Zoo Fame is a recurring system in the Zoo Tycoon series. Details on how to gain zoo fame and its effects vary from game to game.
Zoo Tycoon[]
In Zoo Tycoon, a zoo rating value is displayed as a bar at the bottom of the screen. Its value goes from 0 to 100, and it depends on:
- Animal Happiness
- Animal Health
- Species Diversity
- Zoo Beauty
- Zoo Value
- Zoo Research
- Guest Happiness
Several scenarios require reaching a certain zoo rating as part of the objectives, with the number becoming higher at higher difficulties.
Unlike in later games, the availability of animals, buildings and other objects is unrelated to zoo rating. Instead, in Freeform mode it's based on set times, with more content becoming available at three, six, nine and twelve in-game months. The last unlock occurs at December 1, whereby the player will have access to all items and animals unless they require research to unlock. Unlockable and downloadable animals are automatically available at the start.
Availability | Zoo Tycoon | Dinosaur Digs | Marine Mania |
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Available at start | |||
3 months | |||
6 months | |||
9 months | |||
12 months |
Zoo Tycoon 2[]

A 3-1/2 star rating, as seen in Zoo Tycoon 2 promotional screenshots.
In Zoo Tycoon 2, Zoo Fame is an important mechanic displayed as a star rating visible at the top left corner of the screen. In all game modes it starts at 1/2 a star, with increments of 1/2, ending at five stars, for a total of ten levels. It is determined by the following criteria, visible in the zoo stats window as bars that fill up:
- Number of Animals: The more animals you have in your zoo, the more famous it becomes. Add animals to increase your zoo fame.
- Note: 35 animals are needed to maximize this rating.
- Number of Species: The more species you have in your zoo, the more famous it becomes. Adopt animals from many different species to become as famous as possible!
- Note: 20 different species are needed to maximize this rating.
- Animal Happiness: Even if you have lots of animals from many different species, your zoo won't ever be famous if your animals aren't happy. Meet your animals' needs to keep them happy
- Note: This is an average of animal happiness.
- Educational Habitats: Educational zoos are more famous. Guests are educated by seeing animals in their native habitats. Hiring educators helps, as does grouping compatible biomes.
- Entertaining Animals: Guests like having a good view of healthy, happy, and active animals. They also like to see rare and exotic animals. To ensure guests enjoy themselves, make sure that your animals are happy, that they have lots to do, and that guests are able to view them up close.
- Note: Offer a lot of enrichment items to your animals to increase this rating.
- Guest Happiness: Even if your zoo is educational and your animals are entertaining, your zoo won't ever be famous if your guests aren't happy. Meet your guests' needs to keep them happy.
- Note: This is an average of guest happiness.
- Award and Challenge Goals: Your zoo can become more famous by meeting challenges and earning awards. You won't lose this fame.
- Note: Only in Challenge and Freeform games. 20 awards and/or challenges are needed to maximize this rating.
- Release to Wild: Releasing animals into the wild increases the fame for your zoo. You won't lose this fame.
- Note: 10 animals need to be released into the wild to maximize this rating. An animal needs to have all its needs satisfied, and be an adult, to have the option of releasing it.
Note that except for the last two, it is possible for these criteria to decrease, resulting in loss of star rating, and previously available items becoming unavailable until fame rises again.
In campaign and challenge modes, each animal and object availability is tied to a particular star rating, while in freeform mode they are all available regardless of zoo fame. Star rating is directly correlated to cost, with 1/2-star animals being the cheapest, and 5-star animals being the most expensive to buy. In addition, animal adoption works with a roulette system, which will get both more slots and more overall availability at higher star ratings. In all game modes, star rating affects fossils available for finding and creating at the Extinct Research Lab.
Uniquely in Zoo Tycoon 2, downloadable animals are not automatically available, and have a star rating requirement just like the base game and expansion pack animals.
Many campaign scenarios require reaching a particular fame level, either as a direct objective, or indirectly by asking for animals which are only available at a certain fame level. This is particularly true for scenarios of high difficulty at the end of a campaign, e.g. The Mysterious Panda.
Star rating also affects the appearance of the zoo front gate.
Availability | Zoo Tycoon 2 | Endangered Species | African Adventure | Marine Mania | Extinct Animals (including Dino Danger pack) | Downloadable |
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1/2 Stars | ||||||
1 Star | ||||||
1-1/2 Stars | ||||||
2 Stars | ||||||
2-1/2 Stars | ||||||
3 Stars | ||||||
3-1/2 Stars | ||||||
4 Stars |
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4-1/2 Stars | ||||||
5 Stars |
Tips[]
- Animal number, species and release to the wild are the easier parameters to rise, as they are set numbers.
- Crated animals count towards the total animals and species, so for a quick fame boost it is possible to buy cheap animals and keep them crated.
- Since it's animal number that matters and not individual exhibits, combining compatible animals from the same biome together is an effective way to save money and space without sacrificing fame.
- The Extinct Research Lab is a very cost effective way of boosting animal numbers, as it allows creating unlimited animals.
- It is possible to release an animal to the wild just after placement, so for a quick fame boost simply pause the game, place the cheapest $1250 animals (in the appropiate biome), and immediately release them.
- It is also possible to max out the release to the wild rating with a single animal by using an exploit.
- Educational habitats and entertaining animals are the hardest parameters since they are more flexible.
- For educational habitats, make sure to only place animals in their primary biome (even if they are comfortable in a different one). Place all the foliage and rocks available for that biome, and keep adding new ones as they are unlocked at higher fame levels.
- For entertaining animals, give your animals all enrichment items available, and keep adding new ones as they are unlocked at higher fame levels.
- Both of the above are based on what guests see, so make sure they are able to view the animals properly.
Zoo Tycoon (Xbox)[]
In Zoo Tycoon (Xbox), the Fame Level is shown by a number, starting at 1 with a maximum of 40. Challenge zoos start at level 1, while Sandbox zoos will automatically start at the highest level achieved in challenge mode.
Fame level affects the availability of animals, exhibits, concessions and research. As with the original game, downloadable animals do not receive a rating and are available at the start.
There is an achievement for increasing fame level a total of 100 times, across all zoos.
NOTE: Animals listed in italics in the Zoo Tycoon column are absent from the Xbox 360 version.
Availability | Zoo Tycoon | Ultimate Animal Collection |
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Level 1 | ||
Level 2 | ||
Level 3 | ||
Level 4 | ||
Level 5 | ||
Level 6 | ||
Level 7 | ||
Level 8 | ||
Level 9 | ||
Level 10 | ||
Level 11 | ||
Level 12 | ||
Level 13 | ||
Level 14 | ||
Level 15 | ||
Level 16 | ||
Level 17 | ||
Level 18 | ||
Level 19 | ||
Level 20 | ||
Level 21 | ||
Level 22 | ||
Level 23 | ||
Level 24 | ||
Level 25 | ||
Level 26 |
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Level 27 | ||
Level 28 | ||
Level 29 | ||
Level 30 | ||
Level 31 | ||
Level 32 | ||
Level 33 | ||
Level 34 | ||
Level 35 | ||
Level 36 | ||
Level 37 | ||
Level 38 | ||
Level 39 | ||
Level 40 |
Zoo Tycoon: The Board Game[]
Zoo Tycoon: The Board Game does not feature a conventional "Zoo Fame" rating, instead tracking a zoo's popularity and conservation levels. The player with the highest rating wins the game, with the lower-ranked category being scored. However, "Main" animal species (represented by meeples) have a level rating of 1-3, each with their own guidelines. These ratings are typically based on the conservation status of the species.
- Level 1 animals are typically common zoo animals and most are not threatened in the wild. They can be adopted at any time without restrictions.
- Level 2 animals are all threatened in the wild and all utilize Conservation focal points in their exhibits. Most animals at this level can only be adopted if all previously adopted species have a high enough happiness rating.
- Level 3 animals, also threatened in the wild, are all species that have been part of extensive reintroduction programs, a mechanic carried over into the game. They can only be adopted if the requirements for adopting a Level 2 animal are met and the zoo exhibits a sufficient number of species from the same family group.
- Certain Level 2 animals, such as the Asian Elephant, Giant Panda and Polar Bear, can only be adopted if the requirements for adopting a Level 3 animal are met and the zoo has a popularity rating of at least 15.
"Co-Species" and "Vivarium Species" (represented by tiles) are both adopted in a different manner to the main species.
Availability | The Board Game | New Shores | Additional Animal Pack |
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Level 1 | |||
Level 2 | |||
Level 3 |