Ah life simulators, a game genre that became popular before I even could play games. The most popular ones that everyone knows are games like the Sims and Stardew Valley. The genres is loved primarily for its customization and exploration. Many add in experiencing a life unlike your own, the ability to play God, and of course the ability to find love.

The customization and creativity aspects are especially vital in zoo related games. The competition in the genre is stiff with titles such as Planet Zoo, and Jurassic World Evolution that excel in those areas. Unfortunately, the Zoo Life Simulator demo, developed and published by Hiraru, didn’t seem to get the memo.

What is there to do?

As the title of the game and the opening page would suggest, the premise is simple: own and maintain a zoo. This includes buying animals, maintaining their hunger, cleaning their enclosures, and buying things for guests, all on foot or through the tablet provided. It’s a basic gameplay loop that many should enjoy.

Where, Oh Where, is the Customization?

Unlike what one might come to expect from games like this one, there’s seemingly no customization to be had. The fencing and habitat size, even the layout of the interior is pre-determined, with only the interior differentiating according to the animal are placed within.

Outside of enclosures, the customization appears to be just as limited. Despite allowing players to merely pick the theme of facilities for the guests, the location of the said facilities is pre-determined. Unfortunately, you likely won’t be able to build them in the first place.

At Least the Setting Looks Okay?

One of the few things the game has going for it is the color pallet, with vibrant greens, and decent lighting giving off cozy vibes. There weren’t even any bugs with the ground or building textures. If only the rest of the game could say the same.

The Game Stopping Bugs

A demo is expected to be a little bit buggy; for the game is still actively being worked on at that point. Despite the bugs, the demo should at the very least be able to be completed without having to restart it more than once. This is where the Zoo Life Sim demo disappoints the most. During my attempted playthrough I had to restart three separate times. All but one of those times were because despite me pressing the I’m stuck button and being teleported to the gift shop, I remained unable to move in any direction. Therefore, this game earned the title of the only game that I couldn’t complete its tutorial.

Final Thoughts

By the time of this review the full game has been released, and while I can’t speak on it directly, I’m skeptical. A demo is meant to hype people up for the release, not make them concerned on whether or not it’ll be functional with the amount of game crashing bugs. If the bugs have been fixed, Zoo Life Sim might have promise for some who like minimalist simulators. Otherwise, it’s a cash grab meant to reap funds for an unplayable experience. I’d recommend playing it within Steam’s week refundable window.