- BGG rating
- 8.5
Zoo King: Zoovenirs
- 2–5 players
- 30 min
- 2022
- BGG rank
- BGG #10,062
- BGG rating
- 7.3
Zoo King
2022
Rules assistance for Zoo King
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–4 players
- 30 min
- 10+
- Complexity 1.8/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Zoo King
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Zoo King is a board game released in 2022 for 2–4 players, 30 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. It was designed by Evan Johnson (II) and its main mechanics are Take That, Set Collection, and Push Your Luck.
Expansions
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About the game
In Zoo King, 2-4 players compete to build the best zoos by acquiring animal, staff, and facility cards, with the long-term goal of winning awards that will be revealed over the course of play. Before the game begins, each player purchases one of the staff or facility cards from their starting allotment of 1,000 money. Randomize the event and award cards into a single deck, with the cards being separated into groups based on the player count. On a turn, you reveal an event card from the deck, then perform two actions (whether the same or different) from these four: Purchase an animal, staff, or facility card from those available on the market, then add it to your zoo. Draw the top card from either the animal deck or the staff/facility deck, then either purchase it or discard it. Purchase the top card of either discard pile at a discount, albeit not a card you discarded this turn. Exchange an animal in your zoo for one of equal or lesser cost or star value in the market or on top of the discard pile. After you acquire a pair of animals, you receive an immediate bonus of 100. You can also earn money from event cards, with staff and facility cards granting discounts and other benefits. After a certain number of rounds, the first set of award cards will appear, with the awards being handed out one by one or returned to the bottom of the event deck in case of a tie. Sample awards include most felines, most money in hand, and highest total star value. As soon as a player has collected three awards — or four awards in a two-player game — that player immediately wins. If no one wins during the first award ceremony, then complete another round of events, after which more awards will be distributed.
Categories
Designers
Publishers
- Saratoga Toy & Game Co.
Questions and answers
Zoo King supports 2–4 players according to the catalogue. This range comes from the publisher’s listed player count, so the game can be set up for any group size within it. Some setups, rules and scoring details may still vary by player count, so check your edition’s rulebook for the exact configuration.
The listed playing time for Zoo King is 30 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists Zoo King for ages 10 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
Zoo King has a complexity rating of 1.8 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a light game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
Zoo King belongs to these categories: Card Game, Animals, and Video Game Theme. Its main mechanics are Take That, Set Collection, and Push Your Luck. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The credited designers of Zoo King are: Evan Johnson (II). These credits come from the published game data and name the people responsible for the game’s design, not its illustrators or publishers. Designer pages on MeepleRules collect other titles by the same designers, which helps when you enjoy a game and want to find similar ones.
The catalogue lists Zoo King as a base game. It can be played on its own with the components in the box and does not require any other title. Expansions, if any exist, add new content or rules on top of it and are listed separately in the catalogue with a link back to this base game.