Planet Zoo’s Gameplay Reveal Shows A Game That Will Eat Up Your Free Time

Planet Zoo got a gameplay reveal today that gave all sorts of details about what you will need to run a good zoo, and have happy and healthy animals.

I’ve always been a bit conflicted about zoos. Yes, it is helpful to go and see the animals, but it’s hard to ignore that those animals might be happier if they were in a more natural environment. Thankfully, a virtual zoo can offer you all of the animals with none of the ethical dilemmas. Today, Frontier Developments revealed a roughly 20-minute video that focuses on the gameplay mechanics of Planet Zoo, their upcoming zoo management game.

There seems to be a firm focus in the game of developing habitats that keep your animals happy and stress-free. Having the right animals in the right habitats, with the correct plants, water sources, and facilities is vital. You can put in two-way glass so that visitors can see the animals without stressing them out, and managing illness and injury among your animals is essential.

You can build themed areas, playing off the locations your animals come from, and you’ll need to balance the needs of guests with the needs of the animals themselves. Sometimes animals might even escape their enclosures, and you’ll need to get a vet to get them back to where they need to be safely.

The game’s campaign sends you all around the world as you find new biomes and animals to explore. There’s also a Sandbox mode where you can build your ultimate zoo.

Planet Zoo releases on Nov. 5, but you can get access to the beta if you pre-order the Deluxe Edition. The beta will run from September 24 to October 8.