Who runs the zoo?
A 3D, third-person multiplayer game. Monkeys try to escape. Keepers try to keep them in. A round timer decides who wins.
How a round works
Short rounds, clear goals, and a ticking clock.
- Join a gameFriends host their own zoo and invite players. Everyone is split into monkeys and keepers.
- The timer startsMonkeys begin in the enclosure. Keepers start out on the zoo paths, with visitors wandering all around.
- Do your tasks, make your moveBoth sides have mini games to earn coins. Monkeys look for a way out. Keepers watch the fences.
- Win and get paidIf a monkey escapes, monkeys win. If time runs out first, keepers win. Winners earn the most coins.
Two sides, two sets of tasks
Everyone has something to do every round, so nobody just waits.
Keepers
- Clean up litter around the zoo
- Take tickets at the booth
- Catch loose monkeys and arrest them
- Return them to the enclosure
Monkeys
- Play with toys in the enclosure
- Fling mischief at wandering visitors
- Jump the fence and run for the exit
- Avoid getting caught outside
Random visitors walk around every zoo, so there is always a crowd to dodge, distract, or hide behind.
Earn coins, unlock animals
Win rounds and finish tasks to earn coins. Keepers spend them on skins and accessories. Monkeys spend them on new animals, each with its own strengths.
| Animal | Strength | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Capuchin | Balanced starter | Nothing special yet |
| Chimp | Runs fast | Standard jump |
| Orangutan | Swings and jumps far | Slower on the ground |
| Gorilla | Big and tough | Slowest runner |
More animals and more zoos are planned after launch.
Built to be safe from day one
Players host their own games, so we are designing the network to protect them.
- No public IP addresses
- Games are planned to connect through Steam’s relay network, so players do not see each other’s home addresses.
- Encrypted connections
- Game traffic is planned to travel encrypted between players.
- Coins stay safe
- Hosts will not control your wallet. Rewards will be checked outside the host’s computer so nobody can print their own money.
- Fair play
- The host referees movement, catches, and tasks, and we harden each build against tampering.
Where we are
Now
Playable browser prototype to test the feel of rounds, tasks, and chases.
Next
First real multiplayer build with relay networking and private security testing.
Then
Steam page, closed testing with friends, and the first full zoo.
Later
More zoos, more animals, more skins.
Made by a dad and his son
We are building Who Runs the Zoo? together, one weekend at a time. We plan to share what we learn as we go.
Steam wishlist coming soon