Two sides in a chaotic zoo
ZooKeeper Simulator splits your group into two teams: the Zookeeper and the Animals. The Zookeeper has to keep the park running by completing missions, while the Animals try to stop them through violence and pure brutality. The Zookeeper can grab objects around the zoo to defend against the animals, and can also pick up animals and throw them far away to buy some time. The Animals can fight back with weapons and thrown objects. It is an online PvP setup, so expect a scrappy back-and-forth rather than a quiet management sim.
Playing together with your group
You can play with up to 6 players in the same game, so a full Discord crew can jump in together. Everyone interacts with the environment: weapons, vehicles, objects and NPCs are all in play. The animal roster gives each person a distinct role, with up to 5 different animals to choose from: a monkey, an elephant, a giraffe, a fish and a penguin. Each one has its own specialty. The giraffe can propel itself with its neck, the penguin slides and waltzes everything it encounters, and the fish spits water to launch itself into the air. Splitting the group across these animals keeps matches varied, since movement and disruption work differently for each.
What to know before starting
The action takes place on a large map filled with restaurants, an attraction, a telepherical, a ferris wheel, many animal pens, toilets, a shop and a veterinarian. Because the map is big, vehicles matter: you can ride a camel, drive a vehicle, or cling to one to move faster. The tone mixes funny, casual mayhem with violent and even psychological horror tags, so the game leans into rough, chaotic play rather than a gentle zookeeping experience. Expect the environment and NPCs to be part of the fight on both sides.