At most zoos, numerous signs and railings adorn every habitat, designed to keep hapless patrons from coming face-to-face with the wildlife. That's a practical and life-saving maneuver in the real world, but keeping people at a distance doesn't work in video games.

Zoo Tycoon is the newest Xbox One release from Microsoft Studios and Frontier Developments that has players creating their very own virtual zoo. Zoo Tycoon may not be at the top of your holiday list right now, but it should be.

a fantastic game for 4 years and older petting and looking after virtual animals

You can take a certain hypnotic bliss from simply working along calmly and peacefully, making sure that your park is running as smoothly as it can and improving the conditions for your ever-growing menagerie of creatures.

I've always had an interest in the Tycoon games. There's something about managing a theme park or perhaps a casino -- or in this case a zoo -- that always felt so enticing to me. Whether it was laying out the land, choosing which animals to showcase near the entrance, or what entertainment will keep...

- Frontier is more than up to the job, delivering a game that lacks depth, but can be enjoyed by all of the family.

Maybe I want more complexity as an old Tycoon fan but I feel the port of the style has been managed well and showcases a nice enjoyable game where you aren't forced to battle Romans/Zombies every 2 minutes.

When you look at the Xbox One launch titles, there's no a whole lot on offer for the younger audience; a large chunk of the line-up is comprised of violent action games and complex sports sims.

Release Date: November 22 (Worldwide) Platforms available on: Xbox One Developer: Frontier Developments Publisher: Microsoft Genre: Strategy/Simulation Following the delay of Kinect Sports Rivals , all eyes are on Frontier Development's Zoo Tycoon to showcase the Xbox One's Kinect capabilities.

Zoo Tycoon impresses you immediately with its animals. The authentic and adorable behaviors they exhibit make Zoo Tycoon an endearing game that fosters an appreciation for the diversity of creatures with whom we share this planet.

Animals are adorable and behave in believable ways; Makes its concepts accessible and easy to manage; Driving around in a buggy is fun

Clunky interface adds numerous unnecessary steps to many basic actions