ParkRating · Methodology
Evaluation Criteria
Our park ratings are split into five main categories: Coasters, Rides, Park, Food, and Management. Each category is driven by two specific criteria, scored from 0 to 10, and the overall rating is the balanced average of all five categories.
Disclaimer: These reviews reflect our personal experiences and opinions from the day of our visit. Please do not hold us liable if you suddenly find yourself falling in love with a new manufacturer or swearing by a ride we did not love quite as much!
How scoring works
Every coaster and category is scored from 0–10 based on our experience. Because different ride types aim for different experiences, our expectations shift depending on whether we are reviewing a Thrill Coaster or a Family Coaster.
In extremely rare cases, a truly standout criterion may break the scale and earn a Golden 11.
Our coaster ratings
Our rating system spans the entire spectrum of coaster experiences. You might find our scores stricter than typical review sites or YouTubers, but that is by design.
We do not just hand out a 7 or 8 because we had fun; we critically weigh a ride's strengths against every coaster we have ridden globally. Similarly, we reserve a 1 or 2 exclusively for the absolute worst thrill rides or the most mundane junior coasters.
Think of our scale like IMDb or Metacritic:
Thrill Dynamics
Thrill coasters naturally score higher due to their intensity. Even a flawed, rough thrill ride usually stays above a 4.0 simply because the baseline thrill still provides enjoyment. Our perfect thrill coaster combines long duration, high intensity, relentless pacing, and forceful elements.
Family Appeal
Because they lack extreme intensity, family coasters generally score lower. Standard family rides usually sit in the 4–5 range, while smaller junior coasters fall into the 2–3 range. Elite 'family-thrill' coasters can reach the 6–7 range, but exceeding a 7 is rare. Our ideal family coaster delivers a long, incredibly smooth ride with immersive theming and unique elements.
| Score | Thrill Coasters | Family Coasters |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | GOATED | |
| 10 | World Class | |
| 9.0 - 9.5 | Elite | |
| 8.0 - 8.5 | Great thrill coaster | Extraordinary Family coaster |
| 7.0 - 7.5 | Good Thrill coaster | Elite Family coaster |
| 6.0 - 6.5 | Solid Thrill coaster | Great Family coaster |
| 5.0 - 5.5 | Okay Thrill coaster | Good Family coaster |
| 4.0 - 4.5 | Mediocre Thrill coaster | Decent Family coaster |
| 3.0 - 3.5 | Poor Thrill coaster | Average Family coaster |
| 2.0 - 2.5 | Terrible Thrill coaster | Small or mediocre family coaster |
| 0.5 - 1.5 | Completely worthless | |
Category Breakdown
The detailed metrics behind the numbers.
Coasters
Best Coaster
The quality of the parks best coaster
Criteria
- Theming and immersion
- Coaster Layout and its elements
- Length and Duration
- Pacing and flow
- Thrills and intensity
- Smoothness and comfortability
- Overall experience
Rules
- Only one coaster in a park can be best coaster, if another gets best coaster the previous loses it
- If a coaster is closed on first visit, we can't rate it and therefore, can't be best coaster
- If a coaster is closed on a revisit, we can't change its score
Coaster Depth
The depth and quality of the coaster lineup, excluding best coaster
Criteria
- Overall quantity of supporting coasters
- How good is the second best coaster in the park
- Variation - having different types of coasters
- Coverage - Having seveal family and thrill coaster and also something for children
Rules
- Children’s rides are excluded
- Best coaster is excluded
- If a ride is closed during our first visit, we can't rate it
- If a ride is closed during a revisit, we can't change its score
Rides
Water Rides
The overall quality and quantity of the park’s waterride line-up.
Criteria
- How many? We expect a park to have 2, more is a bonus and less is a negative
- Quality in terms of theming, immersion, smoothness and uniqueness
- We tend to rank waterrides with thrills and wetness higher
Rules
- Self-operated boats are excluded
- We don't ride children flumes or splash-battle rides but they can give small bonus to score
Flatrides and Darkrides
The quality and variety of flat rides and dark rides in the park
Criteria
- The overall amount of flatrides the park has
- Flatride coverage, does the park have flatrides for all age groups?
- Standout flatrides, most notibly thrill flatrides our unqiue, high quality flats
- Darkrides, having no darkrides in the park is a negative but having multiple is seen as a bonus
Rules
- Simulators and showrides are counted as darkrides
- We do not count purely upcharge attractions
Park
Park Appearance
The overall look, theming, and atmosphere across the entire park.
Criteria
- The Parks location and surroundings
- Theming throughout the park and in queues
- Immersion, being immersed in the themes or events at the park
- Cleanliness, pathsways being clean, rides and theming being in good condition
- Natural beauty, greenery, landscaping etc.
Park Practicality
How practical and convenient the park is to explore and use.
Criteria
- Park app
- Signage / navigation
- Park layout
- Ride entrance locations
- Facility placements
- Benches / bins / shading
Food
Food
The quality and variety of meals available throughout the park.
Criteria
- Quality
- Selection / variation
Snacks & Drinks
The availability and quality of smaller snack and beverage options.
Criteria
- Quality
- Variety of snacks and drinks
- Selection / variation
Management
Ride Operations
How efficiently and reliably the rides are operated each day.
Criteria
- Speed of dispatches
- Trains in operation / staging
- Queue handling
- Passenger interactions
- Ride breakdowns
Park Management
How the park is managed, organized, and run overall.
Criteria
- Facility closures
- General service
- Park policies
- Staggered openings
- Parking fees
- Merchandise