Planet Zoo & The Myth of The True Successor

Planet Zoo is a stunning game. So why doesn't it feel like the Zoo Tycoon successor we were waiting for? And why does Jurassic World Evolution keep making the same mistake? This video essay explores what the "true successor" conversation actually reveals about game design, identity, and what we value in the games we grew up with. Perhaps this could be a Planet Zoo 2 Wishlist, or a "What Planet Zoo 2 Needs." type of video. That said, I am cautiously excited to see what Planet Zoo 2 becomes. But regardless of what comes next, I hope you enjoyed the video and gained something from it! Games discussed: Zoo Tycoon, Zoo Tycoon 2, Planet Zoo, Planet Zoo 2, Jurassic Park Operation Genesis, Jurassic World Evolution 2 & 3, Prehistoric Kingdom, Minecraft (briefly), Stardew Valley, Fallout New Vegas #PlanetZoo #ZooTycoon #JurassicWorldEvolution #VideoEssay #GameDesign #PlanetZoo2 #JPOG #OperationGenesis #PrehistoricKingdom #GamingEssay #SimulationGames #ParkBuilder #FrontierDevelopments #ZooTycoon2 #JWE3 #Retrospective