A single-player game in which you create and handle Pokémon-like creatures in a caring zoo. Inspired by Theme Park and Stardew Valley.

In My Grandparent's Weird Zoo, you're running a modern zoo: one which cares for endangered or sick animals and also provides education and entertainment for its human visitors. The animals of this zoo, however, are quite unusual...

<aside> ✉️ What is this, a letter just arrived? From good ol' [grandparent]...

</aside>

<aside> 📜 WHAT? RETIRED?! And leaving me their zoo...

</aside>

<aside> 🐶 I don't remember the last time I've been to [grandparent]'s zoo. It's kinda... weird. People used to love it, but that was many years ago... Now, no one really goes there any more.

</aside>

<aside> 💕 Perhaps I can get it back on its feet? Maybe I can make the zoo into a cool attraction again!

</aside>

<aside> 😓 But first I have to pay back the debts [grandparent] left me with...

</aside>

Based on Menagerie of the Void, created as a Kickstarter stretch goal.

By Eran Aviram. Edited by Tanya Itkin. Many thanks to Dassi and Roi.

Licensed under CC BY 4.0, do what you want with it, just please tell me about it!

Getting Ready

Get a pack of blank index cards.

Get a deck of playing cards. Aces are “1”. If you ever run out of cards, shuffle the discards into a new deck. You can use an online card deck, like this one.

Place nine index cards in a 3-by-3 grid. These are the blocks of your zoo, but it's not the limit. If you're asked to add blocks, they can spread outside of this original grid!
Choose one of the outer blocks to be the entrance and draw a gate on its outer border. Visitors come into the zoo through here!
Now create two exhibits (Create an Exhibit) and start the game!

How to Play

The weird animals in your zoo need to be taken care of and nurtured. If you work hard, you can make this zoo into the best in the country!

Your Exhibits

Each "exhibit" is some strange animal which you'll be creating. Each has the following features:

Element: The creature's magical or spiritual essence. Creatures of different elements might react harshly to each other! The elements are ♣Clay, ♦Blaze, ♥Breeze and ♠Goo.
Appeal: How much this exhibit is liked by the crowds. Appeal starts at 1, and is usually increased by attaching attractions (Add an Attraction, below).
Wellbeing: How well this exhibit is feeling, mentally and physically. Starts at 1. When Wellbeing gets to 3 the exhibit is so well-cared for, its Appeal goes up by one! When Wellbeing drops to 0, the exhibit must be removed and handed to another caretaker, you've failed it!

Create an Exhibit

Your Turn

Every passing day brings new opportunities and developments. How will you handle your zoo?

Good Morning Everyone! You start each turn by walking around the zoo. Take one action.
Something's Come Up. You are presented with a situation and need to decide how to handle it.
Bring It In! If you have the room, you can bring in a new exhibit (Create an Exhibit).

Then a new turn begins, until you get 10 Reputation and win!

Your Reputation

Your zoo's Reputation is the sum of all of your exhibits' Appeal. You can also gain Rep from other sources - when that happens, write the bonus on the entrance block. When you get to 10 Reputation, you win!

1. Good Morning Everyone!

At the start of each turn, do ONE of the following.

Care For an Exhibit...

You give special care to one exhibit. You give it a treat, feed it personally, clean the habitat, spend some time playing with it.