Download Planet Zoo and build your own zoo
Frontier is a well-known name in the game industry, especially when it comes to simulation games. Planet Zoo is one of their best-selling titles—and with stunning, realistic graphics, challenging gameplay, and tools that let you command both the animals and their environments, its popularity makes perfect sense.
In this article, we share our take on Planet Zoo and comment on several of its expansion packs, so you can get an overview of what the game offers and who it’s for.
Sink your teeth into a wealth of extra content (DLC)
Since the original release in 2019, a lot of additional content has been made available for purchase, granting access to more animals, more scenery, and even bigger challenges. You can stay up to date on the latest updates on Planet Zoo’s news page, which continuously showcases upcoming content.
For example, the Europe Pack adds a wide range of European buildings and decorations, as well as animals found in the wild across Europe—from reindeer and arctic foxes to badgers and the Eurasian lynx. You’ll also find DLC focused on aquatic life, African animals, and much more.
Ease of use
The game isn’t exactly the most beginner-friendly on the market, for several reasons. First, there are a lot of menus to learn; and because the experience aims to be as realistic as possible, various mechanics can be tough for newcomers to grasp.
The animals have many needs, which means you’ll need to think economically, strategically, and realistically when you start building their enclosures. In other words, you should understand general gameplay, how simulation games work, and a bit about real-world animal care.
That said, there’s also a tutorial that gets you up to speed; and as long as you’re adaptable, you’ll be fine. Don’t get discouraged by the steep learning curve—focus instead on the game’s unmatched visuals and adorable animals.
Choose animals from different climates and tailor the park to their needs
When building your first zoo, you’ll pick a place in the world to begin your journey. There are predefined climates and biomes for your park. You can choose from the following options:
- Savanna
- Rainforest
- Temperate
- Taiga
- Desert
- Tundra
Depending on which biome you choose, some species will thrive more than others—and that matters if you want the best possible park. So if you’ve already fallen in love with the super-cute polar bears, or you’re into majestic lions or one of the fascinating exotic snake species, it’s worth planning ahead for where they’ll thrive before you start building.
Of course, you can create more than one park so you can include all your favorite animals even if they don’t belong to the same biome. However, since the game’s systems can be complex, it’s usually smartest to start with a single park you can focus your time on.
Manage more than just animals — park maintenance
Some classic simulation games—like the original RollerCoaster Tycoon titles—were fairly simple in their systems. Planet Zoo isn’t; its systems are highly intricate, covering finances, guest and animal satisfaction, and even a dynamic weather system.
For some players (especially those with less experience), it can definitely be a mouthful—maybe even too much—to keep track of all the scenarios you need to consider before building a habitat.
You’ll hire staff to maintain the park, sell merchandise to visitors, clean restrooms, run food stalls, care for the animals, and research their health, genetics, and disease history.
You’ll also want the park to look great—many players choose a specific theme that reflects their vision or matches the animals found in the zoo.
Can’t get enough simulation games?
When you’re done with Planet Zoo, you can dive into Jurassic World Evolution: 2, which is also created by Frontier Developments. In this game, you’ll channel the Jurassic films and build a dinosaur paradise while making sure the prehistoric beasts don’t break out or kill each other.
Sims 4 is the game for those more interested in people than animals. In The Sims world, it’s up to you to create a family or a single character and take control. Then make sure their needs are met and their lives become unique and fulfilling.
If you’re not tired of animals yet, try playing Fishing Planet completely free—this is a fishing simulation game where you can compete for the best catch with players from around the world.
Conclusion
Planet Zoo is a gorgeous game packed with exciting elements that will challenge more experienced simulation fans. If this is your first sim, Planet Zoo may feel a bit too complex.
Fortunately, you can play in Sandbox mode and focus on building beautiful parks and adopting cute animals without worrying too much about budgets—or whether your coolers break in the snow leopard enclosure.
Download Planet Zoo
