| Name | Reviewer | Quote | Score |
| GameSpy.com (PC) | Scott Osborne | Has its amusing moments, but the game lacks spirit and can feel more like a boring chore than a game. | 67 out of 100 |
| GamesDomain.com (PC) | Mike Smith | A good game in its own right, and casual gamers, parents and kids will doubtless get a great deal of enjoyment from it. | 3.5 out of 5 |
| IGN.com (PC) | Dan Adams | ...You probably won't get too much out of this, although if you do, there'll be plenty of downloadable extras after the game's release. | 6.9 out of 10 |
| GameSpot.com (PC) | Andrew Seyoon Park | It's true that Zoo Tycoon doesn't offer the same kind of enjoyment that RollerCoaster Tycoon does. | 7.1 out of 10 |
| GameZone.com (PC) | The Badger | While I would say this game is close to a 10 for the niche it was created for, long-time simmers will probably spend a lot of time comparing it to more intense sim titles. | 8.0 out of 10 |
| Gamezilla.com (PC) | Shawna Walls | The game is certainly worth a look. | Fans Only |
| ActionTrip.com (PC) | Dusan Katilovic | The best things in the game are the unforeseen mishaps, like monkeys breaking loose, or scared visitors running away from a raging lion, which is still far from enough to leave a too good overall impression. | 57 out of 100 |
| The Adrenaline Vault (PC) | Bob Mandel | While short stints playing this release can indeed be enjoyable, for the long run you would do better looking for your fun with lions and tigers and bears in the real rather than the virtual world. | 2.0 out of 5 |
| Game-Over.net (PC) | Westlake | It’s family friendly (pretty much the only way animals escape is if you let them), it’s fun to watch, and it’s even educational. | 78% |