Planet Zoo 2, the latest zoo management simulator from Frontier Developments, has earned a 9/10 rating from Sportskeeda in a review published on October 18, 2026, with the reviewer calling it a must-have for fans of the genre.
The sequel builds on the foundation laid by 2019's Planet Zoo, letting players construct a zoo from the ground up, manage animal welfare, satisfy paying guests, and release animals back into the wild as part of its conservation systems. According to Sportskeeda, the game runs well on PlayStation 5, with acceptable load times and no performance problems even in large, crowded zoos.
What Sportskeeda's Planet Zoo 2 review says
The review's central judgment is simple: the animals are the game's finest achievement. Sportskeeda praises the visuals and the behavioral detail of creatures such as manatees and otters, and recommends players use the camera mode to follow individual animals and appreciate the work Frontier put into them.
The management side also earns approval. The reviewer describes the balance between animal enclosures, guest amenities, and commodity shops as delicately tuned, and notes that revenue from happy visitors feeds directly back into animal care. Sandbox mode lets players switch those restrictions off, but Sportskeeda advises playing at least once with the full rules in place.
The campaign mode functions largely as an extended tutorial, strung along a thin story with engaging voice-over. Veterans of the series will find the core loop, building enclosures, hiring staff, and meeting animal needs, largely unchanged from the first game, with minor refinements rather than a full overhaul. The reviewer has no complaints about that, calling the loop fantastic.
Where the game falls short
The review is not without criticism. Building an aquarium can become tiresome because the tank will not fill with water if pavement clips into the fence or if the staff gate sits at the wrong height relative to the water level. The first problem is not flagged by the game at all, and the reviewer reported spending several minutes working out what had gone wrong.
Aside from those terrain and fencing quirks, Sportskeeda found little to fault. The complications of running a zoo stack on each other organically, the reviewer wrote, without breaking immersion.
Conservation and education at the center
One element the review highlights as genuinely refreshing is the game's emphasis on reserves and on educating zoo visitors. Players can hire educators, install signboards, and set up speakers to teach guests about each species and its habits. The stated primary goal is animal welfare, which can lead to releasing animals back into the wild and integrating them successfully into reserves.
It is a sensible design choice. A game that rewards patience, planning, and responsibility toward animals, rather than spectacle alone, reflects values worth encouraging in entertainment. Frontier Developments, also the studio behind the Jurassic World Evolution series, has produced what the reviewer describes as the culmination of both franchises.
Should you buy Planet Zoo 2?
Sportskeeda's verdict is unambiguous. Players who enjoyed Zoo Tycoon and Zoo Tycoon 2 should consider Planet Zoo 2 a must-have, not only for nostalgia but for how far the series has pushed the genre in gameplay and graphics. Anyone who has not played the first Planet Zoo is advised to complete the campaign mode first to learn the systems.
The reviewer tested the game on PS5 and encountered no problems regardless of how many elements filled the zoo. Load times were acceptable, and even the loading screens were engaging.
With a 9/10 score, strong visuals, balanced management systems, and a genuine conservation message, Planet Zoo 2 stands as one of the strongest management sim releases of the season. Players who prefer their entertainment on the survival end of the spectrum may also enjoy what Channel 4 has been doing with