Let's Build a Zoo: Aquarium Odyssey

There are two things I absolutely love: management games, and aquariums. So you can imagine my surprise when I first booted up Let's Build a Zoo: Aquarium Odyssey. This expansion delivers a refreshing experience for fans of zoo and theme park management sims, providing new environments, animals, and gameplay options to dive into.

Overall, I'm pleased with the amount of aquatic content this DLC provides. With over 50 new fish and marine mammal species, there are tons of sea creatures to adopt and care for in your zoo.

Though not quite as extensive as Zoo Tycoon's marine roster DLC, there's more than enough here to create a vibrant underwater zoo.

An Engaging New Campaign

One of my favorite parts of the DLC is the brand-new campaign mode. Taking your zoo management skills to a lush new island, you'll complete challenges and make choices that shape the park's direction. I really enjoyed guiding my zoo's growth through engaging quests and story events.

It provides helpful direction for newcomers while still allowing sandbox freedom for experienced players. The tropical setting also makes a refreshing change of scenery from the base game's zoos. If you played the legendary Zoo Tycoon Marine Mania, you'll know what to expect.

Innovative Enclosure Design Options

Building gorgeous aquarium habitats is where Aquarium Odyssey really shines. With seven new enclosure types including reefs and sea floors, crafting aquatic environments is more exciting than ever. I especially like the glass panel viewing options – letting guests get up close to sea life makes for outstanding exhibits.

Though building underwater enclosures can be tricky at first, the new pieces provide ample decorating options once you get the hang of it. This reminded me a bit of the way how Jurassic World Evolution 2 introduced marine animals into its roster.

The fact that you can easily snap together pre-made pieces adds to Let's Build a Zoo's layback nature. More than your everyday tycoon game, this title prides itself in just letting the player be as creative as possible. So, if you were expecting something a bit more challenging with resources and the like, this is not the game for you.

Vibrant New Shops, Decor, and Facilities

No zoo is complete without great scenery and amenities. Alongside its creatures, Aquarium Odyssey delivers here as well with over 100 new customization pieces. From shipwreck theming to mosaic pathways, the coastal and nautical decor options are fantastic for sprucing up your zoo.

Small details like animated fountains and swaying kelp add nice visual flare too. I did wish for a few more food shops and guest facilities, but the theming content alone outpaces previous Planet Zoo DLC – which is nice to see, especially for fans of zoo management games.

It's also worth mentioning that the same gorgeous pixel art from the base game is back in full blast here.

Pros

• Over 50 new marine species to add to your zoo
• New campaign with fun aquarium-themed quests
• Great scenery and theming for aquatic zoos

Cons

• Building underwater habitats takes practice
• Would like a couple more new facilities