Two Point Museum Review (PS5, Xbox Series X|S & PC)

Two Point Museum is a game-changer for the Two Point series. With its expanded gameplay, refined mechanics, and diverse museum types, it sets a new standard for the franchise. Two Point Studios has built a strong reputation for delivering lighthearted yet deep management sims. From the hospital halls of Two Point Hospital to the bustling student life in Two Point Campus, the series has always blended humor, strategy, and creativity in a way that few games do. Now, with Two Point Museum, the studio takes that formula and expands it in exciting new directions. But does it live up to its predecessors? Let’s find out from this review.

A Fresh Start at Momento Mile

Your journey begins at Momento Mile, a small prehistoric museum in need of a curator. Naturally, players step into the role and begin learning the basics of museum management. Unlike some simulation games that overwhelm players with complicated tutorials, Two Point Museum strikes a perfect balance between guidance and freedom.

The game starts by walking players through key mechanics, like hiring staff, placing exhibits, and managing visitor satisfaction. However, it doesn’t hold your hand for too long. Once players have grasped the basics, it lets them experiment and learn through play, giving them room to discover strategies on their own.

One amazing design choice is how the game uses humor to offer guidance. If you forget to place donation boxes, the in-game announcer sarcastically remarks, “The museum will no longer be accepting donations… because we don’t have any donation boxes.” Instead of forcing reminders through boring pop-ups, the game finds funny, natural ways to keep you on track.

Notably, Momento Mile acts as a tutorial, but it’s also a fully fleshed-out museum that gives you a taste of what’s to come. As players progress, they unlock bigger and more complex museum types, each with its own unique challenges.

Apart from Momento, the game also features one of the most exciting twists. In the Haunted Hotel Museum, players display ghostly artifacts and captured spirits. But ghosts don’t like being ignored! If they’re unhappy, they might escape and cause chaos. Then, there’s the Marine Life Museum, where players explore underwater wonders. On the other hand, the Science Museum focuses on futuristic inventions. The final challenge is the Space Museum, where you bring the mysteries of the universe to life. Ultimately, the story unfolds through your choices and creativity, making every playthrough feel unique.

Building a Museum Empire

Like the previous Two Point games, Two Point Museum follows a campaign mode that gradually introduces new mechanics. That means players don’t just run a single museum. They expand their influence across five different locations, each with a unique theme and set of challenges.

You start small, managing Momento Mile, a modest museum featuring fossils and ancient artifacts. As you progress, you unlock locations that introduce new exhibit styles. From a haunted museum full of ghosts to a marine life center filled with underwater wonders, each area feels distinct.

Setting up exhibits is simple yet rewarding. You choose what to display, where to place it, and how to decorate the space to maximize visitor interest. Unlike Two Point Hospital, where you arrange medical rooms, you have much more freedom to personalize layouts. This means you can create themed sections, add decorations, and even guide visitors through the amazingly designed pathways.

What makes it so engaging is that no two museums feel the same. Players are constantly adjusting their approach to fit each location’s unique theme. Do you want to create an eerie haunted house experience? Go for it. Do you prefer a sleek and futuristic science museum? That’s an option too. Dream of building a cosmic wonderland in the Space Museum? The possibilities are endless. This level of creativity makes the experience feel less like a structured management sim and more like a sandbox for imaginative ideas.

The Thrill of Discovering New Artifacts

One of the most enjoyable aspects of Two Point Museum is finding new exhibits. Unlike Two Point Hospital, where patients walk in needing treatment, here you have to actively search for new items. Now, this is where expeditions come into play. Players must hire experts, send them out on digs, and hope they return with something exciting. It’s a simple but addictive loop. There’s a thrill in uncovering rare artifacts or completing a set, like finally finding the last piece of a dinosaur skeleton.

However, since discoveries are randomized, there’s always the chance of getting duplicates. While this can be frustrating, it also adds a layer of strategy. Sometimes, players have to decide whether to sell off extra pieces or find creative ways to repurpose them in your museum.

Each expedition location offers a limited number of rewards, so eventually, players will have to move on to new sites. While the process itself is fun, it can sometimes feel a little repetitive, especially when you’re getting the same item multiple times. A bit more variety in the expedition mechanics would have helped keep things fresh.

Managing Staff, Visitors, and Ghosts!

A museum is nothing without its staff. Just like in Two Point Hospital and Two Point Campus, hiring the right people is crucial to running a successful operation. Experts lead expeditions and analyze artifacts. On the other hand, assistants manage ticket booths and gift shops. Janitors keep everything clean, and security guards prevent theft.

Yes, theft is a real issue in Two Point Museum! Visitors don’t just admire exhibits; some are looking for a chance to steal valuable artifacts. Without enough security, you might find all the displays missing. While this adds an interesting challenge, crime happens a bit too frequently. Sometimes, it makes the game feel more like a heist simulator than a museum management sim.

Then there are the ghosts. The Haunted Museum isn’t just about displaying eerie artifacts. Players must keep spirits happy, which is as hilarious as it sounds. Imagine trying to manage the mood of the spirits. Interestingly, if they’re not content, they might escape their exhibits and cause chaos. To keep them satisfied, players must decorate their displays to match their era and even schedule therapy sessions with the experts.

This supernatural twist brings humor and variety to the gameplay. While it’s far from historical accuracy, it adds a unique and entertaining challenge to the game. It makes the Haunted Museum feel completely different from the others.

Balancing Creativity and Chaos

While Two Point Museum offers plenty of freedom and creativity, it also requires careful management. Simply filling your museum with cool artifacts isn’t enough. You have to balance budgets, keep visitors entertained, and deal with unexpected problems.

Visitors have different needs. Some are eager to learn, while others just want a fun day out. If exhibits aren’t engaging enough, they’ll lose interest. If there aren’t enough gift shops and food stalls, they’ll leave unhappy. Finding the right balance is important to maximizing profits and museum ratings.

The game also introduces buzz levels, which determine how much attention your museum gets. To increase buzz, you need to advertise, improve exhibits, and offer interactive experiences. It’s a great system that rewards players for continuously upgrading and enhancing their museum rather than just setting things up and letting them run on autopilot.

However, one minor issue is the lack of notifications for certain problems. Sometimes, players will pan over a gift shop and realize the staff member has left, creating a long queue. Or you might find that a vending machine has been empty for ages, with frustrated visitors waiting. More alerts and reminders would have made managing everything smoother in this simulation game.

Sandbox Mode – Where the Real Fun Begins

Once players have completed enough of the campaign, sandbox mode opens up. This is where the game truly shines. You get complete freedom to design your dream museum without restrictions. Even better, sandbox mode is highly customizable. Players can adjust difficulty settings, choose themes, and even turn off crime if they’re tired of thieves ruining their exhibits.

Additionally, if you enjoy building without financial pressure, this mode is perfect. You can experiment with layouts, create unique themes, and focus purely on aesthetics. It’s the best way to fully explore all the creative possibilities the museum has to offer.

Verdict

Two Point Museum successfully captures the magic of previous Two Point games while offering something fresh. The ability to design and customize museums is incredibly fun. The expedition system, ghost mechanics, and crime management add layers of depth and challenge.

However, the game isn’t perfect. Crime can feel a little too frequent, and the lack of some notifications can make management frustrating at times. But these are minor issues in an otherwise fantastic game.

If you loved Two Point Hospital or Two Point Campus, this is a must-play. If you’re new to the series but enjoy management sims, it’s a great entry point. The humor, charm, and engaging mechanics make it one of the best simulation games of the year.