Planet Coaster 2 is Frontier Developments' theme park builder, released on 6 November 2024, eight years after the original. The headline addition is water: pools, flumes, lifeguards and a filtration system now sit alongside the coaster track editor. It ships with three modes, Career, Sandbox and Franchise, plus five themes, the original Placo theme along with Viking, Mythology, Aquatic and Resort. Career runs from a prologue called First Drop through chapters with names such as Rolling With It and Twisting Tracks, and rides no longer just work when you place them: generators, distributors and power cables have to reach them first.
Resource management and crafting determine how quickly your power scales. This guide covers what to prioritize, where to farm, and how to avoid wasting resources on the wrong upgrades.
Crafting Priority List
The order you should invest resources:
| Priority | Target | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Primary equipment | Biggest damage increase per resource spent |
| 2 | Core build gear | Enables your build's key combinations |
| 3 | Defensive upgrades | Survivability for boss fights |
| 4 | Secondary equipment | Situational options for specific content |
| 5 | Consumables | Temporary boosts for hard content |
Resource Farming by Area
Keys to the Coaster
Key resources: Core building tutorial, first star objectives Farming efficiency: Low value per run, but safe and consistent
Focus on gathering materials for Flume builder upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
In the Swim of Things
Key resources: Water park fundamentals, lifeguard and filtration tutorial Farming efficiency: Good early-game farming spot
Focus on gathering materials for Flume builder upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
A Shore Thing
Key resources: Mixed park objectives, Resort theme practice Farming efficiency: Best mid-game farming, worth revisiting
Focus on gathering materials for Flume builder upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Summit Awesome
Key resources: Advanced terrain and Prestige objectives Farming efficiency: High-value materials for late-game upgrades
This is where you farm materials for Coaster track editor max upgrades. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Double Trouble
Key resources: Late campaign objectives, dual-park management practice Farming efficiency: Best resources in the game, requires strong build
This is where you farm materials for Coaster track editor max upgrades. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Upgrade Path
Early Game (Keys to the Coaster to In the Swim of Things)
- Upgrade your starting equipment to functional level
- Craft basic defensive gear
- Save specialty materials, since you'll need them later
- Focus on Flume builder once accessible
Mid Game (A Shore Thing)
- Push Flume builder to mid-level upgrades
- Start collecting materials for Coaster track editor
- Craft situational consumables for boss fights
- Upgrade build-specific gear pieces
Late Game (Summit Awesome to Double Trouble)
- Max out Coaster track editor. This is your top priority
- Complete your build's core gear set
- Craft endgame consumables
- Optional: upgrade secondary equipment for variety
Crafting Mistakes to Avoid
- Spreading upgrades across multiple equipment: Focus one weapon to max before diversifying.
- Hoarding materials: Use them. The game provides enough if you farm efficiently.
- Upgrading the wrong gear: Check our builds guide before investing.
- Ignoring A Shore Thing farming: This area has the best resource-to-time ratio in mid-game.
- Crafting consumables too early: Save specialty materials for late-game recipes.
Resource Efficiency Tips
- Ride Attendants are a hard requirement in the sequel. Without one assigned to a ride or a transport station, guests physically cannot board, and the ride sits there earning nothing.
- Farm A Shore Thing during mid-game for the best return on time
- Check the walkthrough to know when each resource becomes available
- Match your farming route to your build. Some classes farm faster in certain areas
More Planet Coaster 2 Guides
- Planet Coaster 2 Planet Coaster 2 Overview
- Planet Coaster 2 Best Builds
- Planet Coaster 2 Tier List
- Planet Coaster 2 Walkthrough
- Planet Coaster 2 Beginner's Guide
- Planet Coaster 2 Tips & Tricks
- Planet Coaster 2 Weapons Guide
- Planet Coaster 2 Combat Guide
- Planet Coaster 2 Boss Guide
- Planet Coaster 2 Maps & Locations
- Planet Coaster 2 Classes & Characters
Similar Games
If you enjoy Planet Coaster 2, check out these related guides:
- Cities: Skylines Crafting Guide: city-builder game with similar mechanics
- Manor Lords Crafting Guide: city-builder game with similar mechanics
- Timberborn Crafting Guide: city-builder game with similar mechanics
