Simulation games such as Zoo Tycoon and Rollercoaster Tycoon were huge successes in their respective genres, though this trend did not continue into the 2010s. Modern developers, on the other hand, are attempting to resurrect this genre by adding their own twists and turns to it.
Let’s Build a Zoo is the creation of Singaporean developer Springloaded, who has been working on their own take on the genre. A month after the game’s beta period and a Steam Next Fest demo for fans to try out, the game’s developers and publisher No More Robots have announced that the game will be released on November 5th.
Let’s Build a Zoo is a pixel art game with a vibrant and cartoony pixel art style that puts players in charge of creating their own zoo, managing the business side of things, and outfitting the zoo with a diverse collection of animals and caretaker characters.
What distinguishes Let’s Build a Zoo from its predecessors is the game’s DNA-splicing mechanic, which allows players to mix and match animals to create bizarre hybrids that would otherwise be impossible.
In this game, players can either fill their zoos with entirely normal animals or go completely insane with these lab-created cryptids. From giraffe-eagle mashups to chicken-crocodile monstrosities, the choice is entirely up to the player.
Springloaded is no stranger to the simulation genre, as their previous offerings such as Prison Planet and PixoCities both featured their own unique twists on the genre’s standard gameplay.
Let’s Build a Zoo will be released on Steam on November 5, according to the official website.