Play Theme Park (E) Online

Game Overview

Theme Park on the DS is one of those games that makes you lose track of time—you start by plopping down a rollercoaster or two, and suddenly it’s been an hour and your park is a mess of overlapping paths and grumpy visitors. The controls take a minute to get used to (it’s a port of an older PC game, after all), but once you do, there’s something weirdly satisfying about tweaking ride prices just enough to squeeze extra cash out of guests without making them storm off.

The graphics are simple but colorful, and I love how the little peeps react when rides break down—they throw their arms up like it’s the end of the world. Pro tip: don’t ignore the food stalls early on, or you’ll end up with a park full of hangry tourists. It’s not the deepest sim out there, but it’s perfect for short bursts of chaos between bus rides or waiting rooms.