Review of Two Point Museum for PS5

Two Point Museum is a game that captivates players with its engaging gameplay, making it easy to lose track of time. As a follow-up to Two Point Hospital and Two Point Campus, this game offers players a variety of tasks, such as developing new exhibits, training staff members, or sending teams on expeditions to discover new artifacts.

If you’ve enjoyed games like Theme Park or Theme Hospital, you’ll find Two Point Museum familiar and enjoyable. In this game, you advance through a campaign that spans multiple unique museums, each featuring its own theme and gameplay mechanics. For example, the beginning of the game introduces you to a museum dedicated to prehistoric animals, but soon you will manage an aquarium or even a spooky museum focused on the supernatural. There’s also a sandbox mode that allows for more creative freedom if you prefer not to follow a strict campaign.

Each level of the game has a solid structure where you create exhibits to draw in visitors. You can enhance the exhibits with decorations and add information boards to educate guests. Some exhibits might require environmental controls, like cooling systems, while others demand careful upkeep to avoid spoilage. Keeping everything in good condition encourages visitors to donate, which supports your museum.

As you continue to develop your museums, you can send staff on expeditions to uncover new exhibits, adding an element of unpredictability. Sometimes, the staff may face challenges such as injuries or unexpected situations that make progress difficult. To mitigate risks, you can train your staff and provide them with useful items to minimize issues.

As in any management simulation, you must keep an eye on your guests’ well-being. Visitors can tire out while exploring, so it’s essential to provide benches and coffee stands to keep them refreshed. Your staff’s happiness is equally important; if they feel unfulfilled, they may leave, which can complicate your museum’s operation.

Balancing all these aspects, along with the overall aesthetic and flow of your museums, is crucial for achieving success. The difficulty levels rise gradually, requiring you to develop more strategic management skills to maintain customer satisfaction while ensuring that your galleries run smoothly. This classic loop in gameplay continues to be enjoyable and is executed exceptionally well in Two Point Museum.

The game also introduces unique features, like the supernatural museum where you can create viewing areas for friendly poltergeists. However, designing spaces that cater to their preferences is critical; otherwise, they might escape and cause chaos for your guests. Even when a museum is mostly complete, the need for ongoing micromanagement keeps you engaged, as you’ll find yourself constantly improving your setup to boost your earnings.

A fun aspect of the gameplay is the unlock system that rewards you with new furniture and features, many of which can be purely decorative or serve practical purposes. It’s entertaining to zoom in on the individual interactions between guests and staff with the new items, showcasing impressive animations.

A standout feature is the in-game radio, which humorously critiques modern media, providing a light-hearted touch to the experience. The Announcements over the speakers echo a similar irreverent humor that fans of Theme Hospital are likely to enjoy.

One critique of the game is that it can feel awkward when played with a controller. Although developers have worked diligently to improve navigation, some tasks, like menu selection, might be more straightforward with a mouse. Additionally, players may find the font size a bit small on larger screens, particularly when using a couch setup.

Overall, Two Point Museum effectively applies a successful gameplay formula to a fresh theme. With a great mix of humor, engaging mechanics, and a satisfying difficulty curve, it’s a game that invites players into an immersive tycoon experience. However, those who usually don’t enjoy management simulation games may still not find this title to their taste.