Zoo Tycoon DS
2005 video game
Zoo Tycoon DS is a 2005 construction and management simulation game developed by Altron and published by THQ for the Nintendo DS. It is based on the PC game Zoo Tycoon. A sequel to the game, titled Zoo Tycoon 2 DS, was released in 2008.
Gameplay
The graphics and gameplay are somewhat similar to the first Zoo Tycoon game, however, for the DS version, the terrain is in a grid format and does not blend smoothly with other terrain types like they do in the PC and Mac versions.
The objects and animals available in the game are also that of the first Zoo Tycoon game.
The game has two playing options, either tutorial/scenario or freeform. Tutorial/Scenario mode takes the player through many short games, each with a set goal, increasing in difficulty. Freeform lets players create a zoo free of time restrictions and goals. There are some limitations that the game has, such as not letting players to place incompatible animals into the same exhibit that can lead to predation and fighting, as well as animal attacks on guests and staff.
Reception
Zoo Tycoon DS received mixed to poor reviews, with an average score of 44.96% on GameRankings and 44/100 on Metacritic, indicating "generally unfavorable reviews". Greg Mueller, reviewing Zoo Tycoon DS for GameSpot, disapproved of the game's graphics, criticizing how "Of all the 50 animals [in the game], only a few of them actually have distinct looks.
This brief starts where responsible research should: with the source description of “Zoo Tycoon DS” as 2005 video game. Everything that follows is an evidence route, not borrowed authority.
Why this record matters
The subject matters to the general reference register because the source frames it as 2005 video game. Its deeper value depends on whether names, dates, institutions and citations support that framing.
The citation trail is more important than the brevity of the summary: it shows where individual claims can be examined in context. The source revision retrieved here is dated Jun 26, 2026. The linked authority identifier is Q1965927. 1 of 1 selected statements include explicit references; 0 carry qualifiers and 0 use preferred rank. The first chronological checks are 2005 and 2008.
Overview language is designed for orientation and should not be treated as a substitute for the evidence cited beneath it. The source lead contains qualifying language; that uncertainty should survive quotation, summary and reuse. Authority statements aid reconciliation but still require their own references, qualifiers and ranks to be checked.
How to read it
Use the entry as an orientation point, then follow its citations and revision history. Names, dates and institutional relationships should be checked against the original record.
- Subject orientation
- Search vocabulary
- Locating named sources
The closest primary source, responsible institution and strongest cited specialist reference.
Three-step research path
- Establish the record: confirm the title “Zoo Tycoon DS”, its source revision and the description used here.
- Expand the search: follow Zoo Tycoon DS primary sources, Zoo Tycoon DS archive and Tycoon research across catalogues and specialist indexes.
- Test the account: compare the strongest cited source with the responsible institution’s current record and note any disagreement.
Questions for further research
- Which source most directly establishes the central claim about “Zoo Tycoon DS”?
- Which institution is responsible for the underlying evidence?
- Which cited source is closest to the event, object or claim?
Search terms from this dossier
This entry incorporates text from “Zoo Tycoon DS” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.