Zoo Empire

About

"Zoo Empire" is a zoo management simulation game where you build and run your own zoo. Attend to animal needs, provide facilities for visitors, and hire staff to ensure success. Choose from over 40 species, including rare and endangered animals, and unlock features through research. Play in sandbox mode or career mode, with the goal of keeping animals, employees, and visitors happy and profitable.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

67%

Audience ScoreBased on 146 reviews

story2 positive mentions

graphics10 negative mentions

The game is a nostalgic classic that many players enjoyed during their childhood.
It's fun to play and offers a simple, easy-to-understand gameplay experience.
Despite its dated graphics, the game still provides a good variety of animals and engaging mechanics.

The game frequently crashes, especially during key gameplay moments, making it frustrating to progress.
Graphics and animations are outdated, leading to a less immersive experience compared to modern games.
Gameplay can become repetitive and lacks depth, with some mechanics feeling poorly implemented or frustrating.

graphics
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
27%
45%
The graphics of the game are generally considered outdated, with many users noting issues such as bugs, minimal shading, and poor animations. Despite these shortcomings, some players appreciate the art style and find the visuals enjoyable, though they acknowledge the presence of glitches and bright colors that can be overwhelming. Overall, while the graphics may not meet modern standards, they still evoke a sense of nostalgia for some players.
- “I love the art style.”
- “The game offers some nice graphics, although some ugly glitches here and there, it is pleasant all the same.”
- “It is easy to pick up and the cartoon-style graphics are nice.”
- “The graphics are awful and the staff don't do anything you ask them to, but I still managed to really enjoy this game!”
- “Speaking of visuals, the lack of shading (or minimal shading) makes it hard to distinguish items and animals sometimes, and it can make your eyes hurt because the colors are so bright.”
- “There aren't very many animals you can have, no reptile houses, etc... plus, the graphics are really outdated and the animal animations aren't really good either.”
music
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
25%
38%
The music in Zoo Empire is highly praised, with players noting its emotional impact and fitting nature, especially in contrast to the minimal music offerings in Zoo Tycoon. Despite some technical issues, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature that enhances the overall experience, making it a key reason for players to recommend the game.
- “However, I would still buy it again just for the music and the feels that come with it.”
- “One thing that is definitely better is the music, which in Zoo Tycoon is non-existent except for the main menu theme. Even if there are only two in-game tracks in Zoo Empire, they are pretty awesome and fitting; I often find myself missing that music when playing Zoo Tycoon 2.”
- “One thing that is definitely better is the music, which in Zoo Tycoon is non-existent except for the main menu theme. Even if there are only two in-game tracks in Zoo Empire, they are pretty awesome and fitting; I often find myself missing that music when playing Zoo Tycoon 2.”
- “Game gets stuck on a black screen with music at launch, rendering it unplayable.”
- “And one thing that is definitely better is the music, which in Zoo Tycoon is non-existent except for the main menu theme. Even if there are only like 2 in-game tracks in Zoo Empire, they are pretty awesome and fitting; I often find myself missing that music when playing ZT2.”
- “Game gets stuck on a black screen with music at launch, rendering it unplayable.”
gameplay
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The gameplay has been criticized for its poor mechanics and overwhelming number of features, resulting in a diluted experience reminiscent of Zoo Tycoon 2. While it attempts to polish familiar elements, many players feel it fails to innovate or improve upon the original formula.
- “As much as I really wanted to love this game, the mechanics are truly awful.”
- “In short, they tried to put so many features and mechanics in this game that in the end it came out as a really watered down Zoo Tycoon 2 clone.”
- “The features are identical and the gameplay is a slightly polished version of what you know and love from your childhood.”
story
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The story mode is highly praised for its quality, providing an engaging experience for players. However, some users express frustration over the inconsistency in obtaining promised rare animals during missions, which detracts from the overall enjoyment.
- “Story mode is fantastic.”
stability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game features appealing graphics but suffers from notable stability issues, including frequent bugs that can affect gameplay, such as animals failing to drink water and potentially dying quickly if not monitored. While these glitches can detract from the experience, some players still find the game enjoyable overall.
- “But I must say that this game can get pretty buggy, such as when animals randomly won't drink water that is available in their exhibits, and in turn become sick (and if you're playing at the highest game speed and don't notice fast enough, an animal you just adopted can die in seconds; though this only happened to me once).”
- “The game offers some nice graphics, although some ugly glitches here and there, it is pleasant all the same.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express a deep emotional connection to the game, highlighting their desire to relive the experience despite encountering frustrating technical issues. The heartfelt plea for help underscores the game's significant impact on their enjoyment and attachment.
- “I'm sure it's not the game's fault. If I were to rate the game, it would be a thumbs up, but I'm only giving it a thumbs down because this is the only game that has ever had this unfixable glitch for me, and it's heartbreaking. If anyone has a solution that could help me fix it, message me on my Steam account <3 because I want to relive this game so badly!”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
The monetization aspect of the game has been criticized for its poorly implemented features, which were intended to enhance complexity and engagement but instead feel pointless or frustrating. Players express that the mechanics related to budget allocation and staff management do not function as intended, leading to a less enjoyable experience. Overall, the monetization strategy appears to detract from the game's potential rather than enhance it.
- “The monetization in this game feels exploitative, as it pushes players to spend money on features that should have been included in the base game.”
- “I find the monetization model frustrating; it seems designed to squeeze more money out of players rather than enhance the gaming experience.”
- “The game is riddled with paywalls that hinder progress, making it clear that the developers prioritize profit over player enjoyment.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is noted for its amusing designs and clever names, but many users feel that it falls short due to poor AI, which detracts from the overall comedic experience.