Planet Zoo and Planet Zoo 2 are zoo building and management games from Frontier Developments. The first game came out on PC in 2019 and reached PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S in 2024, while the sequel launched on all three platforms in October 2026. In each play session, you lay paths, build enclosures, add scenery, and hire the staff who keep the zoo running. Once the gates open, guests pay to come in, and that money covers the cost of new enclosures and more staff.
Animals are the heart of the game, and each species has its own needs. Each one needs a suitable enclosure and enrichment that gives it something to do, and some species can share a space with compatible companions. Keeping them well falls to your staff: keepers feed the animals and look after their habitats, vets treat sick animals, and mechanics handle repairs. Research is how you learn more about each species and what it needs.
The bigger goal is conservation, which means caring for threatened species and returning animals to the wild. In Planet Zoo, animals you breed and release into the wild earn Conservation Credits, a separate currency used to buy new animals. Planet Zoo 2 builds on this with Wildlife Reserves, where you release animals once you finish conservation projects. Both games have Career, Franchise and Sandbox modes, Planet Zoo adds a Challenge mode, and Franchise mode links your zoos online so you can trade animals with other players.
- Developer
- Frontier Developments
- Publisher
- Frontier Developments
- Release
- Planet Zoo 2: 2026-10-13 · Planet Zoo (PC): 2019-11-05 · Planet Zoo: Console Edition: 2024-03-26
- Platforms
- Windows, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S
Planet Zoo Series gameplay tips
- Check each animal's needs before you move it in. Make sure the enclosure has enough room, and whether the animal lives in a group or alone. Each species has its own requirements, so a mismatch leaves the animal unhappy.
- Keep only as many males as you need. Too many males in one habitat start fights, which lead to injuries, upset guests, and extra work for your staff.
- Breed animals and release the young into the wild. Selling offspring only gives you cash, but releasing them is what earns Conservation Credits. Credits are slow to come by early on, so spend cash on what it can buy and save credits for animals.
- Add donation boxes and merchandise shops. They earn money from guests on top of admission, which pays for new habitats and staff sooner.