Sandbox mode unlocks the launch roster, the new build tools, and effectively uncapped budget. Use it for blueprint iteration, scenery-theme experiments, and Aquarium/aviary tutorials.

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What is unlocked inside Planet Zoo 2 Sandbox mode

Launch roster
All around 121 launch species are available from session one, including the four habitat types (Terrestrial, Flying, Aquarium, Exhibit).
Build tools
All Planet Zoo 2 build tools are available: blueprints, piece-by-piece building, scaling, flexi-color, the pathing system, foliage and terrain brushes, the Aquarium and aviary suites.
Budget
Effectively uncapped. Money is no longer a constraint, so the player can iterate on blueprints and scenery themes without pausing to check cash.
Rating
The 5-Star Zoo Reputation bar tracks Animal Husbandry, Sustainability, Guest Education, and Guest Experience, but it does not gate access to animals or features.

Workflows that benefit most from Planet Zoo 2 Sandbox

Planet Zoo 2 Sandbox mode is the cleanest place to learn the new build tools and to iterate on scenery themes. Five workflows benefit most. Blueprint iteration: use the new My Blueprints menu (8) to save a layout, drop it on a different terrain, and compare results. Scenery-theme experiments: recolour cross-theme pieces with flexi-color and try nine themes on the same map. Aquarium tutorials: build saltwater and freshwater tanks with no welfare penalty, configure salinity, temperature, and filter networks, and test staff Work Zones. Aviary tutorials: build tall aviaries with the convex roof, test the Flyable Area welfare, and configure cohabitation between compatible species. Frontier Workshop uploads: build blueprints and scenery, then publish them from the Game menu. The Sandbox upload path is the same as in Career and Franchise, so the player can publish from any mode.

Sandbox mode versus Career and Franchise

The three Planet Zoo 2 game modes share the same launch roster, the same welfare check, and the same build tools. Sandbox removes the management restrictions, so the welfare check is informational rather than gating. Career gates species and features through FEN (Fauna and Ecosystems Network) scenarios, and the rating bar gates the next scenario. Franchise adds the async cross-platform animal marketplace on top of the welfare system, and the Franchise Animal Storage cap applies. Players can switch between Sandbox and Career (and vice versa) for the same Frontier Workshop account, so the Sandbox and Career saves are independent but the Frontier Workshop uploads are shared.

Planet Zoo 2 Game Modes: Career, Franchise, and Sandbox at a GlanceThe three Planet Zoo 2 game modes, what each unlocks, and which to start with for a new or returning player.Planet Zoo 2 Franchise Mode: How the Async Animal Trade Hub WorksHow Franchise mode works, the cross-platform async animal marketplace, the storage cap, and the breeding plan that fits.Planet Zoo 2 Building Tools: Blueprints, Paths, Foliage and Terrain BrushesThe build bar, blueprints vs piece-by-piece placement, scaling, flexi-color, pathing, and the foliage and terrain brushes that ship with Planet Zoo 2.Planet Zoo 2 Frontier Workshop: Subscribe, Upload, and Share Across PlatformsThe Planet Zoo 2 Frontier Workshop, how to subscribe, how to upload, and how cross-platform content sharing works across PC, PS5, and Xbox.Planet Zoo 2 Scenery Themes: 5 Returning and 4 New Theme SetsThe 9 scenery themes at launch, the 5 returning Planet Zoo 1 themes, and the 4 new Planet Zoo 2 themes, plus the rules for mixing themed props.