While not a huge player of management games, I bought Planet Zoo as soon as it came out in November. Created by Frontier Developments (the minds behind Planet Coaster and Jurassic World Evolution) This management games puts you in control of building the perfect zoo. This is not just pick an animal and set it in an area. This game gives you the chance to be in charge of everything.
Planet Zoo drops the player in a sandbox with the tools to build everything in the Zoo. You pick the type of paths your visitors will walk and what type of enclosures your animals will live in. You have control of everything, a mechanic that can actually be a little intimidating at first. Having so much control means that you can get very detailed oriented. I spent a fair amount of time building walkways and figuring out the best layout before I even chose an animal. You don’t have unlimited money, so spend wisely.
The animals have their own mechanics. Planet Zoo states that the animals are governed by AI. I didn’t notice anything at first, but then saw that the wolfs were packing up. It adds a sense of unpredictability which makes the animals seem alive. You have access to a breeding system, which can affect positive and negative traits. This is based in reality, so no creating some strange hybrid. The genome can be changes to make the animal larger or live longer. The animals can die if they are not fed or needs are not met.
Planet Zoo does have some bugs. Sometimes a structure would just disappear, other times a staff member would forget to feed an animal. If this was any other game studio, this would be cause for concern. Frontier Developments always crushes these bugs like in Planet Coaster, so I am not worried about it. The different game modes and the thought of additional content means this game could be around for a long time.
Planet Zoo is not for the casual gamer who wants to have a quick session. This game is a time eater, but you will not notice until you look at a clock. You will build, destroy and build again. Watching the visitors interact with your animals and vice versa is a rewarding one. Planet Zoo is part of a galaxy where building and management has been almost perfected.
8/10
Available on PC
