videogamescritic
← all games
Planet Zoo

Planet Zoo

Frontier Developments · released Nov 5, 2019

CasualSimulationStrategy

Build a world for wildlife in Planet Zoo. From the developers of Planet Coaster and Zoo Tycoon comes the ultimate zoo sim. Construct detailed habitats, manage your zoo, and meet authentic living animals who think, feel and explore the world you create around them.

Steam page ↗OpenCritic ↗
83
VGC Score
■Stablehigh confidence

anchored at patch: “Planet Zoo: Asia Animal Pack | Available Now!” (1y ago)

82%
At launch
91%
Steam all-time
81%
Press
76%
Player sentiment
88%
Recent sentiment

Screenshots & trailers

What players say

Why the number is what it is: aspect mentions counted across 296 sampled Steam reviews (260 positive / 36 negative), recent and most-helpful. Plain keyword counting, fully reproducible; nothing here is written by a machine.

What positive reviews talk about

  • Visuals & art4% mention it

What negative reviews complain about

  • Controls & UI25% mention it
  • Bugs & crashes11% mention it

Satisfaction by hours played

Same score, different games: see how sentiment holds up the longer people play.

Under 5h

60%

35 reviews

5-15h

81%

58 reviews

15-40h

91%

68 reviews

40-100h

93%

58 reviews

100h+

99%

77 reviews

Review sentiment over time

Weekly positive-review rate (green) and review volume (bars). Dashed lines mark significant patches; the amber line is the start of the current scoring window. Hover the dots to see what drove a dip or a jump.

How this score was computed

The VGC Score is a weighted blend on a press-comparable 0-100 quality scale. Steam approval rates are first calibrated (95% positive on Steam ≈ 89.5 quality, since Steam approval skews high). Press and tracked creator reviews each count ~2x a player review and share one cap against player evidence (creator buy/skip calls pool into an approval rate, calibrated like Steam approval); all-time sentiment is capped and halved (it's context, not verdict); reviews of the current build carry the most weight when a fresh patch anchors the window; and a 'typical game' prior keeps small samples from pegging the scale. Because press reviews and Metacritic user aggregates describe the launch build, their weight decays as the game ages (3-year half-life after a 1-year grace). That's how a game that launched rough can outgrow its old reception once updates win players over. Reviews under 2h playtime (the refund window), non-Steam activations, and free copies are downweighted.

ComponentPositiveQuality (0-100)Weight (pseudo-reviews)
Press reviews (OpenCritic)–8135
Creator reviews (1 tracked)–901
All-time Steam reviews91%851000
Metacritic user ratings––0
Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted)88%823000
Calibration prior (typical game)–7250

Scoring window: since the last significant patch (Jun 25, 2025) · 300 reviews sampled · 9313 total reviews in window · weighted 217.4 up / 21.7 down · computed 2h ago · full methodology →

Press & Creators reviews (66)

Individual verdicts from outlets we track: scored reviews first, most trusted outlets first among them. The small badge is each outlet's trust score: how well its scoring history aligns with players.

  • 85
    TheReviewGeekTheReviewGeek
    trust 79Nov 10, 2019

    “The simulation aspects are a big step-up from Planet Coaster and Frontier have been pretty quick to resolve some of the biggest problems with the game during its launch. While the online marketplace and steep learning curve may put some people off, Planet Zoo is a beautiful zoo tycoon game nonetheless, chock full of educational content mixed in with realistic animal behaviour. It’s not perfect but it’ll almost certainly serve as a worthy replacement for Zoo Tycoon for the time being.”

    read full review ↗
  • 70
    GameMAGGameMAG
    trust 78Dec 16, 2021

    “Planet Zoo is a deep and well-rounded tycoon game that you can spend many hours with. But be prepared to get a little confused, especially if you don't know the genre too much.”

    read full review ↗
  • 80
    GRYOnline.plGRYOnline.pl
    trust 75Nov 5, 2019

    “Planet Zoo is a great tycoon made in the age where tycoon games seem extinct. And it’s pretty much the best game for animal lovers. But not for every animal lover. Patient and talented builders will create new and improved parks, achieving new levels of satisfaction. Others (and by this I mean almost everybody) will become bored after a few hours.”

    read full review ↗
  • 70
    VGChartzVGChartz
    trust 71Nov 18, 2019

    “An amazing portrayal of real-life zookeepers at work, with all their dedication and accomplishments on full display for all to see.”

    read full review ↗
  • 90
    Cubed3Cubed3
    trust 70Dec 5, 2019

    “Nearly flawless, Planet Zoo is a masterpiece of tycoon simulation, and is one of the most relaxing, engaging, and fantastical pieces of entertainment of 2019. It's a showcase of fun mechanics, and it really draws from the wealth of experience in Frontier Developments as a developer. It's impossible not to recommend this to anyone who has even a passing notion about the genre. Get this!”

    read full review ↗
  • 88
    LevelUpLevelUp
    trust 69Nov 26, 2019

    “Planet Zoo is a new step in simulation games that is backed by a large community and has enormous potential for expansion.”

    read full review ↗
  • 87
    Worth PlayingWorth Playing
    trust 67Dec 16, 2019

    “I suspect that many players will have an uneven time with Planet Zoo. At times, it's pretty straightforward and provides the player with plenty of feedback so they can improve their zoo. Other times, the game has you digging around in areas that are unnecessarily tough to figure out, with tutorials that barely touch on the feature (if at all). The thing with Planet Zoo is that it is so charming and appealing that the fun parts outweigh the frustrating ones. It's not a perfect game in the genre, but it is one of the best ones you can play right now.”

    read full review ↗
  • 80
    Checkpoint GamingCheckpoint Gaming
    trust 66Nov 14, 2019

    “Planet Zoo successfully captures the complexity and reality of what it takes to manage a zoo without sacrificing the game’s relaxing atmosphere.”

    read full review ↗
  • 70
    Rocket ChainsawRocket Chainsaw
    trust 66Nov 21, 2019

    “If you’re a simulation fan, Planet Zoo is definitely worth checking out, whether for its in-depth customisation or just to mess around with the animals and visitors as many of us love doing in these sim games, just make sure you’re prepared for it to crash.”

    read full review ↗
  • 70
    GameSpotGameSpot
    trust 66Nov 21, 2019

    “Planet Zoo is a detailed management sim that's both rewarding and educational, and the cute animals certainly don't hurt.”

    read full review ↗
  • 75
    SECTOR.skSECTOR.sk
    trust 66Nov 8, 2019

    “Planet Zoo gives players much more than cute animals and building habitats. That includes vast variety of options to buid and manage your zoo and the stress that comes with it, induced with many bugs you may encounter.”

    read full review ↗
  • 86
    BazimagBazimag
    trust 65Nov 11, 2019

    “Planet Zoo is the ultimate video game for people you like to play animals but don't want to put them in cages in real life. This is also the best game ever for people who are looking to try their hands at managing a virtual zoo.”

    read full review ↗

…and 54 more tracked reviews.

Patch history

  1. Update 1.20.2 - New free scenery!
    May 28, 2026
  2. Planet Zoo: Asia Animal Pack | Available Now!
    Jun 25, 2025significant · resets scoring window
  3. Planet Zoo | Update 1.19.1
    May 6, 2025significant · resets scoring window
  4. Planet Zoo | Americas Animal Pack | Available Now
    Apr 15, 2025significant · resets scoring window
  5. Planet Zoo | 1.18.2 Update Notes
    Jan 30, 2025significant · resets scoring window
  6. Planet Zoo | Update 1.18
    Oct 31, 2024significant · resets scoring window
  7. Zookeepers Animal Pack & Free Update 1.18
    Oct 15, 2024significant · resets scoring window
  8. Planet Zoo - 1.17.1 Update Notes
    May 13, 2024significant · resets scoring window
  9. Planet Zoo - 1.17 Update Notes
    Apr 30, 2024significant · resets scoring window
  10. PLANET ZOO: BARNYARD ANIMAL PACK AND FREE UPDATE 1.17 OUT NOW!
    Apr 30, 2024significant · resets scoring window
  11. Planet Zoo: Update 1.16.2 is available now!
    Jan 25, 2024significant · resets scoring window
  12. An update on the Franchise issues
    Jan 19, 2024
  13. Planet Zoo: Update 1.16.1 is available now!
    Jan 9, 2024
  14. Planet Zoo: Eurasia Animal Pack and Free Update 1.16 Out Now ❄️
    Dec 13, 2023significant · resets scoring window
  15. Planet Zoo - Update 1.15.2 - Happy Anniversary Planet Zoo!
    Nov 2, 2023significant · resets scoring window
  16. Planet Zoo Update 1.15.1 is available now!
    Oct 3, 2023
  17. Planet Zoo: Oceania Pack and Free Update 1.15 Out Now! 🐧
    Sep 19, 2023significant · resets scoring window
  18. Planet Zoo Update 1.14.1 is available now!
    Jul 6, 2023
  19. Planet Zoo: Arid Animal Pack and Free Update 1.14 Out Now! 🐪
    Jun 20, 2023significant · resets scoring window
  20. Planet Zoo: Update 1.14 coming 20th June 🐾
    Jun 5, 2023
  21. Planet Zoo Update 1.13.1 is available now!
    Apr 25, 2023significant · resets scoring window
  22. Planet Zoo: Tropical Pack and Free Update 1.13 Out Now! 🌴
    Apr 4, 2023significant · resets scoring window
  23. Update 1.13 coming to Planet Zoo 4 April, 2023
    Mar 22, 2023significant · resets scoring window
  24. Planet Zoo Update 1.12.4 is available now!
    Jan 31, 2023
  25. Planet Zoo Update 1.12.3 is available now!
    Jan 17, 2023significant · resets scoring window
  26. Update 1.12.2 is available now!
    Dec 15, 2022
  27. Planet Zoo: Grasslands Animal Pack and Free Update 1.12.1 Out Now 🌿
    Dec 13, 2022significant · resets scoring window
  28. Update 1.12 coming to Planet Zoo 13 December
    Dec 1, 2022significant · resets scoring window
  29. Planet Zoo - Update 1.11.2 - Happy Birthday Planet Zoo!
    Nov 3, 2022significant · resets scoring window
  30. Planet Zoo Update 1.11.1 is available now!
    Oct 27, 2022
  31. Planet Zoo: Twilight Pack and Update 1.11 Out Now! 🦇
    Oct 18, 2022significant · resets scoring window
  32. Update 1.11 coming to Planet Zoo, 18th of October
    Oct 6, 2022
  33. Planet Zoo Update 1.10.3 is available now!
    Aug 25, 2022
  34. Planet Zoo Update 1.10.1 is out now!
    Jul 13, 2022significant · resets scoring window
  35. Planet Zoo: Conservation Pack and Update 1.10 Out Now!
    Jun 21, 2022significant · resets scoring window
  36. 🐾 Planet Zoo - Update 1.10 coming 21 June 🐾
    Jun 9, 2022significant · resets scoring window
  37. Planet Zoo Update 1.9.2 is out now!
    May 5, 2022significant · resets scoring window
  38. Planet Zoo Update 1.9.1 is out now!
    Apr 21, 2022significant · resets scoring window
  39. Planet Zoo: Wetlands Animal Pack and Update 1.9 Out Now!
    Apr 12, 2022significant · resets scoring window
  40. Planet Zoo - Update 1.9 coming 12 April
    Mar 25, 2022

…and 28 earlier patch announcements.