As 2024 comes to an end, let's reflect on the year and boy...this was the most year...
I kid, but 2024 for Planet Zoo has certainly been an eventful one.
From the long awaited release to console - which has sparked renewed interest in the game, just check out Reddit and YouTube for proof of that, to the feelings of impending doom as both packs were expected to be the last, the absolutely shocking news that support will indeed continue till at least next year, the heartbreaking loss of the community team, social media unevenness, the rise of Frontier Unlocked, the release of Planet Coaster 2, it's been a lot.
But let's focus to why we're here in the first place, the animals! What were your Top 10 of the year and why? Overall thoughts of the two packs? Any stand-outs? Hopes for 2025 - look, I'm American, I can't exactly say I'm looking forward to next year at all, but a DLC could help...
And now let's get to it!
10. Alpine Goat - Not my top choice of breed, but a goat of any sort is probably the most essential petting zoo animal. Love the walk, the look, the sound design, a very solid job! My one gripe is that I really wish the color morphs weren't just restricted to melanistic, piebald, leucistic, etc. and were more naturally occurring like with the red fox, lar gibbon, and so more picks higher on here.
9. Pallas' Cat - I had absolute apathy towards to this fuzzball for years, but they have completely won me over. Despite Frontier's famous feline fever, I did feel the Pallas cat is worthy if not necessary addition. I just think they're neat!
8. Hill Radnor Sheep - Continuing Barnyard's infamous pattern of obscure breed choices, the sheep is another odd one, but tbh it doesn't matter all to me. When I think of a sheep, this what I think of. It's a sheep. And it's a really, really good one. Much has been said about the dip in quality of model work this year, but the sheep is absolutely an exception. It looks, sounds, and moves great. A very, very strong animal.
7. Alpaca - The alpaca represents a lot to me of why the Barnyard Pack works overall. Yes, we got SIX ungulates in one pack. But to me, there's a fundamental difference of the most iconic, recognizable animals on the planet - literally animals babies learn about - than say, the 14th African antelope. The Barnyard animals are iconic enough from popular culture alone to earn their place in the game imo. And the alpaca absolutely fills that criteria. Not to mention, FINALLY some South American representation. And where the goat fell short of the naturally occurring color morphs, the alpaca works it to the nines. Excellent execution on the fur as well.
6. American Standard Donkey - I have a lot of bias here because donkeys are my favorite farm mammals (they make WAFFLES!) and I know there are issues with the donkey - despite the patch, some of the morphs still don't have the cross on the back (can't believe they didn't properly fix it), and of course the sound, although I do feel like I have heard them heehawing in game? They absolute do when they fight and in the launch trailer. Has anyone else heard them hee haw at all while playing? Genuinely asking here.
But I can't help it, I love donkeys. And I was pretty devastated when the Somali wild ass was added because I assumed they had no shot of getting in. So happy to be wrong. And another hot topic, I think donkeys are a better pick than horses for a petting zoo. Gonna lose some folks with this one, but I stand by it. Now get me some parfait!
5. Spectacled Bear - I've mentioned it before here, but I voiced and puppeteered Paddington in the US tour of his play in 2022 to 2023, so of course I'm happy to be IN the game! A great model, a Zoo Tycoon legacy addition, again - FINALLY South America, an extremely welcomed addition to the game. Not to much to say. Who doesn't love bears?
4. Coquerel's Sifaka - I'm just gonna say it: I think this is the most overly criticized animal of the year. I'm a tour guide at the Bronx Zoo and we are one of the few facilities that houses them. Yes, the climbing pattern is wrong. But for me, their terrestrial, hopping locomotion is by far their most iconic feature, and so long as that was done right, I consider it a success. And despite the initial concerns, Frontier delivered there. And at least for me, when climbing, they are constantly jumping from branch to branch, platform to platform, as they do in real life - much more than any other climbing animal in-game.
I also think the lack of a South American monkey really caused an uproar against the guys which I don't think is fair. Not to mention, look, support is going till next year, I would be DUMBFOUNDED if we don't get at least one LATAM monkey next year.
I know I'm biased especially since they were in my original Top 25 wishlist all the way back in 2021, but I'm just very, very happy to have them in the game.
3. Markhor - My most desired ungulate since getting into the game three years ago. Another Bronx staple, one of the true last remaining Zoo Tycoon OG legacy animals (in both 1 and 2!!!), thought the takin swiped their spot last year, I NEEDED THEM. And they're great! Can't describe the feeling I got when I first saw them climb up the mountain enrichment. Something I never thought I'd see
2. African Spurred Tortoise - THIS is what I'm talking about! Leaps and bounds the best looking animal of the year. It's on par with the likes of the armadillo and porcupine in terms of flawless execution and photorealism. I love their breathing sounds too, reminds me of Tony Soprano OH! A very long overdue addition to habitat reptiles. I will say though they might too good... as the sulcata here demonstrates how CRITICAL the Aldabra and Galapagos need to be upscaled. Like good grief, that resize is needed asap
1. Sussex Chicken - Sorry for being so predictable, the bird guy likes birds, what? But as heartbroken as I am my beloved ducks have yet to join the flock, I just love these chickens. They're honestly not far from the tortoise as the best looking animals of the year for me.
Actually it's a bit more than that...it's embarrassing to admit, the chicken is my favorite animal in the game.
That's not a joke, that's not a bit, not recency bias. I just love them so much. I have spent HOURS watching them strut, peck, crow, and a doodle doo.
And once they silently added red rooster color morph? FORGET IT. It was over.
All I could ever ask is we get a few more morphs - gold, solid brown, bright red, but even as is - they're still incredible.
What about YOU??
I kid, but 2024 for Planet Zoo has certainly been an eventful one.
From the long awaited release to console - which has sparked renewed interest in the game, just check out Reddit and YouTube for proof of that, to the feelings of impending doom as both packs were expected to be the last, the absolutely shocking news that support will indeed continue till at least next year, the heartbreaking loss of the community team, social media unevenness, the rise of Frontier Unlocked, the release of Planet Coaster 2, it's been a lot.
But let's focus to why we're here in the first place, the animals! What were your Top 10 of the year and why? Overall thoughts of the two packs? Any stand-outs? Hopes for 2025 - look, I'm American, I can't exactly say I'm looking forward to next year at all, but a DLC could help...
And now let's get to it!
10. Alpine Goat - Not my top choice of breed, but a goat of any sort is probably the most essential petting zoo animal. Love the walk, the look, the sound design, a very solid job! My one gripe is that I really wish the color morphs weren't just restricted to melanistic, piebald, leucistic, etc. and were more naturally occurring like with the red fox, lar gibbon, and so more picks higher on here.
9. Pallas' Cat - I had absolute apathy towards to this fuzzball for years, but they have completely won me over. Despite Frontier's famous feline fever, I did feel the Pallas cat is worthy if not necessary addition. I just think they're neat!
8. Hill Radnor Sheep - Continuing Barnyard's infamous pattern of obscure breed choices, the sheep is another odd one, but tbh it doesn't matter all to me. When I think of a sheep, this what I think of. It's a sheep. And it's a really, really good one. Much has been said about the dip in quality of model work this year, but the sheep is absolutely an exception. It looks, sounds, and moves great. A very, very strong animal.
7. Alpaca - The alpaca represents a lot to me of why the Barnyard Pack works overall. Yes, we got SIX ungulates in one pack. But to me, there's a fundamental difference of the most iconic, recognizable animals on the planet - literally animals babies learn about - than say, the 14th African antelope. The Barnyard animals are iconic enough from popular culture alone to earn their place in the game imo. And the alpaca absolutely fills that criteria. Not to mention, FINALLY some South American representation. And where the goat fell short of the naturally occurring color morphs, the alpaca works it to the nines. Excellent execution on the fur as well.
6. American Standard Donkey - I have a lot of bias here because donkeys are my favorite farm mammals (they make WAFFLES!) and I know there are issues with the donkey - despite the patch, some of the morphs still don't have the cross on the back (can't believe they didn't properly fix it), and of course the sound, although I do feel like I have heard them heehawing in game? They absolute do when they fight and in the launch trailer. Has anyone else heard them hee haw at all while playing? Genuinely asking here.
But I can't help it, I love donkeys. And I was pretty devastated when the Somali wild ass was added because I assumed they had no shot of getting in. So happy to be wrong. And another hot topic, I think donkeys are a better pick than horses for a petting zoo. Gonna lose some folks with this one, but I stand by it. Now get me some parfait!
5. Spectacled Bear - I've mentioned it before here, but I voiced and puppeteered Paddington in the US tour of his play in 2022 to 2023, so of course I'm happy to be IN the game! A great model, a Zoo Tycoon legacy addition, again - FINALLY South America, an extremely welcomed addition to the game. Not to much to say. Who doesn't love bears?
4. Coquerel's Sifaka - I'm just gonna say it: I think this is the most overly criticized animal of the year. I'm a tour guide at the Bronx Zoo and we are one of the few facilities that houses them. Yes, the climbing pattern is wrong. But for me, their terrestrial, hopping locomotion is by far their most iconic feature, and so long as that was done right, I consider it a success. And despite the initial concerns, Frontier delivered there. And at least for me, when climbing, they are constantly jumping from branch to branch, platform to platform, as they do in real life - much more than any other climbing animal in-game.
I also think the lack of a South American monkey really caused an uproar against the guys which I don't think is fair. Not to mention, look, support is going till next year, I would be DUMBFOUNDED if we don't get at least one LATAM monkey next year.
I know I'm biased especially since they were in my original Top 25 wishlist all the way back in 2021, but I'm just very, very happy to have them in the game.
3. Markhor - My most desired ungulate since getting into the game three years ago. Another Bronx staple, one of the true last remaining Zoo Tycoon OG legacy animals (in both 1 and 2!!!), thought the takin swiped their spot last year, I NEEDED THEM. And they're great! Can't describe the feeling I got when I first saw them climb up the mountain enrichment. Something I never thought I'd see
2. African Spurred Tortoise - THIS is what I'm talking about! Leaps and bounds the best looking animal of the year. It's on par with the likes of the armadillo and porcupine in terms of flawless execution and photorealism. I love their breathing sounds too, reminds me of Tony Soprano OH! A very long overdue addition to habitat reptiles. I will say though they might too good... as the sulcata here demonstrates how CRITICAL the Aldabra and Galapagos need to be upscaled. Like good grief, that resize is needed asap
1. Sussex Chicken - Sorry for being so predictable, the bird guy likes birds, what? But as heartbroken as I am my beloved ducks have yet to join the flock, I just love these chickens. They're honestly not far from the tortoise as the best looking animals of the year for me.
Actually it's a bit more than that...it's embarrassing to admit, the chicken is my favorite animal in the game.
That's not a joke, that's not a bit, not recency bias. I just love them so much. I have spent HOURS watching them strut, peck, crow, and a doodle doo.
And once they silently added red rooster color morph? FORGET IT. It was over.
All I could ever ask is we get a few more morphs - gold, solid brown, bright red, but even as is - they're still incredible.
What about YOU??
