Planet Zoo

[Roxxsmom]

I discovered this game during the period of AW hiatus, and I've found it to be addicting. It's essentially a "builder" type game with gorgeous graphics that allows you to do a sort of campaign revolving around zoo design and management, but the biggest part of the game (imo) are the settings that allow you to create and design your own zoos, obtain and breed animals, care for the animals, build scenery, facilities, and habitats (there's a pretty detailed building set too and the ability to share building blueprints with other players), manage the business end of things etc. The game has its flaws (is fairly buggy, and while the science is pretty good overall, there are a few issues with animal social system data being off for some species). It's also kind of a memory hog. I have to bump the priority up for the game when I run it, and my computer comfortably exceeds the recommended specs for the game.

But if you like builder and management type games and enjoy animals, I recommend it. It's made by the same company that did the Planet Coaster games, but I never played those as designing amusement parks doesn't appeal to me as much as building animal habitats I guess.

 

[starrystorm]

Never played it myself but there's a YouTuber I like who does crazy things with it and is hilarious. These videos actually got me into gaming YouTube videos. He's called Letsgameitout. (Let's Game It Out). I highly recommend these videos if you like the game.

 

[ChaseJxyz]

I played soooo much Zoo Tycoon 1 and 2 growing up. I've only played a little Planet Zoo, mostly because all the non-animal stuff is Way Too Much for me. Like having to have a quarantine building and moving animals between different menus before you can put them in an exhibit....having to buy/place power substations....way too many things for me to keep track of, so not very good for me. But I'm glad you enjoy it!

 

[Albedo]

I checked this out early this year. The learning curve is really steep and I've found it harder to get into than my favourite builder game (Cities Skylines), but damn, some of the zoos people have built and that you can download are incredible. Unfortunately most of them seem to require mods I don't have, because animals instantly start dying when I run them (and some of them are close to graphics card-melting, and I have a great system!)