharing systems as well as deeper modifications of the underlying machinery.
Below, you’ll find the answer to the recurring questions about research points, how they work, and the role they play in Career mode’s ‘meta progression’ (which isn’t linked to the game’s Sandbox).
How to earn research points in Planet Coaster 2
Though Career mode starts with a decent selection of buildings, rides, and various attractions, the only way to unlock more of them is to earn research points. The game doesn’t do a great job of explaining how this layer of progression works, and you’ll initially find yourself with a random amount of research points of unknown origin… until you learn about their nature.
The answer is bafflingly simple: You need to build workshops, which are found in the Facilities tab of the building menu. Just place one (or more if you want) down and you can earn research points that are used to unlock new rides and blueprints.
Workshops cost $426 and auto-hire the workers that man them. They also do their stuff passively, so you needn’t worry about managing them. They aren’t tied to Career objectives either, so you only need to build a few of them in each park.
How to use research points in Planet Coaster 2
Research points can be used from the ‘Career Research’ menu found alongside the level selection. It’s pretty straightforward: Think of research points as another currency that is used to improve the entire Career mode playthrough.
Of course, ignoring research points for far too long will make certain levels harder, as you won’t have access to more advanced rides and attractions that yield better results. Just remember to plop down more workshops and to return to the ‘Career Research’ menu regularly. We must also note that completing Chapters is required to unlock new tiers of research items, so it’s not all about earning and spending research points as soon as you can.
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