Zoo Tycoon 2 has won rave reviews from gamers of all ages, as well as accolades from numerous parenting organizations for its fusion of education and entertainment.

Press for Zoo Tycoon 2

“If you're looking for a game that's fun, looks great, and is educational, then search no more! Rarely in the gaming industry can one find a game that is equally fun and educational, but Microsoft has a strong contender for first prize with this gem.” 
– Game Daily

“ZT2 is definitely on track to be completely superior to its predecessor. I base this summation on watching my five-year old son fiddle around with the game. In no time flat he had waterfalls flowing, savannah grass waving, and penguins and lions hanging-out together.”
– Armchair Empire Preview

“I haven’t read that thousands of fans stayed home just to play the latest version of Zoo Tycoon 2, but maybe they should have. There certainly is a lot here to build up rather than shoot down, and the enhanced 3D graphics make it easy to zoom in quite close to observe the animals, almost as if you were on a safari. You can also click on any animal and find out what it's doing at any given moment. There’s also a new and easy-to-reference Zoopedia, where players or just visitors can get all kinds of entertaining and interesting facts about the 30 different animals … Bottom line: this is a great game for the whole family to enjoy, and kids interested in animals will particularly be pleased with the content and opportunities to learn and interact with animals … definitely worth the upgrade if your family is already a fan of the first version.”
– Power to Learn Review

"Zoo Tycoon 2's campaign and challenge levels should keep most animal lovers busy for at least a little while. However, the game's real value seems to be in its sandbox mode, which, along with the game's "zoopedia" (a reference guide powered by Microsoft Encarta that provides educational animal facts), seems like a great way for parents with kids on their laps to spend some quiet afternoons, pointing out the tiger exhibit and maybe saving a photo or two."
– Gamespot Review

Press for Zoo Tycoon 2: Endangered Species

“ … Zoo Tycoon 2: Endangered Species is a very nice expansion pack. It gives you enough new things to do that even if you played Zoo Tycoon 2 a lot when it came out, you’ll now have an excuse to play it some more.”
– Game Over Game Review

“Watch out animal lovers! This game is amazing. I was surprised with the fun I had with this game, as it is so much more enjoyable than the original. This game has endless hours of play, you are able to learn about animals you may not have known even existed, but most of all, you can create and run your own zoo with 20 endangered species! It’s fun, educational and makes a great gift for anyone who loves animals.”
– PC Game World

Zoo Tycoon 2 Awards

National Parenting Publications Honor Award, 2005

National Parenting Center Seal of Approval, 2004

Zoo Tycoon 2: Endangered Species Awards

Nominee, Outstanding Achievement in Gameplay Engineering, Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences (AIAS), 9th annual achievement awards, 2006

National Parenting Center Seal of Approval, 2005

Computer Family Game of the Year, Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences (AIAS), 8th annual achievement awards, 2005