Which game mode should you start with?
| Mode | What you do | Online | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Career | Work for FEN (Fauna and Ecosystems Network) as Conservation Coordinator, travelling to zoos, Wildlife Reserves and scenarios around the world | No | Learning the game with goals and a cast of characters |
| Sandbox | Build zoos and Wildlife Reserves with the simulation and challenge level you choose | No | Free building and testing ideas |
| Franchise | Run an international network of zoos and reserves, trade animals with other players and join community conservation | Yes | Long-term play with an economy shared with other players |
What is Career mode about?
Career is the story mode. You start at FEN, the Fauna and Ecosystems Network, as its new Conservation Coordinator, and travel across the world to help zoos improve and to work on Wildlife Reserves. The official tutorial was shown in the first hour of the Zoological Summit stream from Chester Zoo.
What can you change in Sandbox?
How much simulation and challenge you want, before you start a zoo or a Wildlife Reserve. Frontier calls it the quintessential zoo sandbox. Its 68-minute Sandbox Gameplay Showcase builds a plaza, staff area, facilities, a Mountain Hare habitat, an aviary and an aquarium, in that order.
How does Franchise mode work?
You build an interconnected network of zoos and reserves and trade animals with other players, contributing to community conservation goals. It is the only mode that needs a connection; the rest of the online picture is in Planet Zoo 2 multiplayer.
What is the Planet Hub?
A new global menu, available in all three modes, for running your whole network. From it you can view and visit your zoos and reserves, track performance data, and manage trading, storage, research and conservation projects. Frontier says you can open it at any time without leaving your save.
Does Planet Zoo 2 have achievements?
Yes. Steam lists Steam Achievements, but the achievement list itself was not public on Steam on October 11, 2026.
Sources & verification
- Planet Zoo 2 official site: Game Modes, read October 11, 2026Official · 2026-10-11
- Frontier on Steam: “Creature Feature: Managing a Zoo”, September 23, 2026Official · 2026-10-11
- Planet Zoo 2 official site: Help, FAQ and system requirements, read October 11, 2026Official · 2026-10-11
- Planet Zoo 2 on YouTube: “Sandbox Gameplay Showcase” (1:07:46), August 28, 2026Official · 2026-10-11
- Steam store data for Planet Zoo 2: packages, prices, languages, requirements and age ratings, read October 11, 2026Store / platform · 2026-10-11