Best DLC Packs For Planet Zoo

As the spiritual successor to the Zoo Tycoon series, Planet Zoo is the premier zoo management game. With access to a complex building system, players can create realistic zoos that require meticulous and immersive management.

Thankfully for players, Planet Zoo is also regularly updated with both free patches and paid content. Each DLC pack features a bunch of new animal species that players can adopt, research, and show off to their guests. These content packs often provide players with new construction items and scenery objects, too, which can shine even brighter than the animals themselves.

Updated October 22, 2024, by Joe Grantham:Planet Zoo shows no signs of slowing down its delivery of new DLC packs filled with unique species from around the world. With 180 species now available to those with all the content packs, almost all iconic zoo animals are now in the game. Recent additions have increasingly looked toward rarer and often endangered animals from remote locations. Thebest Planet Zoo DLC packs also feature the most realistic building pieces, which can be used to make immersive zoos that are often indistinguishable from real life.

With the release of Planet Zoo: Console Edition, even more players can now make the zoos of their dreams. However, not all the DLC packs have been released on consoles yet. To get all current and future console DLC, players can get the Deluxe version, or for 14 packs, they can get the Season Pass with releases expected until the end of March 2025.

Deluxe Upgrade Pack

3 Interesting Species, The Original Soundtrack, & Wallpapers

In terms of actual game content, the Deluxe Upgrade Pack offers the least, with only three species being added to the game and no scenery pieces. This certainly makes it one of Planet Zoo's weaker DLCs, but for those who want permanent access to the game's original 18 tracks and beautiful artwork that can be used as desktop wallpapers, it's still a good option.

Perhaps a better reason to acquire this small expansion pack, however, is for two fascinating species, the Komodo Dragon and the Pygmy Hippopotamus.

Animals Included In The Deluxe Upgrade Pack

• Komodo Dragon
• Pygmy Hippopotamus
• Thomson's Gazelle

Zookeepers Animal Pack

An Array Of Requested Animals & Some Useful Scenery

Despite being one of the weaker expansions overall, the Zookeepers Animal Pack still has some standout stars, and players may just fall in love with one of these species. For example, the male Markhor's have an absolutely stunning shaggy coat, and their twisted horns are beautiful too. The Hamadryas Baboon is also popular, and its inclusion has made fans very happy in the long term.

On the cuter side of things, players also have access to Pallas Cats, and the minuscule antelope species known as Kirk's Dik-Dik. Unfortunately, the scenery included in this DLC doesn't compare with other packs, although the tents and gazebos are a nice addition. So too are the banners with customizable letters.

Animals Included In The Zookeepers Animal Pack

• Pallas Cat
• Markhor
• Hamadryas Baboon
• African Spurred Tortoise
• Kirk's Dik-Dik
• Spectacled Bear
• Coquerel's Sifaka

Southeast Asia Animal Pack

Exotic & Rare Species For Those Who Love The Region

For players who are in love with the rare and exotic wildlife that hails from the Southeast Asia region, the Southeast Asia Animal Pack is a no-brainer. This pack features eight species, with highlights including the Sun Bear and Clouded Leopard, as well as the Malaysian Tapir with its iconic black and white coat.

The Proboscis Monkey with its funny-looking nose is another great addition, and so is the Ussuri Dhole, which is a species of dog that whistles to communicate and coordinate with its pack. While all the aforementioned species are suitable for large outdoor habitats, the Giant Leaf Insect, on the other hand, is an exhibit animal and easily one of the best in the game. However, there are no scenery pieces for this DLC, which is a downside for those who love building in Planet Zoo, and having been released a few years ago, the textures and animations aren't able to match those of more recent additions.

Animals Included In The Southeast Asia Animal Pack

• Sun Bear
• Clouded Leopard
• Malaysian Tapir
• Proboscis Monkey
• North Sulawesi Babirusa
• Binturong
• Ussuri Dhole
• Giant Leaf Insect

Arid Animal Pack

A Good Selection Of Desert Creatures With Excellent Models

With the Arid Animal Pack, players can expect fantastic quality in the models of all species showcased. The Dromedary Camel, for example, is miles ahead of the base game's Bactrian Camel in terms of quality, with realistic-looking fur and movements. The African Crested Porcupine is another highlight of the DLC, especially after being on many players' wishlists for years.

However, the disappointing aspect of this expansion pack is that, despite there being deserts all around the world, only animals from Africa are included. This isn't too big of a hindrance due to the ample wildlife found in even Africa's most arid regions, but it would have been nice to see more variety.

Animals Included In The Arid Animal Pack

• Dromedary Camel
• African Crested Porcupine
• Addax
• Somali Wild Ass
• Black Rhino
• Sand Cat
• Dama Gazelle
• Desert Horned Viper

North America Animal Pack

A Great Selection Of Iconic American Animals

Animal packs are a great addition to the game. Instead of focusing on an overarching theme with scenery pieces, they simply add new animals that fans want to see in Planet Zoo. The North America Animal Pack in particular adds beloved species that the base game is missing.

California sea lions arguably take the spotlight in this DLC. Players can have lots of fun building interactive underwater habitats for them. With beavers, alligators, and beautiful arctic foxes also available, this is an unmissable DLC for those in love with the wildlife of North America.

Animals Included in the North America Animal Pack

• North American Beaver
• Moose
• California Sea Lion
• Cougar
• American Alligator
• Black-Tailed Prairie Dog
• Arctic Fox
• American Bullfrog

Wetlands Animal Pack

A Mix Of Rare & Iconic Species Perfect For Water-Themed Habitats

Wetlands are among the most beautiful natural habitats, and thus, with the Wetlands Animal Pack, players have an excuse to go all out on creating lush landscapes for the seven new habitat animals. Almost all of the species are highlights in their own way, but perhaps the Platypus stands out as the most rare. The Red Crowned Crane is another highly welcome addition to Planet Zoo, which, unfortunately, does not have many bird species.

While the majority of these species live on land for the most part, they all require a certain amount of water detailed in the menu. Providing the correct terrain and surroundings is just one of the many ways to keep animals happy in Planet Zoo.

Animals Included In The Wetlands Animal Pack

• Capybara
• Platypus
• Asian Small-Clawed Otter
• Spectacled Caiman
• Nile Lechwe
• Wild Water Buffalo
• Red-Crowned Crane
• Danube Crested Newt

Barnyard Animal Pack

The Perfect Pack For Building A Petting Zoo

The Barnyard Animal Pack is easily one of the most unique DLCs in Planet Zoo, and among the community, it is one of the most divisive. Some players love the opportunity to build a petting zoo complete with a wide array of farmyard animals, whereas others were hoping that this potentially second-to-last expansion would see more exotic zoo animals that, as of yet, have not been added.

Either way, for those who enjoy the inclusion of barnyard animals, this DLC goes above and beyond, especially as it was introduced along with a free patch that enables guests to pet certain animals. As the most recent addition to Planet Zoo, all the models and textures are incredible, and just looking at the Hill Radnor Sheep's wool highlights how far the game has come. The Highland Cattle is another welcome addition, along with the Sussex Chicken and much more. Beyond animals, players also get access to rustic building pieces that can truly bring their rural petting zoo to life.

Animals Included In The Barnyard Animal Pack

• Hill Radnor Sheep
• Highland Cattle
• Alpine Goat
• Tamworth Pig
• Alpaca
• American Standard Donkey
• Sussex Chicken

Tropical Pack

Beautiful Indonesian-Inspired Scenery With Vibrant Species From Around The World

The Tropical Pack for Planet Zoo offers a good mix of interesting animals and beautiful building pieces. With their vibrant coats, the Red River Hog stands out from other pig species in the game, and it's hard not to fall in love with them. The Brown-Throated Sloth is also the first and only species of Sloth in the game, and players will be interested to know that they are walkthrough exhibit animals, similar to how Bats and Butterflies work.

When it comes to the Indonesian scenery available with the DLC, these new buildings won't fit in with every zoo but are perfect for making a tropical Southeast Asia zoo. The thatched roof pieces in particular cast a striking image, especially against some of the new foliage available. Mossy stone temple walls are another great feature.

Animals Included In The Tropical Pack

• Fossa
• Lar Gibbon
• Red River Hog
• Asian Water Monitor
• Brown-Throated Sloth

Eurasia Animal Pack

Highlights The Underappreciated Beauty Of Eurasian Wildlife

While the Eurasia Animal Pack doesn't contain what people would normally consider exotic zoo animals, it highlights the beauty of Eurasian wildlife and adds some rare species that many players won't have seen before. The Saiga species, for example, has a truly odd but lovable nose, and Wisent (or European Bison) are on the rise, with the species being reintroduced in places across Europe.

Perhaps best of all, however, and most loved by the Planet Zoo community is the Mute Swan, a truly majestic bird that has been beautifully recreated in the game. Seeing as birds are underrepresented in the game, having the opportunity to build a different style of habitat with them is always welcome.

Animals Included in the Eurasia Animal Pack

• Wisent
• Wild Boar
• Mute Swan
• Sloth Bear
• Wolverine
• Saiga
• Takin
• Hermann's Tortoise

Australia Pack

Includes Iconic Outback Animals & Rustic Building Pieces

Australia is known for being home to some of the most unique wildlife on the planet due to its isolation. With the Australia Pack, players get to add the most iconic outback animals to their zoo, with the two shining stars being the Koala and Red Kangaroo.

The Australian-themed scenery pieces are also a great addition, with a blend of modern woods and rusted and rustic pieces being perfect for an immersive outback zoo. This DLC also contains some of the best decorative art pieces, most of which have been inspired by aboriginal art.

Animals Included in the Australia Pack

• Dingo
• Koala
• Red Kangaroo
• Southern Cassowary
• Eastern Blue-Tongued Lizard

Oceania Pack

Features Some Of The Cutest Species & Unique Building Pieces

The Oceania Pack features some of the rarest animals from the various islands of the continent. The species are also extremely cute, with the kiwis and the world's smallest penguins ready to steal the hearts of all Planet Zoo players. The iconic Tasmanian devils are also one of the biggest draws of this DLC.

Like most expansion packs, players will also get their hands on new foliage, such as Silver Ferns, which are synonymous with New Zealand, and a Temperate Oceania biome for players to build their zoos in. The scenery and building pieces in the Oceania Pack are inspired by traditional Polynesian culture, allowing players to design tranquil buildings and spaces in the game.

Animals Included in the Oceania Pack

• North Island Brown Kiwi
• Tasmanian Devil
• Little Penguin
• Quokka
• Spectacled Flying Fox

Twilight Pack

Features Nocturnal Animals & Important Building Pieces For Realistic Zoos

Unlike other expansion packs that focus on one region of the world, the Twilight Pack takes animals from all around the globe that have one thing in common: They are primarily nocturnal. This makes for some very interesting gameplay, as players can attempt to build exhibits that look great at night as well as during the day.

While the animals included in the Twilight Pack are nonetheless great, many players are drawn to the DLC for its building materials, which have a mostly gothic theme. The stalactites in particular are used by skilled creators to create lifelike rock formations. Thankfully, many of these are uploaded as blueprints to download on the Planet Zoo Steam Workshop.

Animals Included in the Twilight Pack

• Raccoon
• Red Fox
• Common Wombat
• Striped Skunk
• Egyptian Fruit Bat

South America Pack

Key Species & Building Pieces Often Used In Steam Workshop Blueprints

In addition to featuring a range of South American-themed building objects and diverse animals, one of the most fun aspects of the South America DLC pack is trying to find and breed jaguars with the rare gene that makes them black. In other words, players can have Black Panthers.

Another major benefit of owning the South America Pack is that many of the Steam Workshop assets, which other players create and upload, use pieces from this expansion. Without it, many of the best creations are unavailable.

Animals Included in the South America Pack

• Colombian White-Faced Capuchin Monkey
• Giant Anteater
• Jaguar
• Llama
• Red-Eyed Tree Frog

Grasslands Animal Pack

A Wide Range Of Species, Including Various Butterflies For Walkthrough Exhibits

The Grasslands Animal Pack is a bit different from some of the other great DLC content for Planet Zoo. Instead of striking a balance between animals and buildings, it almost exclusively focuses on adding new species to the game, namely from grassland habitats.

With a wide range of species from all parts of the world, this is a DLC for pure animal lovers. With the introduction of the European Peacock and four other species of Butterfly, players have access to new walkthrough exhibit animals, too. The Blue Wildebeest is also compatible with many of the other plains animals, making large diverse habitats even better.

Animals Included in the Grasslands Animal Pack

• Nine-Banded Armadillo
• Maned Wolf
• Emu
• Caracal
• Red-Necked Wallaby
• Striped Hyena
• Blue Wildebeest
• Cloudless Sulphur
• European Peacock
• Menelaus Blue Morpho
• Monarch
• Old World Swallowtail

Arctic Pack

Iconic Arctic Mammals & Building Pieces For A Cozy Winter Zoo

Polar bears by themselves are enough to make the Arctic Pack a great DLC, and, for lovers of these iconic bears, it's a must-have. On top of having access to these apex predators, players will also be able to adopt and care for other much-loved species such as the arctic wolves and reindeer.

Furthermore, the new Arctic-themed scenery pieces are perfect for creating cozy winter zoos, which make it feel like Christmas all year round. For these reasons, many consider the Arctic Pack to be the best DLC for Planet Zoo.

Animals Included in the Arctic Pack

• Arctic Wolf
• Dall Sheep
• Polar Bear
• Reindeer

Europe Pack

Lesser Appreciated Species & The Best Building Pieces For A Realistic City Zoo

Though Europe isn't particularly known for its exotic wildlife, the Europe Pack DLC is one of the must-haves for fans looking to create realistic and modern zoos. This DLC pack is perfect for urban zoos, from coaches and boats to city-themed architecture. The decals available provide players with a way to add tiny textures that will make their zoos look lived in.

A medieval style is also available in the pack, not to mention one of the best enrichment items. The Goat Climbing Mountain allows players to watch their new Alpine Ibexes do what they do best. In terms of animals, the highlight has to be the Eurasian Lynx, a truly stunning creature.

Animals Included in the Europe Pack

• Eurasian Lynx
• Alpine Ibex
• European Badger
• European Fallow Deer
• Fire Salamander

Conservation Pack

Includes Some Of The Most Endangered Species, Great Backstage Props, & The Best Foliage

Rare animals are always going to be of more interest both in real life and in Planet Zoo. With this in mind, the Conservation Pack naturally delivers, especially with the Siamang and Amur Leopard.

When it comes to building materials in this expansion pack, the theme of conservation continues. In particular, the backstage tools and props that zookeepers and wildlife conservationists use add to the realism. With plenty of new foliage, this is one of the best DLCs to allow players to create breathtaking scenery.

Animals Included in the Conservation Pack

• Przewalski's Horse
• Amur Leopard
• Siamang
• Scimitar-Horned Oryx
• Axolotl

Africa Pack

Features Some Of The Most Iconic Zoo Animals & Native Building Pieces

Africa is a great setting for zoo-based video games due to it being home to some of the most iconic animals on earth, so the Africa Pack DLC was always going to be a success. The new species by themselves are enough to make this pack one of the best DLC packs in Planet Zoo.

The iconic Southern White Rhinoceros takes the main stage and provides players with a challenge as they will destroy most barriers. Other than animals, this expansion also comes with new North African-themed scenery and buildings, along with foliage that includes the aptly named Sausage Tree.

Animals Included in the Africa Pack

• Meerkat
• Southern White Rhinoceros
• African Penguin
• Fennec Fox
• Sacred Scarab Beetle

Aquatic Pack

Features Iconic Species & Changes The Way Aquatic Habitats Are Made

Whereas many DLC packs for Planet Zoo either feature great animals or great building objects, the Aquatic Pack scores incredibly high marks in both regards. Regarding species, the King Penguin and Grey Seal take much of the spotlight as animals that guests love to see at zoos.

Among the many building objectives introduced with the water-themed expansion pack are tools perfect for making stunning waterfalls, painted wood materials that give players control over the color of their buildings, and fancy new barriers. The new faux rocks are also a great addition for making realistic-looking habitats and adding smaller details.

Animals Included in the Aquatic Pack

• King Penguin
• Grey Seal
• Giant Otter
• Cuvier's Dwarf Caiman
• Diamondback Terrapin