Tycoon-style games can be a hit or miss depending on how in-depth they are. Standout tycoon games have the right amount of balancing business with construction, as well as a sandbox mode that allows for an “anything goes” gameplay style. One tycoon game that accomplished this, and more, were the classicZoo TycoonandZoo Tycoon 2games from Blue Fang Games and Microsoft Studios. While these games and expansion packs released from 2001 to 2008, they still hold up after all these years as quality endeavors that balance the business side of a tycoon game with the fun construction aspect of building a zoo.
Microsoft later tried to reboot the series in 2013 with Frontier Developments, still calling the gameZoo Tycoonthough the end result varied drastically from the predecessor games. It’s much more accurate to sayPlanet Zoois similar to the oldZoo Tycoongames. The morerecent endeavor from Frontier Developmentshas consistently been called the spiritual predecessor to the originalZoo Tycoonfranchise. While this title is deserved, there are a few differences that still giveZoo Tycoonan edge when compared toPlanet Zoo.
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Easier Build Tools
Planet Zoohas often been applauded for its build capabilities because it’s so far advanced from the days ofZoo Tycoon. This advancement isn’t surprising, especially becausePlanet Zoodebuted in 2019 — over ten years after the lastZoo Tycoongame. However, more isn’t always better and this is evidenced in just how many options are available inPlanet Zoo.Zoo Tycoonexclusively has premade buildingsthat players can place in their zoos and they could be themed to match a certain aesthetic, making it easy to make themed parks or park sections.
Planet Zoo, on the other hand, lets players craft their own building exteriors from scratch. This means placing plank after plank to create a cohesive wall, as well as making custom roofing and enclosure fences. The build mechanics inPlanet Zooare incredibly detailed but have a massive learning curve to it that players have to be dedicated to understanding.Zoo Tycoonhas easy-to-use build mechanicsthat players can learn and utilizepretty immediately without a steep learning curve.Planet Zoois extremely customizable, which is great for players with keen attention to detail, but those looking for a more straightforward experience might be better off withZoo Tycoon.
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Less Micromanaging
At its core,Zoo Tycoonis a tycoon simulation game. Players could spend a lot of time in sandbox mode just creating a zoo, or learn to balance animal care with running a successful, profitable zoo in campaign modes. It was important to know how to balance the business aspect with the building of a zoo, but it wasn’t mandatory.Planet Zoofollows suitin a similar fashion, where players can focus on a sandbox mode or play different campaigns with goals.
The key difference, though, is thatPlanet Zootends to require a lot more micromanaging compared toZoo Tycoon. Besides knowing how to balance running a successful business and keeping the zoo animals happy, players have to focus on other details inPlanet Zoo. The game requires that players know where to place things like generators for correct power allocation. While this seems like an interesting detail at first, it can become annoyingly tedious to keep up with. Otherinstances of paying attention to detailsabsent fromZoo Tycooncan makePlanet Zoomore complicated than fun at times.
Planet ZooandZoo Tycoonare both pleasant zoo gaming experiences depending on what players are looking for. However, in the grand scheme of things, it’s no wonder that people still gravitate toward the originalZoo Tycoonfor its easy-to-navigate interface and enjoyable gameplay experience.
