Planet Zoo

Frontier milked the hell out of this game with overpriced DLC (a habit they've continued since in their other games). It's a zoo builder game where a stupidly large proportion of the animals are locked behind further paywalls: 80 included in base game + updates 132 in paid DLC 62% of the game's animals are locked behind paid DLC. To me that's a disproportionate amount. It makes obtaining the complete game cost way more than it'll ever be worth (even in sales). This lack of reasonable pricing, disproportionate amount of DLC and lack of bug fixes for long standing issues show exactly where Frontier's focus lies.

The game is great for educating the player on the animals thanks to its fantastic 'zoopedia' resource, with a key focus on conservation. Yes, the building and pathing mechanics are awkward (over 100 hours of gameplay I am still no master with these). Yes, the game has a lot of depth meaning there is a lot to learn. Yes, the amount of DLC is overwhelming. However, having perfected the game I still happily eat away time creating (semi)beautiful habitats for my animals! I also really enjoyed the career mode which offered a variety of challenging scenarios. Its not perfect, but its a yes from me.

it is fun because theres so many animals to learn about and you can use creativity. and in the zoopedia it has the info about the animal so you can read that.

Yes, I'd recommend, but it may not be the game you're expecting. I say that because I'm a long time fan of building games/ (25 yrs on RCT at this point.) Planet Zoo is awesome and the customization and design is literallly endless. It even has an endless mode to juild build cool stuff without the stress of animal//guest welfare and no finances. As awesome as that is though, I cannot stress this enough. If you haven't played this game before, do NOT skip the tutorials. This game goes real real deep into the care of your animals and guests as well as financial management. It really is overwhelming. but the tutorials are pretty good at getting you to focus on a few smaller things so the menus make more sense. I'm having a blast and I do recommend, but it is not necessarily a game you can just sit down and play off the bat.... or you could, but I'd assum,e you'll get very overwhelmed and quit pretty fast.

i mean, i love this game. its relaxing and fun and a while it feels nothing like the original zoo tycoon games it scratches the same itch. but unfortunately, i just cant support the way they release dlcs; they are far too many in quantity and are severely overpriced for what you get in them. in general i hate when games introduce excessive paid dlcs, but i hate even more when they add little of substance to the game- which is, unfortunately, the case with planet zoo. there are definitely a few packs that add a significant (although still not, in my opinion, worthwhile) amount of new content, but the vast majority of them end up feeling like the same animals and mechanics as before but with a new skin. tldr: the base game is fun and i would recommend the game if it werent for the fact that the dlcs are small, overpriced, and a blatant money grab on the behalf of a company that doesnt need it

I hate to say 'no' but considering how many out-of-game tutorials you'll NEED to actually play the game, let alone build, i'd recommend dedicating the requisite 5 hours or so on YouTube before purchasing. I looked at the animals a bit but didn't end up liking how complex they were. Bought this game for the architecture engine anyway, it's better than planet zoo 1 was- a game i spent 3 hours learning the framework of and was unable to return despite the limitations and yet still bought THIS one because i needed the building features... Best game for blueprint-accurate reproductions of things and redesigning that I've found- sims 4? inzoi?? neither manages to get the same amount of freedom piece-by-piece. Though they do have many more furniture options, here you can build what you want. The amount of DLC and price of it all is absolutely ridiculous, but it's fine. I'm happy enough being able to recreate extremely detailed 3D replicas of both fictional and real places that don't have an accurate enough existing 3D map for me to hover around and look at.

The game has been practically unplayable for me due to crashes since update 1.19. 75% of the time it will crash immediately upon starting the game, otherwise it crashes while loading into a zoo. Same results with franchise or sandbox, existing zoo or starting a new zoo. Drivers are updated. PC runs every other game perfectly. I've tried repairing game files, reinstalling the game, tweaking various settings on my PC, Steam, and in-game on the rare occasion I can actually get to the main menu, every recommendation I've found under the sun to fix crashing issues. I've even tried it all on another PC. Nothing fixes it and I have been unable to play a game I bought and paid for, including nearly all available DLC, for MONTHS. It is extremely frustrating because prior to this, Planet Zoo was my absolute favorite game. :(

I am really unhappy with this game. First of, the building mechanics are so bad. Construction, modifying and building in this game are really not the best. I also faced an issue where zoo keepers just don`t feed the animals, tho I watched tutorials on how to make sure they can do it. As well as I got a bug, where they finally feed them, but the animals are still unsatisfied with food. It s just everything makes this game for me not enjoyable. If I rate it out of 10, maybe it ll get 4-5. But I`ll not waste my time for it.

Love the game. Hate Frontier. I'm pissed about Planet Coaster 2, exposing who this studio is. They've embraced garbage practices, following the industry, in creating unfinished games lacking in content just to try and sell it to us later. They sell a full price game for "sheep" to be beta testers of their trash, and intentionally withhold basic content with the sole purpose of DLC. And now they are dismantling the steam workshop access that made their games king to begin with. Just like Cities Skylines II - ask them how that's going. Eff right off. Did you catch that Frontier? Eff off. I hope you follow in the greedy footsteps of Ubisoft going down in flames so that a passionate, gamer-first studio can rise from your ashes.

The DLC policy is disgusting. I bought the game on release and stopped playing after a while because of annoying bugs (pathfinding of staff, finnicky and buggy path building). I wanted to wait a bit until the bugs were fixed. Every time I tried the game since there were a ton of new DLCs for € 10 each. I've already bought about half of the DLCs in sales (I wish I had not), but to complete the collection it would cost well over € 100 again. But, the worst thing is, the annoying bugs are still unfixed and the base game did not improve even a tiny bit since launch. Bugs are still present and the game is just no fun for me. It's a pitty because the animals look really nice. I feel bad for supporting this milking of customers initally. I am going to never buy a Frontier game ever again (unless they stop with this disgusting DLCs policy and begin to release full games again) TLDR; Do not buy the game! It's a trap!

I don't hate it, but I feel like I've had to google a lot of issues while doing the tutorials because there wasn't an explanation of what the issue actually is and what I'm supposed to do about it. I wanted it to be like old Zoo Tycoon, but it really isn't. I may try it again later, but for now I'm going to play something else.

I am one of the many people that grew up playing Zoo Tycoon, and there was a long time where I couldnt find any game that came close to scratching that itch, but Frontier of course, came in clutch - as they always have. I absolutely ADORE this game and its accuracy when it comes to the information on the animals you can have in your zoo, not only is it great due to sure number of options we have, but the emphasis on animal welfare and habitat management. Of course there is only so much you can get across in a video game, but I have learned so much about so many animals, and even found out about ones I had no clue existed! It is perfect as a management game too, i actually found myself struggling at times, keeping track of where all my money was going when suddenly the green arrow switched to red. It really has you think about a whole host of different things. Do you want to start out small and be stingy with money? Or do you want to IMMEDIATELY get a bengal tiger and hope the guests donate? But you arent even limited to making a completely ethical zoo either, and you can even create your own safari park if you really have the patience. The AI is really great too, I love watching the animals engage in their natural behaviours and interact with each other. I may be biased because I love animals and in general, a big nerd. But seriously, fantastic work on educating while also striking a perfect balance in fun, addictive gameplay. Oh, and the graphics are GORGEOUS. 10/10

I was 11 when I first discovered Zoo Tycoon. A friend showed it to me, and from that moment, I was completely immersed. It wasn’t just a game—it was a place where I could care, create, and find peace. I remember spending hours carefully placing fences and paths, designing exhibits not for points or profit, but because I genuinely wanted the animals to be happy. It felt like magic—my own little world where everything made sense. Sometimes, I’d close the zoo entirely, locking out guests just so I could spend time watching one animal, tending to its needs, making its space perfect. There was something so calming about it, something safe and comforting. I wasn’t just building zoos—I was building a sanctuary, for them and for me. When Zoo Tycoon 2 came along, I fell in love all over again. Being able to walk through the park in first person, to feed the animals and take photos of them up close—it made me feel connected in a way I hadn’t felt before. Like I wasn’t just watching over them from above—I was right there with them. I still remember the joy of seeing a tiger up close, even if it was just pixels. It felt real. But then, it was taken away. I was 13 when my sister threw out my Zoo Tycoon CD. No explanation, no reason—just gone. At the time, it broke my heart in a way I didn’t fully understand. It wasn’t just a disc. It was a part of me, of how I coped, how I found joy. For years, I held onto that quiet loss, always remembering what it gave me and how suddenly it vanished. Years later, in my mid-20s, my dad surprised me. He had somehow found not one, but two copies of the game I loved. I was overwhelmed. He knew how much it meant to me, even if I never talked about it. But by then, I didn’t have a CD drive anymore. I couldn’t play it. I kept them anyway—like old letters from a forgotten time. Not useful, but precious. A reminder that someone remembered what I loved, even when I thought it was lost. Now I’m playing Planet Zoo. And it’s hard to put into words what that means. Sure, I miss being able to walk among the animals like in Zoo Tycoon 2, and I do wish I could feed them by hand, see them up close through the eyes of a keeper. But even without that, this game gives me something so much deeper. It gives me home. It gives me back that quiet joy I felt when I was a child. That deep love for animals, for care, for building something meaningful—not for others to see, but just for myself. Every time I place a shelter, adjust terrain, or make sure an animal has everything it needs, I feel like I’m healing a little part of my younger self. The part that lost something, and now, finally, gets to find it again. I’m not just playing a game. I’m reconnecting with the person I was when I first fell in love with caring. And that’s something I’ll never take for granted. 10/10 please add in where we can be zoo keeper :P

This game is wonderful, when you learn the mechanics! Watch some tips and tricks videos to learn the different stuff because it's not just that easy (pathway system, making things aligned, ect.). Once you learn the basics to get your Zoo up and running it will be endless hours of gametime. You'll make one Zoo, in one style and play that for some time, then start a new Zoo because you just discovered a new trick or a new styleart. I must have made a new zoo at least over 50-60 times by now, and for each new zoo it just gets better and better! One thing i would love was that the community challenge would be there every week, simply because i only have time here and there to play this game, and often i land og the weeks where theres no challenge happening. But yeah, I've learnt to love this game so much over time, i just really needed to give it time so i could learn the mechanics

I have spent way too much money on this game and if I'm honest, regret absolutely none of it. Best purchases of my life. The building features on this game are unmatched and sometimes I play just to build rather than add any animals to my zoo 10/10 would recommend.

Would be great if it didn't crash all the time... (I meet all the minimum requirements, tried reducing the settings anyway, game still hates me)

graphics are nice, in depth gameplay...if u like management games it does the job

picked up base game + most of the DLC on sale for a good price and its just heaps of fun. love the customization options for the park, and level of detail put into animal care and park welfare. wish there were more monkeys :( great workshop and premade options for buildings and decorations, can be a little tricky in figuring out what is needed and where for power and water filtering, and the pathing system leaves a lot to be desired. i believe these are things Frontier has further developed in Planet Coaster 2 and Jurassic World Evolution, and while i'm not particularly itching for a Planet Zoo 2 just yet, it gives me hope!

its generally rlly good with loads of cool animals with nice features to play around with. you can also buy (price ranges) backs with different animals and buildings/building structures.

Love this game. It's an excellent successor to the Zoo Tycoon franchise. Love Frontier and everything they are doing.

Very good game you have much creative freedom is this game and its beautiful

Very decent tycoon game/building /business/simulation. Really detailed and keeps you hooked.

Great for chill; however, I feel like the number of interactions/ animations for animals is a bit of lackluster. 17 years old game such as WildLife park had more...

If you like building and zoos then you will enjoy Planet Zoo. It is a challenge but once you figure it all out, it's quite enjoyable. The graphics are amazing.

Honestly, i'm going to add a negative review despite the hours played, mostly with the idea that PZ2 probably is in the making (suggestions for issues to fix). I have three major issues with the game. 1. Performance: it's not normal to have maybe six habitats and than already suffer from insufferable lag and crashes and i don't think i have a low end computer. This game is just incredibly poorly unoptimized. 2. Pathing system and building system: I just think overall it's a very unintuitive system and it is too much of a high learning curve for me, i think you can work with it eventually but it takes more time than the time i would actually spend on playing the game. And it's overall just not intuitive. 3. UI and micromanagement. Being bombarded with a million notifications about stuff you don't care about or not knowing what needs to be fixed is kind of an issue NGL, this is like a common modern disease for the majority of games today. It isn't unique to PZ. It is kind of stereotypical to see these issues in basically every single game today. But if these issues are so well known than why does nobody fix these issues. I don't get that. Also please add aviaries and aquariums to PZ2. And update the base game animal models also over time because it's lazy not to do that.

Amazing and fun game! Very detailed, could put hours playing this game.

I absolutely love this game, however i really dilike the afct you have to pay £7 for a single DLC, alot of the DLC's could of just been updates to the existing animal packs like the asia one :/ If platet zoo 2 is happening and is the same i wont bother

How have I never left a review for this game?! - - - - Oh well here goes! If you LOVE simulation games - This is for you If you LOVE looking after cute, cuddly animals - This is for you If you LOVE mindlessly building all hours of the night - THIS IS FOR YOU If you love shouting at protesters and paths - THIS IS FOR YOU If you love constantly pushing the bounds of the game to make ridiculously complex projects - LOOK NO FURTHER - THIS IS FOR YOU! In all seriousness, this game is fantastic and I hope the developers continue to make content for the game for a long while yet - and if planet zoo is on the back burn - PLEASE - PLEASE take your time with it as it will take a special something to out do this predecessor. The only downside to this currently is an unfair market for purchasing animals, would love to see friend / friend trading or even breeding mechanic between friends zoos ( Stud etc)

This game is super addictive as a management simulator. It's not easy, and there are definitely control quirks you have to learn to play effectively. Pathing just isn't intuitive and you can really mess up your fences and/or trails if you're not paying attention. I'm also not a fan of the massive amounts of DLC and the price point there, but the base game is enjoyable and if you like micromanaging every second of your game, this is definitely one for you.

its a fun and sometimes relaxing game all tho kind of hard to play on computer

Great game that sucks you in and gets you hooked. Sometimes the terrain modifications are frustrating but otherwise a great game

It took me so long to understand how to do things, but i have neurospicy brain. My money management was terrible, but eventually it got through to me how to manage the money thing and how to start the zoos the right way not to get beyond bankrupt instantly. Once i got what i was doing, I HAD A FREAKING BLAST!!! 300 hours in, i recommend to everyone to at least try the game to see how things work before you go too crazy with dlcs. Play the story, it takes you through mechanics, and if you're not thick skulled and stubborn like me, you'll learn much faster what to do. I looove watching the exhibits experience my enclosures. My red pandas are the best happiest roller coaster backdrops! Do try, do recommend it to your friends. It's a fun game!

I never liked tycoon games that much before. It's probably cause I learn stuff on animal while doing it. I can loose so many hours into it. The songs are in my head no stop. Buy this when its on sales. Theres is too many dlc in my opinion, but the base game is complet. You dont need to buy dlc at all.

very fun game, just needs better hardware utilization. Game can crash even on very high spec computers. Other than that, I have no complaints. I've had a very good time with it

Good game for those who like managing parks and stuff. Don't let the DLC's scare you off. The game has a great amount of content, the DLC's just add to it ;]

This game is great fun for anyone who loves animals, building scenes, and/or managing a business. The variety of plants, animals, and infrastructure is impressive, especially with all the expansion packs. I love watching the animals and all their behaviours, and the guests too, HOWEVER, accessibility has been a big issue for me. I struggled through playing on PC for sometime before giving up; needing a mouse with scroll wheel as well as so many keyboard shortcuts, many of which are unintuitive IMO, was just too much. I recently got a steam deck and find that much easier to navigate however it needs some tweaks, most notably the ability to type as most typed words vanish leaving a blank or going back to the default.

Unlike Planet Coaster, this is an actual game, beside just building.

I love this game so much. As an avid Zoo Tycoon player this game really scratches that itch. The creative options are amazing, and the things you can do are endless.

I liked how the game is so detailed, challenging and so real looking also how it was basically an open world. I would recommend this game giving beginners a tutorial before actually playing.

very good game would recogmend but make a system where you can play with your friends PLEASSEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

The game is good so I recommend it, but it's a difficult game, the UI is very bad, placing enclosure and path is horrible. Sometime you try to place something and the game refuse, same for path. There is no explanations how the interface work and what are the purpose of options check boxes. You have to check video on the web to find out how it works.

if you like any time of cozy building game you'll love this. I've always loved simscity, home decor games, and 2point games and idk why this hits the spot. So worth the price lol i love this game. possibilities seem endless and the quality is awesome :3

I love Planet Zoo and have played it ever since the game released, it has so much to offer and has so much you can literally "let your imagination run wild". I have got all the DLC's and have loved every single one of them. I have created movie/book themed zoos, city zoos, themed zoos, modded zoos and so much more. Planet Zoo would probably be the best zoo game on the market (from my experience of planet zoo and the zoo tycoons etc). So if this helps then yes I'd recommend this to you and if you do get the game then Happy Zookeeeping!!!!! :)

Has everything a great game should have. Great graphics and mechanics. Great base game with lots of options for basic game play. Theme items are easily accessible and there is a large variety. Staff maintenance is easy to manage with optional advanced settings for those who like extra control. There are a lot of scenarios for you to start with and advanced challenges for the pro zoo keepers. Sandbox is fun, but it would be nice to have maps with extra sculpting options so I don't need to do a lot of my own terrain edits.

The game is an amazing game. You can do almost anything but there is no scaling tool. It is still very good.

I want to love this game I really do but whenever I see that you all have a fully functioning game for ps5 and Xbox but not steam deck it just frustrates me. I know that the game is solid just wish that I could have the same experience as other consoles! Hopefully in the future

Expensive game if you get all DLC, I have easily spent over $150 dollars on this game, although you can play and enjoy the game without any DLC, one of the best building mechanics out of any game ive seen, so good that you really dont even have to build a zoo if you dont want to. overall an 8/10 game.

Built a massive glass enclosure for elephants. Looked away for one second — 18 elephants turned into a stampede squad. Glass shattered, zookeepers screaming, and I’m just here wondering how one game got so wild. 10/10 — come meet the animals in person 💀

I love it. I'm still figuring out controls. I wish the tutorial was better/longer, although, I am new to PC in general so could be more of user error.