Planet Zoo 2 Review Roundup: Frontier's Sequel Pairs Gorgeous Wildlife With Fiddly Menus

Frontier Developments' park management sequel Planet Zoo 2 delivers detailed animal models alongside a web of menus that can test any builder's patience. In its review of the $50 (£40) sim, PC Gamer noted that while watching the digital fauna remains a treat, working through the UI feels like administrative homework.

"The animals are superstars, but they don't quite make up for the fiddly, frustrating micromanagement," PC Gamer wrote in its verdict.

The sequel expands the original formula by introducing fish, birds, and nature reserves alongside standard zoo exhibits. While these additions broaden park options, the daily routine frequently requires digging through submenus to move animals and tweak habitat variables.

The details

• Price: $50 (£40)
• Developer / Publisher: Frontier Developments
• New Features: Fish, birds, and nature reserves
• Platform Status: PC (Steam Deck Verified)

What do the new features bring to the park?

The centerpiece of Planet Zoo 2's new additions is its nature reserve feature, which plays a major role in the career mode. Players manage networks of zoos while restoring reserves in regions like the Swedish tundra and the jungles of Sumatra.

Releasing reared animals into these wilderness areas links your zoos to global conservation efforts. However, PC Gamer found that managing reserves functions similarly to a gamified terrain editor, requiring players to constantly hop between menus to box up animals and release them into new locations.

Outside of the main campaign, players can dive into sandbox mode or trade animals online with other players in franchise mode. Regardless of mode, establishing habitats requires balancing numerous specific environmental variables.

Where does the simulation encounter friction?

Building habitats requires satisfying exact parameters, from total land area to specific enrichment items. PC Gamer noted that drawing habitat boundaries remains unwieldy, with undersized enclosures triggering warnings about animal rights activists arriving at the gates.

PC Gamer evaluated the title on a system featuring an AMD Ryzen 5 3600 processor, an Nvidia 2080 Super GPU, and 32GB of RAM, confirming that the game is also Steam Deck Verified. While the creature visuals stand out, getting an exhibit operational means working through significant menu friction.

Why it matters

Management games rely on a balance between creative toolsets and smooth systems, and Planet Zoo 2 demonstrates how extra mechanical layers can slow down construction. For management fans, the choice comes down to whether meticulous animal visual detail outweighs the effort needed to navigate the user interface.