How to run RollerCoaster Tycoon Deluxe/2 WITHOUT OpenRCT2 on Windows 11

[MtheAX]

Title says it all. I am tired of hearing that OpenRCT2 is THE way to play. I want to run the original exe and experience the game with it's original bugs and quirks

[Suppor✝Meister]

True

[awesome tf2 facts 2]

I agree, it's ridiculous. The ''No CD'' bug, the ''Graphic system impossible'' bug, the crashes two minutes in are crazy. Can I play the game I paid for without having to make a dozen loops??

[MtheAX]

I was actually able to run RCT Deluxe a few weeks ago natively on Windows 11 but it took a lot of trial and error. Here is my tutorial:

Go to compatibility tab in properties of RCT.exe and select:

Windows XP (Service Pack 2)

Reduce color mode 16 Bit

Run in 640x480 screen resolution

Run this program as an administrator

Override high DPI scaling behavior. Scaling performed by: Application (in "Change high DPI settings" tab right under "Use legacy display ICC color management")

This not only allowed me to run the original RCT.exe with all its DLCs, but also fixed crashes and bugs with right clicking in game. But unfortunately none of this can be said about RCT2. It is still stuck in "No CD" and if I try to install it via original installer, it won't launch what so ever

[Bradly105]

Try pressing the start button, searching “Turn windows features on or off” and enabling DirectPlay.

[MtheAX]

Originally posted by Bradly105:

Try pressing the start button, searching “Turn windows features on or off” and enabling DirectPlay.

Thanks, but unfortunately this is not it. DirectPlay is turned on so it is either broken (on windows 11) or not a cause of this problem at all

[Bazillus]

use this guide

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=338892327

[SharkPlush]

Im sure it still work great on that 1995 computer lol

[MtheAX]

Originally posted by SHARKPLUSH:

Im sure it still work great on that 1995 computer lol

Well it does. And it ran pretty well on an 2015 pc, but no later unfortunately

[Amazing Sun]

change ur rct2.exe to rct2.exe old/rct2.exe backup, download open rct2 and copy it to your rct2 folder, change openrct2.exe to rct2.exe volia.

[MtheAX]

Originally posted by Amazing Sun:

change ur rct2.exe to rct2.exe old/rct2.exe backup, download open rct2 and copy it to your rct2 folder, change openrct2.exe to rct2.exe volia.

No OpenRCT please. I want to use THE ORIGINAL .exe

[Amazing Sun]

Originally posted by MtheAX:

Originally posted by Amazing Sun:

change ur rct2.exe to rct2.exe old/rct2.exe backup, download open rct2 and copy it to your rct2 folder, change openrct2.exe to rct2.exe volia.

No OpenRCT please. I want to use THE ORIGINAL .exe

then you should just vertify the game. change the compatibility and run as admin.

[aphrodites_poison]

for me it worked to go to game folder and there is install sub-folder, run the setup exe and overwrite the files in steamapps common folder. I also run compatibility mode for win10, but I use win11. yesterday I tested openrct2 and its really a lot better, i love original, but to play that game in 1440p and 16:9 with gamespeed settings and so much quality of life. i love it, but like I said I was able to play the orig files under win11

[A cool Guy]

Originally posted by MtheAX:

I was actually able to run RCT Deluxe a few weeks ago natively on Windows 11 but it took a lot of trial and error. Here is my tutorial:

Go to compatibility tab in properties of RCT.exe and select:

Windows XP (Service Pack 2)

Reduce color mode 16 Bit

Run in 640x480 screen resolution

Run this program as an administrator

Override high DPI scaling behavior. Scaling performed by: Application (in "Change high DPI settings" tab right under "Use legacy display ICC color management")

This not only allowed me to run the original RCT.exe with all its DLCs, but also fixed crashes and bugs with right clicking in game. But unfortunately none of this can be said about RCT2. It is still stuck in "No CD" and if I try to install it via original installer, it won't launch what so ever

I got RCT2 to work by having another partition on my hard drive for Win 10 it worked but now I can't get RCT3 to work :eyeroll

[trixtee246]

Originally posted by MtheAX:

Title says it all. I am tired of hearing that OpenRCT2 is THE way to play. I want to run the original exe and experience the game with it's original bugs and quirks

Run the game in compatibility mode. You can do this by:
1. Find the game in your steam library
2. click on the settings gear on the right hand side
3. click on manage under the drop down menu
4. click on "browse local files" under the manage menu
5. once file explorer has opened, right click on the "RCT2" Game file and click on properties
6. on the top bar of the properties window, there should be a box with "compatibility" written inside, click on this box
7. within there, there should be a checkbox at the top of the menu marked "Run in Compatibility Mode", check this box
8. From the Drop down menu below, choose "Windows XP (Service Pack 3)"
9. Click "Apply" and close the window
10. Run the game from steam, it should now run like normal

[Jakob Fel]

I played the crap out of both games for years before I even heard of OpenRCT2... but I couldn't ever go back. While the bugs and jank are charming, they're not worth the hassle. Just use OpenRCT2, I bet even Chris Sawyer himself would say the same thing...