Zoochosis

About

"Zoochosis" is a night shift zookeeper simulation where players must care for and save infected animals from turning into mutants. Interaction with the animals includes preparing meals, restocking, and cleaning enclosures. The player's choices determine the ending, as they try to save specific animals and survive the night, leading to multiple possible endings.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

58%

Audience ScoreBased on 2,071 reviews

story131 positive mentions

gameplay125 negative mentions

Unique concept combining animal care and horror elements.
Interesting monster designs and atmosphere.
Developers are actively working on updates and bug fixes.

Repetitive gameplay loop with little variation.
Many bugs and glitches leading to soft locks.
Misleading trailers that do not represent the actual game experience.

gameplay
615 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
62%
20%
The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it repetitive and lacking depth. While some appreciate the unique mechanics of animal care and the horror elements, others criticize the gameplay loop as tedious and overly simplistic, often feeling more like a chore simulator. Additionally, numerous bugs and a disconnect between the gameplay and promotional materials have led to disappointment among players, suggesting that the game may require significant updates to meet expectations.
- “The main gameplay loop of figuring out the disease and then treating the animals is very satisfying, so even without any horror elements, Zoochosis is quite an immersive and enjoyable experience.”
- “I enjoy figuring out the right concoctions to cure animals, but the most overt challenge is messing around with the game's mechanics on repeat playthroughs to kind of suss out the repeating cycle of checking habitats.”
- “Once you get the hang of it, the gameplay is actually pretty nice and enjoyable.”
- “The gameplay loop is tedious chore bait and the routine gets old fast.”
- “The core gameplay loop quickly becomes repetitive, leaving players with a sense of tedium.”
- “This game is a chore simulator that punishes the player for experimenting with the game's mechanics by softlocking.”
story
562 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
67%
9%
The story of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it intriguing yet ultimately underwhelming. Critics highlight its short length, rushed pacing, and lack of depth, often feeling that the narrative fails to deliver on the potential showcased in trailers. While some appreciate the multiple endings and the unique premise, others express disappointment over repetitive gameplay and poorly executed storytelling, suggesting that the game could benefit from further development and refinement.
- “The story is intriguing.”
- “The story and twists are quite entertaining and were fun to unravel.”
- “I love the story/world/situation and am really invested in following along and figuring stuff out!”
- “Its story felt too short for the hype that built around it and I don't think it's worth the price it's listed at.”
- “The story just isn't great, predictable, and rushed.”
- “The story is shallow and boring, with characters not acting how you would expect, along with very few things being explained.”
stability
196 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
2%
98%
The game's stability has been widely criticized, with many players reporting numerous bugs, glitches, and soft locks that significantly hinder gameplay. While some users have experienced minimal issues, the overall consensus is that the game is currently very buggy and lacks polish, leading to frustration and disappointment. Players are advised to wait for patches and improvements before purchasing, as the developers are actively working to address these issues.
- “It was cool at release, but now it's almost bug-free.”
- “Playing on Steam Deck, this game runs great (plugged) on medium/low settings with fast loading between the zones.”
- “Unfortunately, the game severely lacks polish and is quite buggy and doesn't explain the basics of the game very well.”
- “A buggy mess, had several game freezes when interacting with objects and when being attacked by the creatures where it simply fades to black, yet you can still move around and do stuff.”
- “The game is very buggy and you will get soft locked at points.”
graphics
144 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
51%
4%
The graphics of the game have received mixed feedback, with many players praising the high-quality visuals, creature designs, and immersive atmosphere. However, some users reported performance issues, such as low frame rates and graphical bugs, particularly on lower-end systems. Overall, while the aesthetics are generally well-received, they are often overshadowed by gameplay concerns and technical shortcomings.
- “For an indie game, the graphics are good, and the voice acting is incredibly impressive.”
- “The graphics are amazing, and the immersion feels incredible. I'm glad they managed to patch up a few glitches which helped me actually finish the game.”
- “The visuals are incredible! The body horror and models are phenomenal, and the graphics are amazing.”
- “Initially, the game's graphics were a bit rough around the edges.”
- “The graphics used in trailers and the Steam product description are misleading.”
- “No roaming enemies or multiples so far, and graphics are way worse than teased.”
grinding
92 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
1%
5%
93%
The grinding aspect of the game has received overwhelmingly negative feedback, with players describing the gameplay as tedious, repetitive, and akin to performing mundane chores rather than engaging in a horror experience. While some appreciate the potential for unique encounters and multiple endings, many feel that the repetitive tasks detract from the overall enjoyment, making the game feel more like a job than a source of entertainment. Overall, the grinding mechanics are seen as a significant flaw that hampers the game's appeal.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “This game was so boring I didn't want to play it, but I still wanted to give it a fair shot, so I procrastinated for weeks until finally getting around to playing it again only to realize again that it's always either a tedious list of chores or some overly edgy shock value content.”
- “However, after the initial excitement fades, the repetitive tasks, like feeding animals and administering vaccines, quickly become tedious.”
- “The gameplay loop is tedious chore bait and the routine gets old fast.”
atmosphere
76 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
46%
4%
The game's atmosphere is praised for its initial tension and spooky aesthetics, effectively creating a creepy environment with strong visuals and sound design. However, many players feel that the atmosphere is ultimately underutilized, as the gameplay often detracts from the intended horror experience, leading to a mix of disappointment and frustration. While some appreciate the unsettling vibe and unique monster designs, others criticize the reliance on cheap jump scares and repetitive mechanics that diminish the overall impact of the atmospheric setup.
- “The dark atmosphere is really oppressive and anyone sensitive to that kind of thing will totally get it.”
- “Ultimately, Zoochosis is a game with a lot of heart and a genuinely creepy atmosphere.”
- “This game has such a cool premise, and it really does well with the atmosphere, setting, and tone.”
- “I loved the interaction with animals, but I was expecting a horror atmosphere; I was expecting to get spooked and I didn't even once.”
- “Too repetitive, agonizing tutorial, general atmosphere that was more comic than horror.”
- “The trailers show things that never happen and paint this game to be a high-stakes horror with a tense atmosphere.”
replayability
62 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
61%
19%
The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with some players appreciating the randomization of animals and diseases, as well as the multiple endings that encourage experimentation. However, many reviewers criticize the linearity of events and lack of meaningful unlocks, leading to a perception of limited replay value despite the game's short runtime. Overall, while it offers some replay potential, the execution leaves players wanting more depth and variety.
- “With multiple endings, the game offers replayability and various outcomes.”
- “The game is very replayable due to it unlocking new animals to cure after each playthrough.”
- “It's designed as a replayable experience where you experiment with different choices or methods to calm the mutations each run, eventually allowing you to discover more and more of the story.”
- “Ultimately, it's fun for the first playthrough but definitely not worth the price tag as it has little to no replay value.”
- “The idea of replay value isn't really there with 8 animals and a repetitive loop for each one.”
- “After the first playthrough it has no replayability due to soft locks; other people have reported the issue in the official discord, and the devs have left them ignored.”
optimization
41 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
51%
29%
The game's optimization has received significant criticism, with many players experiencing performance issues such as stuttering and lag, particularly in key areas like animal enclosures. While some users note that recent patches have improved performance, others still find it unplayable on lower-end systems, suggesting that it feels more like an early access title. Overall, players recommend waiting for further updates before purchasing, as the current optimization detracts from an otherwise enjoyable experience.
- “Edit: the dev has been hard at work, making one patch a day for over a week, and the performance is way better now.”
- “Performance is getting better by the day.”
- “The game both looks great and runs smoothly, letting the player jump headlong into the insane and skin-crawling story!”
- “Very unoptimized game that had nothing to do with the trailers.”
- “As much as I want to love and play it for its unique concept and great designs, my experience is ruined by the poor optimization. The biggest issue is with the lag you get when inside the animal enclosures, which is arguably the most important location to not have that lag since your reaction time is delayed.”
- “The game is poorly optimized, and I was getting heavy stuttering even after dropping everything down to the lowest possible settings with a GTX 3060.”
humor
31 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is described as campy and unintentional, often eliciting laughter from players due to its quirky elements, such as funny character names and absurd animations. While some found the comedic aspects entertaining, others noted that the humor sometimes overshadowed the intended horror, leading to a more amusing experience than a genuinely scary one. Overall, players appreciated the lighthearted moments, even amidst the game's flaws.
- “In conclusion, the game is a funny time and you should give it a shot and give it your own thoughts.”
- “I will say it was quite hilarious to have the penguin forced to attack me as it just bobbed me up and down on the roof for a bit before dropping me.”
- “But I must say I had a ton of fun getting all the endings and seeing how much dedication and work was put into this game with the nice looking graphics, awesome designs and pretty funny animations.”
monetization
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization aspect of the game has drawn significant criticism, with many reviewers labeling it a cash grab that fails to deliver on the promises made in its advertising. Players feel misled by the trailers, which suggest a deeper gameplay experience centered around saving animals, while the actual game is perceived as a shallow horror-themed action title. Suggestions for improvement include making the game free or offering a demo to better align expectations with the final product.
- “I actually am wondering if the whole point of the trailers was to make this a cash grab.”
- “Whatever this is, it feels like a petty cash grab.”
- “While I still believe the concept and idea for this game has so much potential, the overall feel of the game did not match the original advertisements in gameplay.”
emotional
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, players feel that while the voice actors have a solid understanding of their characters, their emotional delivery lacks depth, which can detract from player engagement. The game's wholesome elements and the option to toggle emotional features are appreciated, but many reviewers express disappointment over missing content and bugs at launch, suggesting the game feels somewhat unfinished despite enjoyable gameplay.
- “The fact there is a way to toggle this off in the game made me feel included.”
- “This game is so wholesome!”
- “That said, it does seem like an unfinished product - a lot of scenes and occasional scares that are shown on the trailers are just not present, which is somewhat heartbreaking considering how good the idea behind it was.”
music
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
50%
25%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the dark ambient tracks that enhance the atmosphere, while others criticize the lack of impactful music during key moments, particularly in boss encounters. Many feel that the developers rushed the implementation of music features, resulting in a disjointed experience that fails to elevate the horror elements effectively. Overall, the soundtrack is seen as a missed opportunity to enrich the game's intended atmosphere.
- “Also, the dark ambient music is really awesome.”
- “The addition of background music to enrich key cutscenes is a great touch.”
- “The music creates an obvious 'stuff is going down' atmosphere.”
- “No music.”
- “☑️ little to no music.”
- “I hate to say it, but the game was a major letdown. The atmosphere, infected animal designs, and overall idea were really good, but they kept taking the simple way to make something happen. For example, the infected animals don't transform in any way; they just appear. The boss music is awful too; it's more suspense music than boss music. It sounds like jumbled up sound effects, and then it was called a day.”