Zoo Tycoon

49%
Game Brain Score Based on 684 reviews
  • graphics
  • gameplay
  • stability
Zoo Tycoon Game Cover
Zoo Tycoon is definitely a family friend game that can be played by all ages.
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Zoo Tycoon is a business simulation video game developed by Frontier Developments and published by Microsoft Studios. The game was released on 22 November 2013 for Xbox One and Xbox 360.

  • PC
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Xbox
  • Xbox 360
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

49%
Audience ScoreBased on 684 reviews
graphics62 positive mentions
stability20 negative mentions
  • The game is a lot of fun and much more interactive than other games in the genre.
  • The graphics are charming and the animal interactions are enjoyable.
  • It's a great game for casual play, especially for younger audiences.
  • It lacks the customization and creative freedom of the original Zoo Tycoon games.
  • The controls are clunky and not well-suited for PC, making gameplay frustrating.
  • Many players find the game repetitive and lacking in depth, with limited animal variety.
  • graphics106 mentions

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising their charm and improvement over older titles, while others note issues such as glitches and resolution scaling. Players appreciate the realistic animal designs and vibrant environments, but some feel that the focus on visuals detracts from gameplay depth and nostalgia. Overall, while the graphics are generally considered good, they are not without their flaws, and opinions vary on their impact on the overall gaming experience.

    • “The graphics are incredible and so lifelike!”
    • “The graphics are beautiful, the animals are cute.”
    • “The graphics are great; the interactions with animals are cool, and designing is nice.”
    • “Has graphical issues with shaking and resolution scaling.”
    • “Not to mention I can feel my computer superheating over the poor graphics.”
    • “It feels like they gave so much focus on the visuals that they didn't have time, money, or passion for anything else in the game.”
  • gameplay36 mentions

    Gameplay reviews for the game are mixed, with some praising its depth and variety of animal interactions, while others criticize its clunky controls, lack of customization, and overall simplicity. Many players find the mechanics poorly ported from console, leading to frustrating experiences, though the extensive campaign mode offers a significant amount of content. Overall, while the graphics are appreciated, the gameplay often feels stale and lacking in creativity, leaving some players disappointed.

    • “Zoo tycoon's gameplay is its strongest suit.”
    • “The game offers a wide variety of animal species, each with unique requirements, which adds depth and challenge to the gameplay.”
    • “Its engaging gameplay, educational value, and charming graphics make it a standout title in the genre.”
    • “Choppy framerate, messy gameplay, simply not enjoyable.”
    • “The UI, building, and gameplay were instantly clunky and unintuitive, and the fact that I can't even make my own custom enclosures was a dealbreaker.”
    • “Horrible controls and game mechanics, so I would definitely not recommend purchasing this.”
  • stability20 mentions

    The game's stability has been widely criticized, with players reporting numerous bugs, glitches, and freezing issues that significantly hinder gameplay. While some aspects, like the graphics and interactive elements, are appreciated, the overall experience is marred by the frequent technical problems, leading to frustration among users. Many hope for future updates to address these stability concerns.

    • “I played the first few tutorial levels and it's buggy and bad.”
    • “Game is full of glitches and very hard to navigate/play.”
    • “Difficult controls & freezes - not as fun as previous entries in the series.”
  • story13 mentions

    The game's story aspect is largely criticized for its absence, with players noting that it lacks a compelling narrative and feels more like a series of repetitive tasks rather than a cohesive story experience. Many reviewers express disappointment, feeling that the game prioritizes interactive gameplay over the creative and narrative depth found in earlier titles. Overall, the focus on missions and management detracts from any meaningful storytelling.

    • “Quick list of things I love: graphics are cute, tons of animals, lets you see how the animals you released to the wild are doing, lots of decor the old version did not offer, tons of missions and campaigns, and easy to play with lots to do in the game to kill time.”
    • “I miss the old Zoo Tycoon; when it first came out, you could build custom exhibits and even release the animals onto the quests if you wanted.”
    • “The short story about this game is that it was super disappointing because this game seemed more centered around the interactive aspect while the originals were centered more around the creativity and tycoon aspects.”
    • “There isn't a story to the game, just your build stuff and have fun type of game.”
    • “After completing the campaign missions, players may find themselves lacking new challenges.”
    • “After a while I got tired of reading and it made the missions kinda long.”
  • grinding10 mentions

    Reviews highlight that the grinding aspect of the game is overwhelmingly tedious, requiring significant time investment for tasks like research and navigating the in-game encyclopedia. Players express frustration with the repetitive nature of objectives and the lack of engaging design elements, leading to a diminished overall enjoyment despite some redeeming qualities.

    • “It's all first person and tedious.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “They took all of the fun elements out (designing actually unique exhibits and layouts on an open grid, moving animals and guests around) and replaced it with bland pre-designed modules and tedious, repetitive tasks.”
  • optimization3 mentions

    The game's optimization is mixed; while it features visually appealing environments and runs well on various hardware, some players report significant performance issues and a lack of customization options. Overall, there are concerns about its current state, with recommendations to wait for patches before playing.

    • “The environments and structures look great, and the game runs smoothly on a wide range of hardware.”
    • “Aside from not being able to custom build exhibits and some performance hiccups, I find this to be an enjoyable, casual business sim.”
    • “The game is extremely poorly optimized and broken at this point. I would recommend avoiding this game until further patches and updates have been implemented to fix these issues.”
  • music3 mentions

    The music in the game is generally described as pleasant but tends to become repetitive over time. Some users express a desire for a more diverse and immersive soundtrack, similar to the relaxing themes found in games like Planet Zoo. Overall, the current music does not meet expectations for variety and ambiance.

    • “The soundtrack, although pleasant, can become repetitive after extended play.”
    • “I would love a nice soundtrack, like how Planet Zoo has this really cool African safari type music that's relaxing, or maybe waterfall sounds and birds or something.”
    • “Even the music is worse.”
    • “The soundtrack is forgettable and lacks variety.”
    • “The music feels repetitive and doesn't enhance the gameplay experience.”
  • replayability3 mentions

    Zoo Tycoon has a moderate replayability score of 7/10, with players noting that while it offers some replay value, it tends to diminish after a few hours of gameplay.

    • “Zoo Tycoon offers a decent level of replayability.”
    • “The variety of animals and scenarios keeps me coming back for more.”
    • “Each playthrough feels unique due to the different strategies you can employ.”
    • “There is no replay value after a few hours of play.”
  • humor3 mentions

    Reviewers express disappointment with the humor in the new version of the game, noting that it lacks the charm and fun of the original. While some found initial enjoyment, the repetitive challenges and gameplay ultimately led to a decline in humor and engagement, making the experience feel tedious rather than entertaining.

    • “I enjoyed it so much and got it in the winter sale for like 10 dollars, but the new version changed a lot and it isn't that funny anymore. Or maybe my childhood memories twisted my judgment.”
    • “There are like 15 challenges repeating over and over again; there is a deadline so you have to hurry. That could be fun, but when you see the very same challenge for the fifteenth time, it isn't funny anymore.”
  • emotional3 mentions

    Reviews highlight a mix of emotions, with some players feeling a sense of disappointment due to its connection to earlier titles, while others appreciate its wholesome and genuinely fun moments, contributing to an overall emotional experience.

    • “It has something wholesome about it.”
    • “Wholesome and genuinely fun at times.”
  • atmosphere1 mentions

    The atmosphere is notably enhanced by meticulous sound design, featuring realistic animal noises and ambient sounds that contribute to an immersive experience.

    • “The sound design deserves praise for its attention to detail, with animal noises and ambient sounds enhancing the atmosphere.”
    • “The game's visuals create a hauntingly beautiful environment that draws you in and keeps you immersed.”
    • “The atmospheric effects, from the lighting to the weather changes, contribute significantly to the overall mood and experience.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

58% average critic score

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Play time

9hMedian play time
20hAverage play time
2-50hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 3 analyzed playthroughs

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