I have spent far too many hours playing management games over the years. The Jurassic World Evolution titles are certainly some of them. There is just something about starting with a bit of empty land and turning it into something impressive that keeps dragging you back in. Of course, it never quite goes to plan. You start off wanting to build a nice little zoo, and before you know it, you have spent your entire budget on an enclosure, your visitors are complaining about the price of a burger, and one of your animals is probably plotting its escape.
The original Planet Zoo arrived in 2019 and gave us exactly that sort of experience. It was a brilliant game, although it could be a little fiddly at times, especially when you wanted to build something specific and the game seemed determined to make you work for it. Since then, Frontier has added plenty of animals and other content, giving players even more reasons to keep coming back.
Remember, cute and cuddly, boys. Cute and cuddly!
So, with Planet Zoo 2, the question is whether we really need another trip to the zoo or whether the original is still perfectly good at doing the job.
There are some interesting additions this time around, including aquariums, flying birds and wildlife reserves, alongside improvements to the animals and building tools. On paper, it sounds like a decent step forward. But when the first game already offers so much, a sequel needs to give us a good reason to leave our old zoos behind. Let’s delve in further!
Gameplay
If you have played the original, you will know roughly what you are getting yourself into. You build habitats, look after the animals, employ staff and try to keep your visitors happy enough to spend their money. Simple, really. Well, until you realise you have forgotten something important, and suddenly half your zoo is complaining.
The basic gameplay hasn’t changed dramatically, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Building your own zoo remains the main attraction, and there is still plenty to think about when it comes to animal welfare, finances and keeping everything running smoothly. You can’t just chuck a few animals into a field and hope for the best. They need the right surroundings, proper care and enough space to keep them happy.
Where the sequel starts to stand out is in the new possibilities available when designing your zoo. The introduction of aquariums and flying birds adds something that was missing from the first game. Being able to create underwater environments and proper aviaries opens up a whole new set of ideas for anyone who enjoys building their own attractions. I had already encountered aviaries in the JWE titles, and it didn’t feel that much dissimilar in the working mechanics.
I always enjoy the creative side of games like this, and having more options to play with is certainly welcome. You can spend ages planning the perfect habitat, only to decide that it doesn’t quite look right and end up rebuilding the whole thing. I suspect I’m not the only one who has done that!
The wildlife reserve features are another welcome addition, bringing more attention to conservation and restoring natural environments. It helps give the game a little more purpose beyond simply building the biggest zoo possible and charging visitors a fortune for a bottle of water.
There are also improvements to the building tools and habitat creation, which should make designing your zoo a more enjoyable experience. That said, I still think games like this can make things harder than they need to be. Sometimes you just want to put a path where you want it, rather than spend ten minutes fighting with the placement system.
The biggest issue for returning players is that much of the familiar management remains in place. If you were hoping for a completely different experience, you might be disappointed. It still involves balancing budgets, looking after animals and making sure your staff actually do their jobs. You know, much like running any other business, except your employees might be looking after elephants rather than sitting in an office complaining about the coffee.
For newcomers, though, there is plenty to get stuck into. There is a lot to learn, and it can feel overwhelming at first, but once everything starts coming together, it is incredibly satisfying. Just don’t expect to build the perfect zoo in five minutes.
Graphics & Audio
The original Planet Zoo was already a good-looking game, so there wasn’t much need to reinvent the wheel here. Instead, the improvements focus on making the animals and environments feel more convincing.
The animals are still the main attraction, and rightly so. Watching them wander around their habitats, interact with their surroundings and generally get on with being animals is a big part of what makes the game enjoyable. The improved animations and extra behaviours help make the zoo feel more alive, rather than just looking like a collection of models walking around a map. There are certainly some stunning interactions to witness.
The new aquatic environments are particularly welcome, as they give you something different to look at compared with the usual land-based habitats. Flying birds also add a bit more life to your enclosures. It might sound like a small thing, but having animals moving around at different heights helps make the whole place feel more natural.
There is plenty of scope to make your zoo look exactly how you want it, too. Whether you prefer a natural-looking wildlife park or something a little more extravagant, the building tools give you plenty of freedom. Personally, I can see myself spending far too long decorating an entrance that most visitors will probably walk straight past without even noticing.
Of course, all those lovely details come at a cost. If you build a massive zoo with hundreds of visitors, animals and complicated habitats, your PC will have plenty to deal with. Performance will depend on your hardware and the size of your creation, so don’t be surprised if your ambitious plans start putting a bit of pressure on the system. I did spot that the rendering distance seemed a little close to the camera at times and I am running a 5070ti at 1440p.
The audio does its job nicely, with animal sounds and background music helping to create the right atmosphere. It is quite relaxing watching everything go about its business, at least until you notice something has gone wrong and you have to stop admiring your handywork to sort it out.
Overall, the presentation is a definite strength. It might not look like a completely different game from the original, but the extra variety helps make the experience feel fresher.
Longevity
If you enjoy management games, there is every chance Planet Zoo 2 will swallow up a fair chunk of your spare time. These games have a habit of making you think you will play for half an hour, only to look at the clock and realise the evening has disappeared.
There are different ways to play, depending on whether you prefer having objectives to work towards or simply want to build something without worrying too much about money. Sandbox mode is particularly appealing for anyone who enjoys experimenting with designs and creating their dream zoo.
The new habitats and wildlife reserve features give you more projects to tackle, and the creative side of the game could keep you busy for ages. You might finish the main objectives, but there is always something else to build, change or improve.
However, there is one thing worth considering if you have already spent plenty of time with the original. Planet Zoo has accumulated a lot of additional content over the years, and you won’t automatically bring all of that content into the sequel. That could be a bit disappointing if you have invested heavily in the first game.
Either way, there is plenty here to keep creative players occupied, provided you enjoy the slow process of building something up and making constant little improvements.
Final Thoughts
Planet Zoo 2 has some good ideas, and the addition of aquariums, flying birds and wildlife reserves gives you more ways to build the zoo you have always wanted. The improved animal behaviour and presentation are welcome, and there is still something rather satisfying about watching a zoo grow from a few basic enclosures into a busy attraction.
My main concern is that the sequel doesn’t change the formula quite as much as some people might hope. A lot of the familiar management is still here, and while that will be perfectly fine for fans of the original, it might not be enough to convince everyone to make the jump.
There is also the question of all that extra content available in the first game. If you have already spent years building up your collection, it is worth considering what you might be leaving behind.
For newcomers, though, there is plenty to enjoy. It is creative, surprisingly absorbing and occasionally frustrating, but that is all part of the experience. You just need to accept that things won’t always go to plan, no matter how carefully you have laid everything out.
Planet Zoo 2 builds on a solid foundation and gives us some interesting new ways to play. I would have liked a few more changes to the everyday management, but there is still plenty of fun to be had here.
Just remember to keep an eye on your finances, make sure the animals are happy and, for goodness sake, build enough toilets. There is nothing worse than having a beautiful zoo that nobody wants to visit because they are all desperate for a wee!
I give Planet Zoo 2 the Thumb Culture Gold Award!
Disclaimer: A code was received in order to write this review.
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