Most triple-A game companies have continued to push the same games over the years. Games like FIFA and Call of Duty have made minor changes to the gameplay and only added newer characters or customization options. That's why some gamers prefer playing indie games since they offer a compelling story while presenting unique gameplay elements (some of those features add an extra dose of difficulty). But, some indie games were designed to be fun without being overly complicated.
Games like Cake Bash or Tunic are straightforward indie games that give players hours of fun gameplay. Let's Build A Zoo is another fun yet relaxing indie game where players must build and manage their zoo, reminiscent of the Zoo Tycoon franchise. But, an aspect that distinguishes Let's Build a Zoo from other zoo games is that players can create unique (and sometimes creepy) animals through DNA Splicing. But, with so many possibilities (over 300,000 according to the developers), players should see which ones will add a hint of coolness to their zoo.
5 Rabbopotamus
- Rabbit + Hippopotamus
Creating an animal with the body of a rabbit and a head of a Hippopotamus may seem insane, but in reality, this odd mix makes a lovable zoo animal. The rabbopotamus is the perfect addition to a starter zoo since players will only need to feed it food that rabbits usually eat, like Straw, Grass, or Carrots.
These items are quite cheap (ranging from $0.20 to $0.50), which is a sharp contrast to the diet of a full-grown hippo (feeding a hippo a watermelon a day will cost over $100). Ideally, players will place the rabbopotamus in a Grass enclosure with at least a Territory Space of 4. Players can also place most herbivores within the enclosure except for birds and apes. Unfortunately, rabbits are too popular in Let's Build a Zoo, so players shouldn't get too invested in them or their hippopotamus counterparts.
4 Monkephant
- Monkey + Elephant
The monkephant is the oddest out of all possible animal combinations since it's an animal with a tiny monkey head attached to a large elephant body (it seems like one of the abominations players can encounter in Graveyard Keeper). The best part about the monkephant is that players can "have an elephant" without needing to fulfill their Territory Space needs. But, monkeys do need certain objects to keep happy, so players will need to ensure the enclosure suits their needs.
Moreover, players will save a lot of money by having a monkephant since it'll only need to eat bananas, seeds, and fruit, which are cheaper than tree bark or branches. The only issue with the monkephant in Let's Build a Zoo is its short life expectancy. The elephant is the most popular animal in Let's Build a Zoo (91%), so players can take advantage of their popularity to increase their zoo's fame.
3 Cowuck
- Cow + Duck
Another cool animal to conjure in Let's Build a Zoo is the cowuck, which is an animal with the head of a cow on a duck's body. An aspect that makes this animal memorable and well worth the effort to create is its popularity rate of 37%, making it a favorite among the other zoo animals. The higher the popularity, the more guests will visit a player's zoo, earning them more money in the long run.
Players gain access to the duck after completing the Toronto zoo campaign, and the cow is unlocked after completing the London zoo level. Another cool aspect of the cowuck is that it can live in cohabitation with any herbivore without suffering penalties (unlike some of the dinosaurs found in Jurassic World Evolution 2).
2 Meeriger
- Meerkat + Tiger
The meeriger isn't as odd as some players may imagine despite the combination, especially considering that some players have managed to create other abominations with the meerkat. Players can create this unique specimen by mixing a meerkat and a tiger in the CRSPR Splicer.
Players will unlock the meerkat after completing the Utah zoo (by trading a duck) and the tiger after finishing the Bangladesh zoo. The biggest issue with the meeriger is that it has a life expectancy of only 90 days, so players should make sure to breed several at a time. On the plus side, the meeriger is quite cheap to feed as players only need about $15 per day to purchase all the necessary meals.
1 Monkefowl
- Monkey + Peafowl
Another monkey-inspired abomination that may bring prestige to a player's zoo is the monkefowl. And that's because the monkey is one of the most popular animals in Let's Build a Zoo, having 68% popularity. The best enclosure for his peculiar beast is the Tropical one, as it's the ideal living environment for the monkey.
But, since the head of the monkefowl is the peafowl, players need to give it a bird-based diet. So for gamers to have the healthiest monkefowl, they'll need to purchase Blended Pellets ($0.24), Seeds ($8.10), Fruit ($11.34), and Plants ($2.16). Players should also be wary of leaving the monkefowl in an enclosure with certain herbivores since they can cause a real mess if unattended, similar to how some Slimes from Slime Rancher 2 can cause trouble at a farm.
Let's Build a Zoo is available now for PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.