Planet Zoo 2 Career Mode
Career is the guided track: scenario zoos, objectives and medals. In Career, medals — not zoo reputation — are what raise your accreditation tier.
Frontier's 14 October 2026 post states it plainly: in Career Mode your accreditation tier increases by gaining medals from scenario zoos and Wildlife Reserves. That is a different currency from Franchise, where reputation and biodiversity decide.
How Career differs from Franchise
| Field | Career | Franchise |
|---|---|---|
| Starting point | Scenario with fixed goals | Your own zoo, connected online |
| Progression currency | Medals | Zoo reputation + reserve biodiversity |
| Animal supply | Provided by the scenario | Animal market for Conservation Credits |
| Failure state | Objectives missed, scenario restart | Economy and welfare collapse |
Scenario notes worth knowing
- Nordic Fjords — 1.0.5 fixed a softlock caused by deleting the Moon Jelly exhibit before the relevant objective, by making it a placeable item.
- Great Rift Valley — 1.0.5 disabled Quick Release on giraffes, which could remove them from storage and block the objective.
- East Africa — 1.0.5 fixed a softlock triggered by opening Animal Trading while Alys talks about adopting a Shoebill.
- Sumatra Reserve — 1.0.5 fixed boxed animals appearing when the level loads.
If you are replaying a scenario from a launch-week guide, those four items explain most 'unwinnable' reports.
What Career teaches that transfers
- Barrier grade and height discipline — scenarios fail fast when a fence is under-spec.
- Terrain painting before animals, because repainting with animals inside costs time.
- Reading the Zoopedia record — the scenario objectives assume you did.
- Enrichment categories, which carry straight into Franchise welfare work.
Related pages
Sandbox mode
No economy, free build.
Read guideGuideFranchise mode
The connected mode.
Read guideGuideAccreditation
Both currencies explained side by side.
Read guideGuideBeginner guide
Build order that works in every mode.
Read guideGuideAnimals
Values the scenarios assume.
Read guideGuideFranchise troubleshooting
If Career issues persist.
Read guideGuideScenarios
Only the scenarios official notes name.
Read guideFAQ
Common questions about this topic.
Do Career medals increase Franchise accreditation?
No. Medals raise the Career tier; Franchise uses zoo reputation and reserve biodiversity.
Is Career the best place to learn the game?
It is the most guided: objectives force you through welfare, terrain and barrier basics in order.
Which Career softlocks were fixed?
Nordic Fjords (Moon Jelly exhibit), Great Rift Valley (giraffe Quick Release), East Africa (Animal Trading dialog) and Sumatra Reserve (boxed animals on load), all in 1.0.5.