Franchise Mode is one of the core offerings in Planet Zoo 2 and it presents a range of different challenges and problems when compared to other aspects of the game, so it’s crucial to learn the basics early on.
Frontier Developments has retained much of the same format in Franchise Mode as the original game, though the interconnectivity of your zoos and the Wildlife Reserves you manage is more important than ever.
If you’re diving into Franchise Mode in Planet Zoo 2 and are overwhelmed with what lies in front of you, Insider Gaming has some tips to help you out.
Planet Zoo 2 Franchise Mode Beginner’s Tips
Start With Basic Staff Facilities
While the game will flood you with notifications that you are missing several staff buildings if you don’t place them down, the reality is you only need the basics when getting started.
A Keeper Hut, Vet Surgery, and a Trading Center are the main three you will need up front, though you may need to throw in a Staff Room to keep your employees content, and you can add the others later.
While not having a Quarantine may present problems if an animal gets sick or injured, you can add this later, but this can still be avoided with the addition of a Research Center to learn about any disease your animal may pick up.
Small Reigns Supreme
While it may be tempting to plan out a large, sprawling, and complex zoo, managing finances in Franchise Mode is one of the core challenges, and, early on, it pays to keep things small.
There’s no reason to give animals significantly more space than they need immediately, and giving them just enough to keep them content while you get started is the best approach.
You can always come back and redo the habitats later when you have more cash to spend and are in more of a creative flow, but to start with, keeping it simple is the best option.
Add Lots of Donation Boxes
Donation Boxes are the key to boosting your funds in Planet Zoo 2 and are the easiest way to make money, especially if you provide plenty of education topics about the animals they are connected too and increase that animal’s rating.
More education topics mean happier guests, and more iconic animals lead to more attention. However, this doesn’t mean you need to splash out on a big addition like an elephant, as you can breed your way up, as bred animals have a higher maximum rating than those you purchase elsewhere.
Don’t forget to add ATMs so your guests can top up their cash reserves, as the format of the game gives each guest a set amount of money to spend initially, and they will leave when those funds are depleted.
Exploit Animal Storage
Animal Storage isn’t just a side-step before you bring a new animal into your zoo, as a key factor is that animals held there do not age, so you can hold onto animals for when they’re needing.
This is particularly beneficial as the market can be extremely competitive in Franchise Mode, with other players likely on the hunt for the same animals as you, so you can grab and go bit by bit in the market.
Just keep an eye on the social requirements for the animals you’re planning to adopt, and keep tabs on what you’ve already picked up.
Use Vending Machines
Maintaining the happiness of guests is crucial across all modes in Planet Zoo 2 and remains the same in Franchise, particularly if you want them to spend all the money they have.
However, placing shops and recruiting vendors to work at them is expensive, and the better option early on is to instead place a variety of vending machines for guests to use.
While they can quickly become overrun, they’re much cheaper than the shops, and, like other things, you can always adjust your approach and replace them later down the line.
Utilize Exhibit Animals
While they may not be as exciting as habitat animals, exhibit creatures are definitely your friend in Planet Zoo 2 and are a great way to boost your profile, guest numbers, and profits, without putting in too much attention and cash.
Planet Zoo 2 allows you to freely customize exhibits, but you can skip this initially, and just a basic exhibit will do just fine, as long as you meet the animals requirements.
One of the best benefits of exhibit animals is they breed very easily, and any young are instantly adults, so you don’t have to wait for them to grow up before you release them, sell them, or list them on the market for other players to snap up.
Take Out a Loan
Cash funds at the start of a Franchise in Planet Zoo 2 are extremely tight, especially when you place down the basics of what you need for staff infrastructure and your first habitat.
Rather than fastforwarding the game and waiting for your cash reserves to slowly build back up, it’s a good move to take out a loan. While you will have to pay some interest, it gives you more cash to work with.
Use this cash to purchase more animals, create additional habitats, and add exhibit animals, and make sure to provide the necessary education topics and donation bins so you can maximize your returns.
Buy Animals For Cash
Planet Zoo 2 offers two ways to purchase animals, with both cash and Conservation Credits as currencies to make use of, but early on, you should be solely looking at animals available to buy with cash.
While they do have restrictions that mean you won’t be able to release them to the wild, Conservation Credits are extremely important, especially when you only have a limited amount, and should be saved for later on.
The downside is, cash animals tend to go quickly on the market, so you shouldn’t hang about, but, when combined with the earlier tip regarding animal storage, you should be able to snap up what you need.
Use Contraception
Baby animals are extremely important in Planet Zoo 2, as they can drive more visitors, higher revenue, and offer an opportunity to release them to earn Conservation Credits, but too many can quickly become overwhelming.
More animals means more space required, and often leads to habitats becoming dirty more quickly, increasing the risk of animals contracting disease and leading to a higher workload for you staff.
Fortunately, there are ways around it, as you can use contraception to prevent animal breeding. This is useful for population management, as well as to ensure there is no inbreeding among siblings or parents.
What tips do you have for new players in Planet Zoo 2? Let us know your thoughts on the Insider Gaming Discord server.
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