Let's Build a Zoo

90%
Game Brain Score Based on 1,803 reviews
  • gameplay
  • graphics
  • humor
Let's Build a Zoo Game Cover
Feel like running a zoo, populated with all manner of disturbing hybrids? Ever wonder if a rabbit would still be as cute if it had a snake’s head?
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"Let's Build a Zoo" is a business simulation game where players get to design and manage their own zoo. Create exhibits, collect and breed animals, set prices, and keep visitors happy to succeed. The game also features a morally ambiguous "gene splicing" mechanic, allowing players to create unique and exotic creatures.

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Cloud
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

90%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,803 reviews
gameplay69 positive mentions
grinding92 negative mentions
  • Cute pixel art style with a charming aesthetic.
  • Engaging gameplay with a unique morality system that allows for good or evil choices.
  • Fun mechanics for breeding and splicing animals, leading to a variety of unique hybrids.
  • Clunky UI and navigation issues that make managing the zoo tedious.
  • Overwhelming micromanagement, especially as the zoo expands, leading to repetitive tasks.
  • Lack of clear tutorials and explanations for certain mechanics, making it difficult for new players to understand.
  • gameplay197 mentions

    The gameplay of this zoo management game is characterized by a mix of engaging mechanics, including animal breeding and splicing, which add depth and variety. However, many players find the lack of clear tutorials and explanations for various mechanics frustrating, leading to a steep learning curve. While the game offers a charming aesthetic and addictive gameplay loop, it is often hindered by UI issues and repetitive tasks that can detract from the overall experience.

    • “Wonder cozy vibes with lots of depth to the gameplay for what seems like a really simple game.”
    • “The sheer variety of animals and crossbreeding options keeps the gameplay fresh and exciting.”
    • “The gameplay is engaging and addictive, with a variety of tasks and challenges to keep players entertained for hours on end.”
    • “The gameplay becomes a chore rather quickly.”
    • “The tutorial does a good job explaining the majority of controls and basics of gameplay, but it does a terrible job of establishing the gameplay expectations and how to manage your resources early on.”
    • “But the game really needs some significant quality of life updates and UI changes; it's so hard to find the information you're looking for, it's a lot of work to do some simple things, and a lot of the mechanics are entirely unexplained and make zero sense.”
  • graphics196 mentions

    The graphics of the game are predominantly described as charming and cute, featuring a pixel art style that appeals to many players, especially those who enjoy retro aesthetics. While some users appreciate the simplicity and vibrant colors, others express a desire for more customization and higher-quality visuals. Overall, the graphics contribute positively to the game's cozy atmosphere and engaging gameplay, making it accessible even on lower-end systems.

    • “The base game has lots of things to love, starting of course with the beautiful graphics and a bounty of variants to discover, 10 variants for each of 56 species if I am correct (the collector in me lives for this).”
    • “The pixel art style is adorable and adds to the overall charm of the game.”
    • “Cute pixel graphics for cute animals, relaxing theme, massive content, solid game mechanics -- this is a great tycoon build-a-zoo game.”
    • “I thought it was more fun than this... turned out pretty boring and the graphics are the bad kind of pixels, not cute.”
    • “This game fell short of other zoo games, and considering the graphics, there's really no excuse for the amount of bugs I encountered.”
    • “The graphics and animations are nothing to write home about, but I expected that.”
  • humor97 mentions

    The humor in "Let's Build a Zoo" is a standout feature, blending dark and absurd elements with playful, tongue-in-cheek writing. Players enjoy the quirky interactions between animals, the hilarious hybrid creations, and the satirical take on moral choices, all of which contribute to a lighthearted yet chaotic gameplay experience. While some humor may be polarizing, the overall tone is described as charming and entertaining, making it a delightful zoo management simulator.

    • “The writing tends to be pretty funny, tongue-in-cheek without usually being too cheesy.”
    • “The animals are hilarious - each animal interacts with every enrichment item, so you end up with snakes jumping on trampolines and geese carrying around dog toys, and hippos jumping into cardboard boxes.”
    • “Absolutely great game with great humor, a bit dark and twisted at times but it can be cathartic and just hilarious seeing how many mutant animals you can breed/create and how much of an insane evil genius you can become.”
    • “It's not funny, or witty, and creative: it's just dumb and constantly getting in the way of the rest of the game.”
    • “The humor feels forced and falls flat, making the experience more cringeworthy than enjoyable.”
    • “Instead of adding to the gameplay, the jokes detract from it, leaving me more annoyed than amused.”
  • grinding94 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game is frequently described as tedious and time-consuming, particularly in the late game where micromanagement of animal populations and resource management becomes overwhelming. Players enjoy the initial fun and unique mechanics but often find the repetitive tasks, slow progression, and cumbersome UI detract from the overall experience, leading to frustration. While some appreciate the depth and strategy involved, many feel that the game could benefit from more automation options to alleviate the grind.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “This game is tedious as heck.”
    • “It gets incredibly grindy in the late game and managing animals gets tedious with little to no option for automation.”
    • “All in all, it's fun for the first ~15 hours, then it becomes a tedious and frustrating experience with not much going on other than trading for a new animal after 5 hours of spam breeding with 30 nurseries.”
  • story77 mentions

    The game's story is described as cute, humorous, and engaging, with a mix of realistic and fantastical elements that reflect the player's journey and interactions with various characters. Players appreciate the variety of quests and the whimsical atmosphere, although some find the quest structure and pop-up notifications overwhelming and occasionally frustrating. Overall, the narrative adds depth to the gameplay, encouraging creativity and moral decision-making in managing the zoo.

    • “The story of the game tells both the past, present, and future of your own zoo.”
    • “The game's atmosphere, graphics, sounds, and story are very cute and immersive.”
    • “Let's Build a Zoo has the typical zoo management mechanics but it plays with fresh ideas that I don't often see in zoo management games, like story progression and decision-making.”
    • “The story/challenges got repetitive and it became more of a 'let's see how many animals I'll need to donate today in order to not have my zoo overflowing' kind of game.”
    • “I feel like the specific quest triggers should be more closely related to the state of your park.”
    • “Some quests feel like they are stepping stones, while others feel like different planets.”
  • music52 mentions

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many players praising its charm, creativity, and upbeat nature, often describing it as enjoyable and fitting for the game's aesthetic. However, some users report significant issues, including glitches that distort the sound and repetitive tracks that lead them to mute the game. Overall, while the soundtrack is appreciated for its pleasantness and uniqueness, there are calls for improvements and more variety.

    • “The soundtrack is awesome.”
    • “Cute, amazing game with incredible music!”
    • “Thanks to the combination of adorable design, solid gameplay and pleasant music, this game can be dangerously addictive.”
    • “Additionally, music rarely, if ever, plays.”
    • “While playing, the music slows down and becomes very broken, which hurts the ears.”
    • “I also wasn't impressed by any of the audio in the game; the music is pretty basic and the animal/human noises are really lacking.”
  • optimization23 mentions

    The game's optimization is criticized for its lack of clarity and guidance, leaving players confused about how to effectively manage building placements and park scores. While some users find enjoyment in the gameplay despite performance issues, such as lag with increasing guests, others express frustration over the convoluted optimization mechanics and the game's overall performance, which can suffer on lower-end machines. Overall, the game has potential but requires significant improvements in both optimization explanations and performance stability.

    • “Nothing about it is really difficult (you never really run out of money), but there is always more optimization to achieve, and the achievements are time-consuming but fun grinds.”
    • “Once you get the hang of things, everything begins to run smoothly.”
    • “While there are still some bugs, the game is overall pretty solid and will likely run quite well, even on lower performance machines.”
    • “The performance optimization is also not great.”
    • “There is absolutely no explanation on building optimization and how it works.”
    • “Trying to figure out how the game wants me to 'optimize building placement' without telling me what buildings aren't being optimized specifically sent me on a journey for hours trying to figure it out.”
  • replayability16 mentions

    The reviews present a mixed perspective on replayability, with some users noting very low replay value due to a lack of challenge and static gameplay. Conversely, others highlight significant replayability stemming from diverse gameplay choices, moral decisions, and the ability to experiment with zoo layouts and animal genetics, suggesting that the game can offer varied experiences upon multiple playthroughs. Overall, while some find replayability lacking, others appreciate the potential for unique experiences and strategic experimentation.

    • “Given this broadness, the game also has a great deal of replayability and is good to talk about with friends - it’s nearly impossible for two zoos to be the same.”
    • “The combination of animals with genetics and variations is mind-boggling, offering great replay value.”
    • “Being able to be a champion among conservationists, a ruthless and greedy baron, or a balance between the two is enjoyable and offers replayability.”
    • “The game has no challenge, and its only one playthrough really (no replay value in my humble opinion).”
    • “It's an alright game, the only good thing about it is laughing at all the mutations you can make; other than that, the replay value is nonexistent.”
    • “Maybe a less static animal trading system would be better for replay value?”
  • emotional12 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by a blend of wholesome and heartwarming experiences, with players expressing deep attachments to their animals and enjoying the cozy gameplay. While many find joy and nostalgia in the game's cute aesthetics and engaging mechanics, some also note a darker undertone, highlighting the potential for moral dilemmas and emotional conflict. Overall, the game evokes a range of feelings, from joy and love to sadness and ethical contemplation.

    • “This game made me cry; it is truly sad.”
    • “It's addictive, wholesome, and I can fuse a rabbit with a snake.”
    • “Do you have a deep emotional attachment to your pigs and would fly into a violent rage if anything happened to them?”
  • stability11 mentions

    The stability of "Let's Build a Zoo" is a significant concern among players, with frequent freezes, bugs, and glitches reported that disrupt gameplay and lead to lost progress. While some users find the game enjoyable and believe it has potential, the overwhelming number of technical issues detracts from the overall experience, prompting many to recommend waiting for patches before fully committing.

    • “I love the game, but I cannot recommend it; it freezes on me on a daily basis.”
    • “Let's Build a Zoo had the potential to be an entertaining and engaging simulation game, but unfortunately, it falls flat due to its overwhelming number of bugs and glitches that hinder players from obtaining all the achievements.”
    • “There are so many annoying bugs and glitches; I had to restart a zoo I had 10+ hours in because the collision for one of my enclosures was broken.”
  • atmosphere6 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is described as cute and immersive, featuring charming graphics and sound that create a delightful experience. However, some players feel that battles disrupt the overall ambiance, and the quest structure can be confusing and overwhelming. Despite these issues, the pixel art style and thematic elements contribute to a unique and engaging environment.

    • “The game's atmosphere, graphics, sounds, and story are very cute and immersive.”
    • “Simple but effective, timeless pixel style, great tone & atmosphere.”
    • “Tl;dr: lovely made, dark humor, beautiful theme parkish atmosphere and a bit overwhelming.”
    • “Battles spoil the atmosphere and fluency of the game.”
    • “Potential, atmosphere, and art are there; it looks cute, but without UI and quality of life improvements, it's more frustrating than fun.”
    • “I do like the quest atmosphere of having different people come in and ask for things to urge you on for progress, but it feels like a lot of the tasks are out of order and can be quite daunting.”
  • monetization3 mentions

    The game is praised for its lack of microtransactions and time-locked progression, offering a nostalgic experience reminiscent of classic management sims. Reviewers appreciate the thoughtful design and creativity, indicating that it feels genuine and not like a cash grab, suggesting a commitment to long-term player engagement.

    • “The fully decked out zoo management sim/builder without microtransactions and time-locked progression I've been craving since my childhood.”
    • “I appreciate that this game offers a complete experience without the need for additional purchases.”
    • “It's refreshing to play a game that respects my time and investment without pushing for extra spending.”
    • “The fully decked out zoo management sim/builder without microtransactions and time-locked progression I've been craving after my childhood trauma with my free zoo.”
    • “Has something about it that reminds me of those wonderful Bullfrog games of old, you know, like Theme Hospital, Theme Park, Theme Park World, etc. It doesn't feel phoned in, or like a cash grab/platform to sell you loads of content or like it's lacking a soul, if that makes sense.”
    • “Lots of thoughtful touches like this show this is a creative team (or individual?) who isn't just trying to crank out the bare minimum for a cash grab but is actually trying to make a game you'll replay for years.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

80% average critic score

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Play time

12hMedian play time
23hAverage play time
8-41hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 20 analyzed playthroughs

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