Planet Zoo 2 vs Planet Zoo: what's new in the sequel

Aquariums

Aquariums are custom-built freshwater or saltwater tanks. You keep the water clean with filtration systems and give keepers easy access for animal care. The Zoopedia lists 32 aquarium species, from the Blacktip Reef Shark to the Hawksbill Turtle; see the fish list.

Aviaries and flying birds

In Planet Zoo 2 an aviary is a roofed habitat: you select the habitat and choose "Add Roof", and the game builds the roof from nearby barrier posts. Birds need nests to breed, and each species needs a certain amount of flying space, which the aviary's Info Panel shows as its Flyable Area. Some birds can share an aviary with other species, and some tolerate guests walking through their aviary.

Wildlife Reserves

Reserves sit in locations around the world, from the rainforests of Sumatra to the grasslands of the Great Rift Valley. You clean up pollution, clear invasive plants, restore ecosystems, then release animals from your zoos in groups. Each group has requirements such as longevity, fertility or genetic diversity. A research network of outposts, observation platforms, acoustic monitors and camera traps raises the reserve's Biodiversity Rating, and you can drive a research vehicle or walk around to photograph animals. Frontier says only species with a suitable reserve can be released.

Seasons

Years are split into seasons that change foliage, weather and temperature. Winters can be cold enough that some animals need heaters or shelter, and heaters need power. Some species now breed only at certain times of the year.

Building tools

The sequel adds new path tools (line and curve, draw, stamp and border-edit), a nature brush for foliage and rocks, and scaling and mirroring for scenery. Flexi-colour now covers more objects, including paths. Frontier's own blueprints appear alongside community creations in the Frontier Workshop. The Workshop is now built into the game, and creations are shared across platforms.

Management and modes

You hire caretakers, keepers, mechanics, vendors, vets and educators. Guests need toilets, food, drink and places to rest, and they can ask for refunds. If animal welfare is poor, protesters can show up. The Planet Hub lets you jump between zoos and reserves without leaving your save. The modes are Career, which includes the Fauna and Ecosystems Network (FEN); Franchise, where you trade animals with other players; and Sandbox. You can also explore zoos in a first-person guest view.

Is there a build limit in Planet Zoo 2?

On PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, yes. Frontier's FAQ says the console version "features a complexity meter, which acts as a useful tool to ensure the best possible performance". It has not said how big a zoo can get before you reach the limit.

On PC, Frontier's FAQ does not mention a build cap. Its requirements note says performance drops as a zoo fills with animals and guests, and that this load falls mostly on the processor. Whether the PC version has a build limit, and how large zoos affect performance, won't be known until the game is out.

What stays the same

• The sequel remains single-player. There is no multiplayer; you share zoos and blueprints through the Frontier Workshop.
• Piece-by-piece building, flexi-colour and the Frontier Workshop return, now across PC and consoles.
• Frontier's support team still helps with Planet Zoo issues, but Frontier's development team is now focused on Planet Zoo 2.

Should you play Planet Zoo 1 or 2?

The sequel can't be judged before launch, but some trade-offs are already clear. Planet Zoo 1 is no longer in active development but has plenty of content (20 content packs, over 80 updates and a console edition released in March 2024). Planet Zoo 2 is the only one with aquariums, flying birds and Wildlife Reserves, but it needs a stronger PC (see the requirements) and starts at $49.99 / £39.99 / €49.99 (see editions). Frontier has not said whether Planet Zoo 1 content carries over.