Parents' Guide to

Zoo Resort

By Erin Bell, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 7+

Fun sim focuses on collecting animals and snapping photos.

Game Nintendo 3DS 2011
Zoo Resort Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this game.

  • Zoo Resort Game: Screenshot #1
  • Zoo Resort Game: Screenshot #2
  • Zoo Resort Game: Screenshot #3

Community Reviews

See all
age 6+

Based on 1 parent review

jcarvin
jcarvin Parent of 6-year-old
April 9, 2013
age 6+

Great for 6+ (even adults)

This is a great game for kids. We bought this for my daughters seventh birthday and she had no trouble whatsoever figuring out how to play. That is, when she can pry it out of my hands because I think it's fun myself (41). I have it just about 100% completed in under a week though I've played it a lot and I beat the actual game objective about two days ago. Definitely recommended for young kids and anyone who doesn't require constant action. It's a simulation about animals, it's education, fun and not fast paced.

This title has:

Great messages
Easy to play/use
See all 1 parent review

What’s It About?

In ZOO RESORT, you've just inherited a zoo from your late grandfather and are tasked with restoring it to its former glory. You'll purchase new animals such as lions, mountain goats, and grizzly bears; visit them in their habitats; and snap photographs to use as publicity to drawn bigger crowds and earn cash, which can be used to buy more animals and expand the property. There is a bit of a Pokemon-like "gotta catch 'em all" vibe to Zoo Resort, since the stated goal is to acquire at least 70 animals and there are more than 100 to collect in total, along with in-game trophies.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: (1):
Kids say: Not yet rated

Zoo Resort is a good game for younger kids who love animals, letting them focus on interacting with and learning about different species without having to do chores like clean out pens or micro-manage the zoo's finances. There's an impressive variety of animals to unlock -- including exotic species like the Ghariel, Shoebil, and Scimitar Oryx -- and each one has a detailed fact sheet that kids can read for extra educational value. Players can also save captured photos to an album and share via SD card.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how zoos can play an important role in animal conservation.

  • Families can also talk about techniques for taking good photos of animals, and apply tips they learned in the game to real-life.

  • Families can also discuss how simulation games are a great way to learn while playing.

Game Details

  • Platform: Nintendo 3DS
  • Available online?: Not available online
  • Publisher: UbiSoft
  • Release date: October 25, 2011
  • Genre: Simulation
  • ESRB rating: E
  • Last updated: August 29, 2016

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

See all recommended game lists

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate