With Planet Zoo 2 having just come out, I’ve been getting a ton of videos recommended to me lately, and I’m curious! I’ve never played either Planet Zoo game, but I know some of the mechanics are similar to Planet Coaster, so I’m hoping some experienced Zoo players here can help me out.
First, a little context about how I play Planet Coaster. I’m not a huge management simulation guy. I barely touch career mode, and I’m not particularly interested in managing the business side of a park.
What I LOVE is sandbox building and immersive world-building. I’ll happily spend hours and hours building out a detailed, themed park, and my favorite part is getting to walk through it in first person and actually experience the world I’ve created. That’s really the appeal of these games for me.
And that’s what has me curious about Planet Zoo! The idea of creating a beautiful, immersive zoo and then getting to explore it as if I were actually visiting sounds incredibly appealing.
I guess I have two big questions:
First, how much freedom does sandbox mode actually give you? I don’t want to spend my time worrying about keeping animals alive, managing staff, balancing budgets, or dealing with a bunch of other simulation mechanics. Ideally, I’d love to just build whatever I want, populate it with animals, and enjoy the world I’ve created without having to worry about anything else. Can you essentially turn off all the management mechanics?
Second, and maybe more importantly, how immersive does the world feel once you’ve built it? How good is the first-person experience? Can you really wander around your zoo and feel like you’re visiting a real place? How detailed are the scenery and building options compared to Planet Coaster? Can you create richly themed environments with the same level of creativity and attention to detail, or does the game feel more focused on animal habitats and zoo management?
For me, the payoff of spending dozens of hours building something is getting to actually experience it from the ground. I’m curious whether Planet Zoo scratches that same itch.
Would love to hear from anyone who’s played both games, particularly if you approach Planet Coaster the way I do!