Planet Zoo

Pros

• Beautiful gameworld with eye-catching animals
• Wonderful mechanics that are very difficult to master
• A diverse array of game modes to chose from

Cons

• Some graphical glitches with animals
• Online features seem like an afterthought
• Caring for certain animals can be confusing

Planet Zoo is an immersive simulation game that challenges you to create a world-class zoo that is entertaining for guests and a place where animals can thrive.

Management simulators are incredibly popular, and Planet Zoo has quickly become one of the most beloved games within that genre. The team over at Frontier Developments essentially designed this game to be a successor to Zoo Tycoon, and those who loved that older title are sure to enjoy Planet Zoo. Every single animal and guest in Planet Zoo is controlled by AI, and that gives the gameworld a realistic feel. If you are a fan of animals and management simulators, then Planet Zoo could be the perfect game for you.

Just like many of the other games in this genre, Planet Zoo challenges you to run a financially successful business, but the welfare of your animals is just as important as your finances. There are currently four different game types to choose from, and each campaign is going to have its own unique challenges. Those who enjoy more relaxed games might want to start off with the sandbox mode. That particular mode allows you to casually build a zoo at your own pace, and there are very few obstacles to worry about.

If you would like more of a challenge, then you will probably want to go with the career mode. That mode is the heart of this game, and it can be very difficult depending on how well you can control your animals. During a career campaign, the primary goal is to build up your zoo until you have at least 50 animals. Throughout that type of game, you are going to run into a wide variety of issues ranging from animal escapes to protesters. Those obstacles won’t be difficult at first, but they are going to become much more complicated as time goes on.

While the financial aspects of this game can be interesting, you are quickly going to realize that animal management was what the creators focused on. The sheer amount of factors that must be considered for each animal is staggering, and you are going to find yourself dealing with some unique issues. That includes the placement of each animal’s habitat, how much space they are given, and what types of foods they are fed. Some animals will even become unhappy if they are constantly exposed to a stream of visitors without having any privacy.

The average player will probably spend most of their time in the career mode, but there are some other interesting features as well. Planet Zoo’s franchise mode basically merges the sandbox and career modes, and it might be a good option if you want to work with other players online. In franchise mode, you can build connected zoos all over the world and breed popular animals. As your zoos grow in franchise mode, you can go online and trade your extra animals with other players. You are also going to receive additional points and extra money if you are able to bring endangered species back to healthy population levels.

Where this game truly stands out is the beautiful world where players can lose themselves. Whenever you bring new animals into your zoo, you will be able to spend hours following them all over their habitats. The animals were expertly made, and the sounds you hear are incredibly accurate. While there are going to be a few graphical glitches when certain animals interact with environmental features, those issues are fairly rare. As an added bonus, the developers have promised to continue releasing patches until all of those problems are taken care of.

Some of the online features in this game are mediocre, but the franchise and career modes make Planet Zoo a world-class title. If you are an animal lover, then you will easily be able to spend hours in the sandbox mode watching and interacting with all of the animals that this game has included. Overall, Planet Zoo is an eye-catching and complex simulator that is perfect for those who enjoy animals as well as strategy enthusiasts.

Pros

• Beautiful gameworld with eye-catching animals
• Wonderful mechanics that are very difficult to master
• A diverse array of game modes to chose from

Cons

• Some graphical glitches with animals
• Online features seem like an afterthought
• Caring for certain animals can be confusing