THE CRUNCH
Early hands-on time with Planet Zoo 2 suggests Frontier's sequel is, above all, a showcase for its animals. The reviewer was won over by convincingly lifelike creatures, from tree kangaroos bounding up climbing frames to shoebills in the game's new aviaries, rendered with what the review calls typically exquisite artistry. The menagerie is even educational: the experience prompted curiosity about the animals' real-world counterparts.
The sequel's headline additions are new animal homes: aquariums that need a filtration pump with the right salinity, temperature and depth; aviaries, covered enclosures with roof supports so birds have room to fly; and nature reserves, barrier-free shared habitats on a larger map where herds roam free. A jeep mode borrowed from Frontier's Jurassic World Evolution series lets players drive across these reserves, snapping photos on expeditions to earn research points, a mechanic the reviewer found somewhat arbitrary.
The early impression is that these new bullet-point features are not exactly game-changing, though the new animal types are welcome. More reassuring is what carries over: the original Planet Zoo was already a far richer management game than the customisation-first Planet Coaster series, and that depth continues here. Players juggle animal welfare, from biomes and enrichment to breeding, health and trading, alongside staff hiring, guest needs and a genuinely important economy, with happy animals feeding into happy guests.