Looking back, childhood ambitions certainly had some wild and volatile times. It has been all too common for an impressionable mind to cling to changing ideas of a dream job, and to find intense awe in various professions with positive media representation, from archaeologist to pilot and more.
The idea of being able to experience these different lives without risking real-world consequences fueled the boom in simulation and mogul games in the early 2000s, inviting players to live out some of their fantasies. While this genre has now passed its peak, Two points Studios And the parent company Sega She has kept her spirit alive through two outings in recent years – A hospital First, followed by A Campus.
As it turns out, the third time is still the charm. Two Point Museum It shifts its focus from the medical or academic setting to a natural history museum that requires maintenance and operation, and features a familiar core gameplay loop that includes organizing space, building facilities, managing cash flow, and growing the business. This time around, the risk-reward factor is upped by a final take on its classic formula, with a hands-on preview proving to be a fun and charming affair that paints an optimistic future for the next management simulator.
Despite the new museum-focused development, the opening chapter, which functions primarily as a tutorial, immediately radiates a comforting presence. It inherits the bright, whimsical aesthetic of its predecessors, conveyed through clean user interface (UI) elements like menu views, and does a good job of welcoming newcomers. No prior understanding of previous titles is necessary, and the controls are mostly intuitive and easy to understand. Non-visual learners may need some time to overcome the lack of literary and written instruction, but everything will fall into place nicely after the initial hurdle.
Instead of building hospital beds and classrooms, Two Point Museum Players are tasked with building exhibits, collecting donations, hiring staff, and maintaining cleanliness levels to attract visitors and increase participation. All of this is pretty standard fare until the hook sets in – where progress and expansion were previously restricted by money, exhibits occupy the inhibiting role here.
Look, these artifacts don't just magically appear in the game. Experts will have to embark on expeditions around the world to recover it, and there are always risks involved, whether it's sustaining injuries, encountering traps, or getting lost in a dense forest. Even the safest option is not without consequences – returning with tar-covered shoes, for example, leaves dirty trails through the museum, requiring a concierge to clean them up while the employee rests in the staff lounge, potentially leading to a workforce crisis if staffing is low. These quests take place off-screen and take a fair amount of time, with higher stakes and an extended travel window that results in rare, high-quality loot.
This risk-reward incentive provides a refreshing break for franchise veterans, who now have more agency than before. The first attraction, which has a prehistoric theme, builds its identity around dinosaur bones, fossils, and other ancient relics found in various locations on the map, and is unlocked by achieving various museum landmarks. Since there is no fixed order in which to visit them, players are free to chart a path that suits their current goals, as long as the basic requirements for each location are met. Various privileges can also be selected to reduce, but not eliminate, risks, which are provided by experts with a specific field specialization.
While exploration unfolds in the background, the interior space needs sprucing up. Two Point Museum It opens up a lot of scope for personal customization, packing in additional bells and whistles like extendable walls, arches, and new floor types. In fact, the emphasis on clothing to impress is stronger here – the exhibits have to look good, and players can place decorative items around the centerpiece to increase the attraction. If it's completely consistent with the topic, even better.
But aesthetics are only one part of the equation. Visitor engagement is equally important, especially when there are different types of guests to please in the game. For average museum-goers, information boards do the job by providing additional knowledge, but kids won't be as interested in the educational aspect. This is where the interactive exhibits come in handy, keeping their interest levels high as they roam throughout the space.
Then, there's the monetization part. The experience of running a museum makes it more of a businessman title than the previous two outings, with the player's various actions able to influence cash flow. For starters, gift shop prices and admission tickets are adjustable, while strategically placed donation boxes bring in a little extra cash. Sometimes Two Point County – where the games take place – will loan an item to players for a set period and reward them with a free amount of money if it attracts a certain amount of interest. The problem is that it's usually a boring piece of art, like an ordinary-looking wood sculpture. Health and safety inspection visits have also returned, so it's essential to regularly keep the museum looking its best.
All of these considerations provide welcome depth to the overall gameplay and are more than enough to keep people busy (in a good way). As fans of the genre know, there's always a lot to juggle, along with administrative tasks Two Point Museum It's split between maintaining morale, employee training, role assignments, and more. It can be exhausting keeping track of the events, and it's easy to get swept up in the whole thing, but Part 2 finds a silver lining in its slower pace.
Where individuals had to attack the requirements in hospital and campus Given its strict nature, the sense of urgency is not strong here. There is no time limit allotted for constructing the exhibits, allowing them to be conveniently organized or rearranged to the point of satisfaction. This process is more therapeutic than expected, sparking a feeling of accomplishment even when creativity is low. As the museum begins to grow, so do the pressures to perform; Fortunately, it stays at a fun level and doesn't turn into a challenging or hardcore area.
It certainly helps to maintain the series' clever humor. Like its predecessors, Two Point Museum It features commentary from PA Tannoy, who is as entertaining as ever. The fun atmosphere makes it easy to spark a smile or a surprised laugh during witty banter, like when she asks for direct donations from visitors when they can't locate donation boxes.
The gameplay mechanics offer the same entertaining touch as well. Placing a frozen caveman in a non-cold environment causes the ice to melt and run around the museums causing chaos. The scene may be fun, but the incident highlights the importance of meeting the conditions. The restriction plays a more prominent role in the second act, which opens up an additional museum with marine life or supernatural themes.
Regardless of the choice, players will have to build the game from scratch again using a separate set of finances, manpower, and resources. The aquarium was chosen for this preview, allowing access to more fish of different quality that live in different water climates – for example, temperate species cannot survive outside the average temperature range, while tropical species require a heater in the tank.
Expeditions work in the same way, allowing the discovery of new underwater species with a similar list of potential dangers. But what's most notable is its distinct flair from the first design, offering a mix of interior and exterior elements, as well as new construction options like a coffee maker. Rows of aquariums, bathed in a warm blue glow, exude inviting tranquility and serve as a juxtaposition against the bustle of the garden.
The gameplay mechanics remain, for the most part, unchanged, promising a smooth transition from one museum to the next. Conversely, this also means that the weak point of the game has been carried over – players will not be able to progress through the stages if they are unable to achieve their achievements or are in a constant state of financial loss.
In keeping with its flexible nature, Two Point Museum It will include museums and crossover elements once it opens, bringing the likes of the terrifying Swim Reaper fish, the Exterragator, a prehistoric aquatic skeleton, and marine life, to the shared exhibits. There wasn't room to try it out during the preview, but the premise is a tantalizing introduction to the studio's powerful creative muscles, and it'll be fun to see its full potential unfold throughout the game.
Meanwhile, excitement is brewing for a return to Two Point County. There's no other management segment quite like it Two Point Museum On the market, with its refreshing formula that provides time-wasting pleasure and reveals the joy of discovery. Being a manager is hard work, and a little optimism certainly wouldn't hurt.
Opening of the Two Point Museum March 4, 2025 For PC, Mac, Linux, PS5 and Xbox Series
Si Jia is a casual geek at heart — or as casual as someone who has a Sephiroth theme on her Spotify playlist. A fan of Japanese movies, games, and culture, Si Jia's greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any sale on Steam, really.
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