In addition to Freeform, Zoo Tycoon 2 includes a number of game modes with different restrictions. Freeform in Zoo Tycoon 2 allows the player to choose what kind of zoo to create, with the only limitations being space, animals, and items. The player’s money supply is unlimited and all items are available from the start of the game, except for items that can only be unlocked in Scenario and Challenge games. Free games start with an empty zoo, and the player adds animal exhibits and amenities for guests, such as restaurants and bathrooms. The player must hire employees to staff and maintain facilities. At the start of a new free game, the player chooses a plot for the zoo, and each plot represents a different biome (biomes are alpine, benthic, boreal forest, coast, desert, grassland, pelagic, reef, savannah, scrubland, temperate forest, tropical rainforest forests, tundra and wetlands). Each lot has a different size (large, small or medium).