Jurassic World Dominion is set to wrap up the six-movie storyline that began with Steven Spielberg’s all-time classic, but there are other ways for fans to sate their appetite for character-themed content. dinosaurs after leaving theaters. Given the natural mainstream appeal of these awe-inspiring animals from prehistoric times, hit IPs like Jurassic Park have naturally paved the way for related media when it comes to video games.
The most recent example would be Jurassic World Evolution 2 from developer Frontier Developments to help coincide with the newly released movie, but there are other dinosaur-themed – or dinosaur-adjacent – video games worth checking out. be verified outside the intellectual property united with Hollywood. Whether it’s park simulators, action RPGs or survival games, there’s something for everyone to satisfy their inner dinosaur enthusiast.
Jurassic World Evolution 2 (2021)
Frontier Development’s sequel is arguably the best Jurassic Park movie game available, making it an easy recommendation for those looking for something familiar that inspires creativity. Jurassic World Evolution 2 is a park simulation game where players have the freedom to build their own Jurassic World, now with some welcome mechanical improvements over its predecessor.
The game features an expanded roster of prehistoric animals to house and raise, including marine and aquatic reptiles. Likewise, park building features have been made more intuitive and simplified for newcomers. It even has an original story campaign based on the films’ canon, as well as the new Chaos Theory mode to engage in exciting “what if” scenarios that flip established plot points on their heads.
Jurassic World Evolution 2 is available now on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, with the release of the Dominion Biosyn Expansion DLC on June 14.
Rise of the Monster Hunter (2021)
It may just be a dinosaur-themed video game, but now is the perfect time to dive into Capcom’s Monster Hunter Rise. After deservedly earning international acclaim for Monster Hunter World in 2018, Rise modernizes the classic action-RPG gameplay loop even further to become the most addictive game in the series to date.
Players create their hunter protagonist and take on expansive quests that mostly involve taking on creatively crafted monsters in show-level boss battles. The maps reward exploration more than ever, as the Wirebug and Palamute mount features give each biome an exciting sense of verticality, as well as the monster-fighting itself. Many monsters in the franchise are clear homages to various dinosaur species, so there should be plenty to enjoy.
Monster Hunter Rise is available now on Nintendo Switch and PC, with the highly anticipated Sunbreak DLC expansion releasing on June 24.
Ark: Survival Evolved (2017)
For an over-the-top dinosaur-themed adventure even more outrageous than the Jurassic Park franchise, Ark: Survival Evolved should more than satisfy those willing to participate in the gritty gameplay loop. Studio Wildcard’s survival game launched in an admittedly rocky state, and while not all wrinkles have been ironed out, the wealth of post-game content provided makes for an addictive and immersive experience.
Ark allows players to create their survivors on a mysterious island, starting from scratch and gradually growing by improving stats, building new gear, and taming wild dinosaurs to pit against rival players. For good measure, there’s also a wide list of prehistoric mammals and fantastical beasts available.
Ark: Survival Evolved is available now for PS4, XBO, Switch, PC and mobile platforms.
The Island (2015 – Early Access)
There’s an caveat to The Isle, and it’s the game that’s still been in Steam’s Early Access program since its launch in 2015. However, while there’s still some inevitable way to go before full release of gaming, what The Isle brings to the table in a sea of budding indie dinosaur games, even in its current state, is unique and awe-inspiring.
It places players in the role of various dinosaurs, where they are tasked with surviving in wild and harsh environments by finding water, food (which could mean prey, depending on the dinosaur chosen) and avoiding or chasing rival players. The game then becomes more and more compelling once players have established their own meta-game strategies.
The Isle is available in its current Early Access version via Steam on PC.
Turok: Dinosaur Hunter (1997)
For those looking to dive into a nostalgic throwback, Turok: Dinosaur Hunter is both a classic dinosaur game and a first-person shooter from the Nintendo 64 era. Even with the game launching the same year Than the acclaimed Goldeneye 007, Turok Remains received impressive critical acclaim for its creative blend of run-and-gun shooter gameplay with rewarding elements of exploration and level design.
Turok follows the titular Native American warrior as he travels through portals trying to stop an interdimensional conqueror, bumping into dinosaurs and humans along the way. It’s another dinosaur-themed sci-fi game that’s even more outrageous than what the Jurassic Park franchise turned into, but it fits right in with the 90s era of gaming.
Turok: Dinosaur Hunter is available on modern platforms through PS4, XBO, Switch, and PC.
