Zoo Tycoon

Platforms

• Xbox One

  Nov 22, 2013

  ---

  6.4

  playscore

  6.5

  25 Critics

  6.0

  793 Players
• Xbox 360

  Nov 19, 2013

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  7.0

  playscore

  5.3

  3 Critics

  8.4

  11.9K Players

27 critic reviews · 2 community reviews across all platforms

Critic Reviews

• 

  The Escapist

  7.0

  Zoo Tycoon may not look like a contender to the uninitiated, but fans of the series will already vouch for its legitimacy, and those who have already picked it up will likely agree that it's one of the more satisfying Xbox One titles on the market. Easy to get into, but with just enough nuance and depth to keep one invested for a while, Zoo Tycoon inevitable limitations won't overwhelm what is an impressive little sim.

  Reviewed on XB1

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• 

  COGconnected

  7.0

  After playing Zoo Tycoon I have to admit that it is quite time consuming, has a long learning curve and is more ideal on a PC platform compared to a console experience. That being said, it is a game that provides a robust zoo experience perfect for any zoo enthusiast, a veteran “sim” player, or perhaps even for a parent looking for a game without any violence whatsoever.

  Reviewed on XB1

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• 

  Games Radar+

  7.0

  Zoos are special and Zoo Tycoon captures that nicely. The sometimes disappointing limitations and even the dreadful menus don’t take away enough from the overall package to prevent it from earning a recommendation, particularly for animal lovers and families.

  Reviewed on XB1

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• 

  CVG

  6.0

  Accept its limitations and Zoo Tycoon is a charming sim that, while not exactly brimming with depth, still offers a more relaxing alternative to the stabby, gory, drivey next-gen offerings available so far. Just bear in mind that, if you're the sort of gamer who fondly remembers the days of Rollercoaster Tycoon, Theme Hospital and earlier SimCity titles, you won't be ploughing hundreds of hours into this one like you did with those.

  Reviewed on XB1, X360
• 

  TheSixthAxis

  6.0

  Zoo Tycoon is a lovely, relaxing little game with a few fairly frustrating quirks. When the menus and Kinect get out of your way and you find a period without the need for repetitive tasks and chores, it’s a pleasant little world to explore and enjoy, but there are those moments of frustration and the slow pacing. This might put off some younger players, ending up as a pleasant game world without a compelling reason to keep coming back and with several reasons to put something else on.

  Reviewed on XB1

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• 

  Game Revolution

  6.0

  Zoo Tycoon has all the cuddly critters up its sleeve, and it wields the stick of cuteness without shame. But this simulation buries the cuteness beneath menus and squanders the power of the next-gen console by limiting the size of the zoo. Though creating a zoo is pleasant and breezy, after building several zoos with all of the animals, you've pretty much experienced the lion's share of what Zoo Tycoon has to offer.

  Reviewed on XB1

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• 

  Game Informer

  7.0

  Zoo Tycoon isn’t ambitious, but generally succeeds at providing a low-impact simulation. Even with the interface issues and space restrictions, starting a zoo from scratch and building it up is entertaining, though it isn’t complex. The ability to share zoos in the cloud and play online co-op also makes this a good title for friends and family to play together. It’s easy and accessible fun, but Zoo Tycoon has a long way to go before it has the depth to make it rewarding.

  Reviewed on XB1
• 

  Hardcore Gamer

  7.0

  Zoo Tycoon may be one of the lesser known Xbox One titles, but it’s not one of the lesser quality ones. With four modes, a deep interface and multiple activities, it’s clear that a lot of effort went into its development. Unfortunately, by combining classic Zoo Tycoon elements with those of Kinectimals, it lowers the challenge. ...Still, it’s the best family choice for a next-gen launch title and quite an educational one at that.

  Reviewed on XB1

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• 

  Edge

  6.0

  For all Zoo Tycoon’s charms, it’s ultimately too shallow; there’s only so much cooing at identikit baby animals you can do before the inevitable fatigue sets in. The lack of any real challenge or, worse, variety means the initial novelty soon wears off. ...Take a picture of an animal for a publication; perform an interaction with a certain number of sub-species; courier spoiling stock from one side of the park to another; keep meters in the green for a five full minutes.

  Reviewed on XB1
• 

  GameSpot

  6.0

  There's a lot to like about Zoo Tycoon. Wandering the grounds of your zoo and interacting with animals can be a delight. And the game presents its concepts in a way that's accessible to players new to management sims, but still makes building a successful, flourishing zoo a rewarding achievement. It's just a shame that the game forces you to spend so much time bogged down in its clumsy interface, when all you want to do is build a better zoo.

  Reviewed on XB1

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Community Reviews

About the game