Download Recommendations

Hello, this is Lgcfm. Here is a list of my download recommendations (also known as mods), meant to help people just getting into ZT2 downloads, but hopefully veterans can also find something interesting here.

These recommendations are split in several sections, depending on what type of content you are looking to add to your game.

Please note these are all just my personal opinions, but I've tried to include the most obvious choices. I am also a modder myself, and there is some bias towards my own work because, well, I made things because I thought they were interesting/needed.

If you have trouble getting any of these working, please check the Frequent Download Problems page. I'll also be answering to comments to this blog post, so feel free to leave your opinion, questions or suggestions.

Overall game improvements[]

This section includes basic mods that I think everyone can appreciate having in their game, regardless of playing style, as well as things that should have been in the game in the first place.

Widescreen Hack by HENDRIX[]

Removes the black bars on the side of the screen when your aspect ratio is 16:9 (as is common nowadays). It does not stretch the image at all, it simply fits more content in your screen.

Where to get: The ZT2 Round Table

Star Fix by Horse14t[]

Widescreen Stars Fix (fixes placement for stars)

4GB Patch by NTCore[]

This is a general tool that patches exe files to able to use more memory, and it's particularly useful for older games such as ZT2. It helps the game run a bit smoother, particularly on crowded maps with a lot of animals and objects.

Where to get: The ZT2 Round Table (More information and patch link)

Creator's Panel by Summjoke[]

Makes the buying panel scroll vertically (up and down) instead of horizontally (left and right), which is much more comfortable, in my opinion. Itn addition, it makes the filter list longer so you have an easier time finding the filter you want, adds tabs to sort animals by taxonomy, a much needed ingame search bar, and makes most user-made biomes compatible with eachother, should you want to use them.

Where to get: The ZT2 Round Table

Needs: Revamped Biome System (Harlequinz eg0)

Skip Intro Movies Hacks by various creators[]

ZT2's intro movies are nice and all but after a while you'd surely like to skip them and get straight to the game, these hacks allow you to do just that.

Get any of these:

Collar's mods (standalone hack)
Also included in Radical Remake

Biome Brush Size Hacks by various creators[]

Allows the biome brush to have a wider range of sizes (smallest is smaller, and biggest is bigger) than default.

Get any of these:

Collar's mods (standalone hack)
Also included in Radical Remake

Vanilla style additions[]

If you are you a fan of ZT2's cartoonish style and want to add more content in line with that style, check this mix of old and new mods that are meant to fit right in.

Bonus downloads by Blue Fang[]

The addax and Asian black bear are two official animals made by the game's creators, Blue Fang. Unlike other official downloads, they were not included with the game and had to be downloaded through external means (the addax was later included in Ultimate Collection, but not the bear). User Horse14t has uploaded a version translated to multiple languages, and with their bugs fixed, so you can add them to your game.

Where to get: The ZT2 Round Table

Artifex's works[]

Artifex was the first formal designing team for ZT2, and they released the first "user-made expansion packs". Known for Arabian Nights and Island Excursions, both packs add over 20 animals, as well as all kinds of foliage, scenery and other objects much in the same style as official expansion packs. You can also check separate works made by Artifex's members, for a similar style.

Where to get:

Arabian Nights: Artifex's site, Nexus
Island Excursions: Artifex's site,User-Made Creations (UMC)

Folksy Facelift by NanoLancensis[]

A detailed pack meant to overhaul the base game. It includes numerous features including new behaviors and animal redesigns, as well as some new content, all designed in vanilla style.

Conflicts: Radical Remake

Were to get: Nano's website

The Restorers' works[]

The Restorers is a currently active designing team focused on staying true to the vanilla style. Their most notable work is the Forgotten Animals pack, which contains animals and items featured in the first Zoo Tycoon game which were not included in the sequel, from the blackbuck, to the anteater, to the unicorn. Other works include additions and updates to ZT2 animals, and small unrelated packs. You can also check separate works made by The Restorers' members, for a similar style.

Where to get: The Restorers' website

Holden's works[]

Holden is a designer who focused on vanilla style, making beautiful mods with edited models that fit particularly well along the original animals, often organized in small mini-packs.

Where to get: Category for Holden's work

Formidable Fishes by Thom[]

A pack that codes the ambient and live food fish present in Marine Mania, with the same models and skins, to act as proper animals.

Where to get: Thom's website

Graphical overhaul[]

If you would like your game to look completely different to the original, replacing the original models and textures for more realistic and detailed looking ones, check the following downloads.

Radical Remake by Aurora Designs[]

The quintessential download for an updated look, Radical Remake updates animals, foliage, rocks, biomes (including new ones), and even the user interface. Everything is meant to look photorealistic, while still optimized for gameplay.

It should be noted though, that Radical Remake is incomplete. It updates most modern animals (with a couple still missing), but only two extinct animals, while guests, staff and many items are untouched. This means you will need additional mods if you want to remake those aspects.

Conflicts: Folksy Facelift

Where to get: HENDRIX's signature (Scroll to the bottom and click on "AD"), Zoo Tycoon Nexus

Being such an important mod, it also has some additions to it:

Radical Remake Patch by Anabeille, Lgcfm, Megraptor & Mjmannella[]

This is a big patch adjusting all Radical Remake animals for consistency, realism and gameplay.

Size, lifespan, biome, conservation status, and some names have been adjusted. Several variant skins have been added, with advanced genetic coding, and several bugs have been fixed. You can find more detailed information on its article.

Conflicts: Other RR hacks

Where to get: The ZT2 Round Table

RR UI Extension by Iben[]

This optional addition to the RR UI adds new tabs and moves around others, so things are now organised in a different fashion; construction panel, animal tab, and amenities.

Where to get: The ZT2 Round Table

EA Remakes by Lgcfm & Ulquiorra[]

Meant to complement RR, EAR remakes content from the Extinct Animals expansion in a similar style. Animals are designed to be as accurate as possible while keeping color schemes similar to the original ZT2 animals, whenever true colors are unknown. In addition, they feature some new animations (by other designers) and behaviors including breaking tusks in a fight or brooding eggs, model variants when relevant, and a detailed genetic coding for variant skins, allowing animals to be born or created in multiple colors and patterns, growing up consistently, and inheriting variants to their offspring. Incomplete, but over 20 animals and several items available at the time of this post.

Needs: Radical Remake, Variant Selector Script, Crocodylia

Conflicts: Another Remake, other EA remakes

Where to get: The ZT2 Round Table

Shoehorned Dillo Remakes by Dedennedillo[]

Similiar to EAR, this pack focuses on remaking animals missing from Radical Remake, this time from the ES, AA and MM expansions.

Needs: Radical Remake, Variant Selector Script

Conflicts: Another Remake, other ES, MM and AA remakes

Another Remake by Demon Hunter[]

Another option to complement RR, mainly focused on repurposing existing animals into remakes, while also adding some new remakes for EA and some that are missing from other expansions. Also includes foliage remakes and additions which can be downloaded separately.

Needs: Radical Remake, Asian Mixed Forest, Treemakes

Conflicts: EA Remakes, SDR, other remakes

Where to get: The ZT2 Round Table

Staff Remake by Whalebite[]

Updates the look of non-EA staff members (zookeeper, maintenance worker, tour guide).

Where to get: Lgcfm's Google Drive

Environmental Graphic Shaders[]

Enhances the overall look of the game with graphic shaders.

Environmental Graphics Shaders (Narukota)

Where to get: Nexus

Other remakes[]

In addition to the packs listed above, you can browse Category:Remakes for other standalone remakes.

Roster expansion[]

ZT2's animal roster is pretty decent, but surely it can use more species. From the red fox to the white-tailed deer or the capybara, to a wide array of birds, and the completely missing amphibians and invertebrates, these downloads are mostly big packs which can more than double the existing animal roster with little effort. The downloads in this section are mostly in the same visual style as Radical Remake.

Complete Collection by Aurora Designs[]

Made by the same team as Radical Remake, this is the perfect complement, adding over 40 animals which help flesh out the new biomes included in RR, as well as foliage, building themes, fences and other objects. Raccoon, iguana, platypus, mustang horse, armadillo, turkey, eels, are just some examples. It also includes the only user-made campaign map so far.

Needs: Radical Remake

Where to get: HENDRIX's signature (Scroll to the bottom and click on "AD"), Nexus

ZTABC packs[]

Zoo Tycoon ABC, or just ZTABC, is a designing team which focused on creating expansions based mostly on certain animal groups, also including some additional items in each of them. Choose the one which interests you most, or just all of them:

Amount of content (animals+objects) in parenthesis:

Amphibia: frogs and salamanders (7)
Artiodactyla: even-toed ungulates; deer, antelope, pigs, sheep, and more (36)
Aves: birds of all kinds; kiwi, shoebill, chicken, cranes, and more including aviary building tools (39)
Carnivora: cats, mongooses, foxes, bears and more (17)
Reptilia: reptiles of all kinds; chameleons, crocodiles, snakes and more (17)
Wildes China: Chinese animals and foliage (24)

Where to get: HENDRIX's signature (Scroll to the bottom and click on "ZTABC")

European Expeditions by HENDRIX[]

Made by a prominent member of Aurora Designs and ZTABC, this pack contains over 30 animals from Europe, from the red fox and wild boar to the jay, pike and hamster. Also adds a new building theme, foliage, and more. Notorious for introducing new animations sets for birds, bats, and rabbits.

Needs: Radical Remake

Where to get: HENDRIX's signature (Scroll to the bottom and click on "Solo")

American Adventures by -JimmyzHoopz-[]

Adds over 25 iconic North American animals, from the bald eagle to the black bear and alligator, as well as foliage and a building theme.

Where to get: User-Made Creations (Account required)

Walking With Dinosaurs by HENDRIX[]

Based on the BBC series by the same name, adds animals featured in each episode of the show (except for episode 4), including Tyrannosaurus, Ankylosaurus, Pteranodon, Liopleurodon and others. Notorious for introducing new animations for theropods, pterosaurs and marine reptiles.

Where to get: HENDRIX's signature (Scroll to the bottom and click on "Solo")

Wild New World by Zerosvalmont & others[]

Includes some signature South American animals such as the capybara and ocelot, as well as the red-tailed boa and goliath birdeater, which use new animation sets used for snakes and invertebrates, respectively.

Where to get: HENDRIX's signature (Scroll to the bottom and click on "WNW")

Fauna del Mundo Remake by Zerosvalmont[]

An updated version of an older mod, includes several famous animals from all around the world, from the Tasmanian devil to the coyote and roadrunner.

Where to get: Nexus

Crocodylia by HENDRIX & Zerosvalmont[]

Includes several crocodilians, like the gharial and Cuban crocodile (each downloaded separately), as well as a master file with a custom animation set and food items.

Cuban_Crocodile_Animations — Cuban Crocodile Animations

New crocodile animations, the main feature of *Crocodylia*

Where to get: HENDRIX's signature (Scroll to the bottom and click on "Crocodylia"), Nexus

Countries of the World by Tamara Henson & others[]

This massive pack is split into individual packs for each country. While having all of them in your game at the same time might be a bit too much, they are a great way to spice up your roster for a particular country, including some obscure choices.

Where to get: User-Made Creations (Account required)

Paranoia! by Z-Studio[]

If you're into mythological and cryptid animals, this is the pack for you. Adds over 20 fictional creatures, as well as foliage, scenery, a building theme, and other objects, even including a new biome.

Where to get: Z-Studio's Google Drive

More animals[]

If you are still looking for more packs, check the Packs category. If you are looking for an animal in particular, you an use the wiki search option or browse the Animals subcategories.

Construction tools[]

Enough about animals, what should you get to improve the overall design and look of your zoo? Take a look at these hacks, fences, scenery and much more.

Non-grid hacks by various creators[]

Any non-grid hack, which allows you to place items anywhere instead of snapping into the game's grid, can radically change the feel of the game, particularly exhibit designing. Be careful however as it can lead to animals and guests getting stuck or being unable to reach or use certain objects if placed at the wrong spot.

Some alternatives for no grid hacks:

Non-grid hack by Zeta-Designs for rocks and foliage, also allows placement on elevated paths and water.
CombiPatch by Snowleo - no grid for rocks and foliage, plus other additions.
Anywhere hack - a more extreme version including scenery, foliage, rocks, and shelters which also removes their collision data to stop animals bumping into them.
Placement Hack by Collar - Place most objects anywhere, plus other additions.

Zeta-Designs works[]

Better known for their "building sets" which consist of several different fences and walls, elevated paths (which work as a roof), as well as aviaries, indoor scenery for creating beautiful gift shops, restaurants, toilets or just wall decorations, Zeta-Designs downloads are a must for any zoo builder.

Where to get: Zeta-Designs website.

Snowleo's works[]

Includes elaborate building sets such as aviaries and stables with functional animal gates, as well as other objects, and hacks.

See Category:Snowleo. Where to get: HENDRIX's signature (Scroll to the bottom and click on "SZE")

Building Sets by Iben & Thom[]

Some beautiful building sets in a variety of textures for you to choose, including arches, curved fences and stackable pillars which change size automatically to match surrounding fences.

Where to get: The ZT2 Round Table

Invisible elevated path by various creators[]

Very useful to make things appear to "float", can be used for creating your own climbing scenery, rock caves, etc. First place them on a regular elevated path and then replace them with the invisible one.

Floating items achieved by using an invisible elevated path

Both options do the same thing:

Delete Zoo Entrance by various creators[]

Allow you to delete the zoo entrance gate so you can make your own. Please note, if you want guests to come in your zoo, you will need to place a special item specified on each option:

CombiPatch (Snowleo) — Zoo Mat repacing a zoo gate, from the CombiPatch

Dynamic signs by Iben, Thom & others[]

These are animal signs with special coding - taking up only two slots in the scenery tab, place a standard sign next to an animal and it will automatically transform into a sign with a name, picture and information about the animal, which guests will read thus boosting their education level. Comes in a wall mounted version as well as one in a diagonal post. There are over 400 signs available, for animals in the base game as well as usermade content, including most of the "roster expansion" section above.

Dynamic Signs (Lgcfm, kbcoon & Deinonychus 110)

Where to get: The ZT2 Round Table (you will need the base file as well as a file for every additional packs you want).

Medical Set by Zebrasorus[]

A set of many cabinets and scenery such as a computer and billboards, which are perfect for decorating staff indoor areas.

Where to get: Lgcfm's Google Drive

Restaurant Pack by Thom[]

A fully functional restaurant pack so you can build your own restaurant areas, including counters, seating, cash register, a plate rack, etc.

Needs: Canned Drinks (Iben)

Where to get: The ZT2 Round Table

Feral Designs' works[]

Consisting mostly of a variety of imported scenery items, you can find plenty of useful additions for decorating your zoo, from farm items to scenery enrichment to banners and posters.

See Category:Feral Designs.

Draggable Marine Models by Lgcfm[]

Very useful for aquariums or any sort of marine themed area, enjoy 24 marine animal models (most hanging, some with floor support) that you can drag up and down to the desired height.

Where to get: The ZT2 Round Table

More objects[]

If you are still looking for more construction tools and scenery, please check out the Construction Tools and Scenery categories.

Easy Mode[]

Feel like playing the game on "easy mode"? Just want to take pictures, build freely, or run some tests and can't be bothered with game mechanics? Take a look at these "cheating" mods.

Happy Animals Hack by Thom[]

Keeps animals automatically satisfied, they have no biome or space needs, food is refilled, tanks and poop are cleaned and trash disappears automatically. Works automatically on every animal placed after the hack is installed (even usermade ones).

Where to get: The ZT2 Round Table

Unlock Hack by Lgcfm[]

Unlocks all official unlockable content in the game (from completing campaigns and challenges), also unlocking all campaigns in the process. You might need to readjust your graphic settings after installing, also make sure to read the installing instructions carefully as they are different from other mods.

Where to get: The ZT2 Round Table

Animal Roulette Expanded by Hundezahn[]

Increases the amount of animal slots in the roulette for campaign and challenge mode.

Where to get: DreamZoo2

Animal Roulette Removal Hack by Makaio[]

You can adopt animals normally in campaign and challenge mode, no animal roulette. You can also adopt animals from any fame level, like in freeform. Keep in mind, higher fame animals are still expensive, so there is still some difficulty.

Where to get: The ZT2 Round Table

Unlimited Money in Challenge and Campaign by Makaio[]

Allows you to have unlimited money in challenge and campaign games, much like in freeform.

Where to get: DreamZoo2

Easy Fossils Hack by Bouncebag[]

All fossils can be found at 1/2 a star of fame, they only require 4 key inputs (instead of the usual 8), no hidden keys and the slider is slower. Also no wages for palaeontologists or upkeep for the cloning center, and increases the chance of getting a killer penguin, and allows you to have up to 10 in your zoo.

Conflicts: No grid hacks

Where to get: Bouncebag's website

Palaeontologists On Speed by HENDRIX[]

Makes palaeontogists walk and work much faster, greatly speeding up the process of finding fossils.

Where to get: HENDRIX's signature (Scroll to the bottom and click on "Solo")

Adoptable Killer Penguin by various creators[]

These hacks allow you to adopt the killer penguin from the animal panel as an adult, instead of having to create it by failing the cloning minigame.

Killer Penguin Adoption Hack (Mjmannella)

by Mjmanella - makes the killer penguin adoptable
by Thom - separately coded animal
EAR Version - for the EA Remakes version

No Rampage Hack by Collar[]

Dinosaurs won't rampage.

Where to get: Collar's mods

Cheat Codes by Thom[]

By placing a special invisible item, you can now rename your animals to "Young" and they'll become babies, or to "Pregnant" and they'll become pregnant. Perfect if you don't want to have to wait for babies.

ZT2_Cheat_Codes — ZT2 Cheat Codes

Video showcasing the Cheat Codes

Where to get: The ZT2 Round Table

Additions[]

Some additional cheat codes, you will need the base file above:

Super Cheat Codes (for Super animals)
Growth Cheat Code (for Adult and Old stages)
Juvenile and Adolescent Cheat Code (for the custom lifestages Juvenile and Adolescent)
Narwhal Cheat Code (for two tusked narwhal)
Animal Randomizer (for random animal)

Gameplay changes & additions[]

These downloads consist of gameplay changes which do not necessarily make the game too much easier, just change some aspects.

Sell animals hack by various creators[]

When you put animals up for adoption, you get some money back. Get any of these:

Unadoptable Extinct Animals by Lgcfm[]

This hack makes animals from the EA expansion pack unadoptable (downloaded extinct animals are unaffected), but they can still be obtained through the lab. It can help unclutter the menu if you want to use only living animals, or add an extra challenge so you need to build extinct animals from fossils instead of being able to buy them.

Where to get: The ZT2 Round Table

Freeform Roulette Hack by Lgcfm[]

Counterpart to the roulette removal hack, this one does the opposite; you get the animal roulette in freeform mode, and are subject to fame ratings, to spice things up.

Where to get: The ZT2 Round Table

Aesthetic[]

These hacks are just for improving the game appearance, not through direct graphic improvements or remakes but by removing/altering some content for a cleaner experience, particularly useful if you want to take pictures or record videos.

Pause in zookeeper mode by Collar[]

Lets you walk around and perform zookeeper tasks, as well as use the ingame camera, while the game is paused. You have to click the pause button, as hotkeys won't work, but after paused you can go in and out of first person view as much as you want. A godsend for taking pictures since you can position the animals where you want, take multiple pictures from different angles, etc.

Where to get: Collar's mods

No Zoo Wall by various creators[]

Simple, makes the zoo wall invisible so it's not in the way for pics.

All options do the same thing:

Always Daylight by Collar[]

Lighting will always stay bright, instead of going darker around the end of the ingame month.

Where to get: Collar's Mods

Hide UI elements by various creators[]

These hacks hide some elements of the user interface for a cleaner look.

No game paused text by Lgcfm (removes GAME PAUSED text, you can still pause the game)
No 1st person text by Lgcfm (removes "Press SPACEBAR to X" text, you can still perform these actions)
Minimalist UI by Collar (hides messages by default, permanently hides money and emoticons)
Cinematic camera by NanoLancensis (removes most of the user interface from the camera mode)

Just for fun[]

Just want to fool around with unusual content? Check these out:

Fantasy creatures by various creators[]

From unicorns and dragons to bigfoot, Jurassic World hybrids, and even Pokémon, the Nonexistent Animals subcategories have you covered if you want some unusual inhabitants for your zoo.

Where to get: Browse Nonexistent Animals categories.