The Best Dinosaur Games You Can Play On PC and Consoles

Who doesn’t like dinosaurs? Better yet, who doesn’t like dinosaur games? Most of us have played with dinosaur toys as kids but as adults, we have something so much better to play with – video games. And as it happens, there are some pretty good dinosaur games you can play these days on both PC and consoles. These types of games aren’t as plentiful as they should be, but we did a bit of research and found a dozen titles that are definitely worth your time.

Before we get started, it’s worth noting that this won’t be a ranked list. We’re going to talk about dinosaur games from across a wide variety of genres and platforms so it’s easier to list them in no particular order. Also, we won’t cover any games that are no longer playable as of this writing. And no browser games either. This includes that famous Dinosaur Game you can play in your browser when your internet is down. You know the one.

Look, the no internet dinosaur game is fun but all you’re doing is just pressing the Space key. We’re looking for something a bit more compelling here. That said, you can visit Dino-Chrome to play the Dinosaur Game anytime you want. No need to wait for your internet to go down. There are even alternative versions featuring Mario and Batman. You’re welcome.

With that out of the way, let’s take a look at some actually interesting dinosaur games you can play right now on PC and consoles.

Ark: Survival Evolved (2015)

We’re kicking things off with one of the most popular dinosaur games out there – ARK: Survival Evolved. If you’re familiar with online open-world survival games you already know what to expect here. You’re dropped onto a mysterious island completely naked and must gradually learn how to gather resources, build items and shelters, grow food, and research technologies that will allow you to survive in this harsh world.

The difference between ARK and other similar MMOs is that this world is inhabited by a wide variety of dinosaurs. Each bigger than the last. And, as you might imagine, most of them aren’t exactly friendly. But if you’re willing to put in enough time and effort, you will eventually be able to tame, breed, and even ride over 100 types of dinosaurs and other prehistoric creatures.

ARK: Survival Evolved is one of the best co-op games around but you can also play it all by yourself if you don’t want to have to deal with other players. Survival Evolved is currently free on Steam along with most of its DLC packs. Make sure to get it if you don’t already own it. But do it fast because the promotion will only last until June 19th.

Survival Evolved is getting a sequel called ARK 2 in 2023. Details are pretty scarce at the moment, but we know that the game will star Vin Diesel. That’s something, I guess.

Available on: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Switch, Stadia, Mobile

Prehistoric Kingdom (2022)

Prehistoric Kingdom is a dinosaur management game inspired by Jurassic Park. You run a zoo for extinct creatures and your job is to make them comfortable by designing appropriate habitats for them. You also manage the economic aspects of the theme park by making sure that both the staff and the zoo’s guests are cared for and happy. But of course, the animals are your main priority.

Although the dinosaurs are the main highlight of Prehistoric Kingdom, you’ll also need to manage a bunch of other types of creatures. These include Woolly Mammoths, Wolly Rhinos, Sabre Tooth Tigers, prehistoric birds, and more. There are only a little over 20 species of wildlife in the game as of right now, but that number is certain to grow in the months and years to come.

Prehistoric Kingdom launched in Early Access back in April of this year and still has a long way to go before it becomes a fully fleshed-out title. It’s definitely not the best dinosaur game on this list but it does show a lot of promise. The creatures look absolutely fantastic and the environments don’t look too shabby either. However, you will need a powerful rig to be able to enjoy the beautiful graphics.

Available on: Steam (Early Access)

Jurassic World Evolution 2 (2021)

Sure, Prehistoric Kingdom is sort of like Jurassic Park but if you’re looking for a game that can give you the quintessential dinosaur theme park experience, this is the one you’ll want. Jurassic World Evolution 2 is the sequel to Frontier Developments’ highly successful dino management sim. The sequel is bigger and better than its predecessor in pretty much every way while also featuring voice acting from some of the characters starring in the movies. Including Jeff Goldblum’s Dr. Ian Malcolm.

Unlike some of the other dinosaur games out there, Jurassic World Evolution 2 doesn’t shy away from engaging in “what if” scenarios. In addition to well-known species like the Triceratops or Pterodactyl, the game also includes specimens that never existed. In fact, you can take on the role of mad scientist and use bioengineering to create unique dinosaurs of your own. Within reason, of course. This isn’t Spore.

One important thing to note about Jurassic World Evolution 2 is that it’s a massive time sink. And potentially a pretty big money sink, too. The game has been out for less than a year and already has several DLC packs. And if its predecessor is anything to go by, JWE 2 will probably end up getting a few more expansions in the coming years. Make sure you have enough time and money on your hands before you decide to jump into this expansive dinosaur game.

Available on: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S

Lego Jurassic World (2015)

If you’re into Lego games you’ll definitely love this one. Lego Jurassic World is considered one of the best titles in the franchise and it’s easy to see why. The game is primarily based on the Jurassic Park trilogy and lets you relive iconic moments from the movies in a pretty unique way. There are also some scenes from the first Jurassic World movie, which remains the best entry in the new trilogy in my opinion.

While there’s quite a bit of focus on the narrative, Lego Jurassic World also lets you have random fun by giving you the opportunity to play as dinosaurs and even customize them. Just like in the movies, you can experiment with dino DNA to create weird and wonderful specimens. Usually more weird than wonderful if we’re being honest.

The biggest selling point here is the inclusion of a co-op mode. There’s no online multiplayer, though, so you’ll need to make do with couch co-op. Obviously, Lego Jurassic World is more aimed at kids than adults but you’ll probably enjoy it regardless of your age. Especially if you’re a fan of the movies.

Lego Con 2022 is currently in full swing as I’m writing this and there’s a special sale going on that lets you buy the game for just a couple of bucks. Hurry up because it won’t last long.

Available on: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Switch, Mobile

Second Extinction (2020)

So far, we talked a lot about dinosaur games where you get to tame, breed, and manage the big beasties, but about shooting them in the face? There are, of course, titles that allow you to do that, too. Several of them, in fact. But let’s start off with Second Extinction, a squad-based online FPS that pits teams of humans against hordes of dinosaurs. “But playing as humans is boring,” I hear you say. Well, not here because you have big guns and special abilities to keep things interesting.

Second Extinction is still in Early Access and somewhat rough around the edges but it’s shaping up to be an interesting game, if a bit wonky. The concept is pretty straightforward: you choose a character pertaining to one of several classes and drop onto an open-world map brimming with mutated dinosaurs. There are special missions and side quests to complete but mainly you’ll just be running around trying to kill anything with scales.

Second Extinction was designed with squads in mind so you’ll want to bring some friends along whenever possible. You can queue up for matches all by yourself, but keep in mind that downing some of these mutated dinosaurs requires a fair amount of teamwork. If you’re looking for something just a little bit different, you may want to check out the next dinosaur game instead.

Available on: Steam (Early Access), Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S

Primal Carnage: Extinction (2015)

Primal Carnage: Extinction is another online FPS but this one works a bit differently. You’ve got two teams this time around, one playing as humans while the other one is playing as dinosaurs. Choose a side and play through a variety of game modes like Team Deathmatch, Capture the Flag, Hunt, and more. There’s also a co-op survival mode and FreeRoam, a sandbox mode where you can run around strange custom maps.

There are about a dozen different types of dinosaurs you can play as, ranging from quick nimble ones to lumbering giant monsters. If you would rather play as a human, you only have five different classes to choose from. However, each of them has access to special utilities designed to help the team as a whole. Regardless of which side you choose, you can expect tons of chaos and, of course, plenty of carnage. Oh, and you can also customize characters, including the dinos, with a wide variety of cosmetic items.

If you like your dinosaurs up close and personal you may want to also check out Primal Carnage: Onslaught. This is a single-player VR spin-off where you get to shoot wave after wave of dinos. It’s not the most interesting game and it’s been in Early Access for almost six years at this point, but it might be worth a look if you can find it on sale. And if you own a VR headset, of course.

Available on: PC, PS4

Dinosaur Fossil Hunter (2022)

I used to dream of becoming a paleontologist as a kid but, as it turns out, that’s a pretty difficult job to obtain. Luckily, I now have the next best thing thanks to Dinosaur Fossil Hunter, a paleontology simulator that came out just a couple of months ago. Obviously, playing dinosaur games isn’t quite the same as digging out fossils in real life, but it does have its perks. For one, you can build your own museum and curate the displays.

Dinosaur Fossil Hunter is a story-driven game where you take on the role of an intrepid paleontologist who travels to various locations across the US trying to uncover long-lost fossils. You do actually drive from place to place in a car, so it’s not like you just click a point on a map and you’re there, which is often the case with a lot of similar games. Once you’re there, you can start digging, but be careful because fossils are fragile.

A neat feature of this game is that it also requires you to carefully clean and prepare the fossils before they can be put on display. As soon as you complete a full dinosaur skeleton, you can display it in a museum of your own design. The museum customization is still a bit (pardon the pun) barebones at the moment, but this is still a relatively new game so I’m sure many aspects will get better and better with time.

Available on: PC

The Isle (2015)

The Isle can perhaps best be described as a prehistoric simulator. You can play as one of dozens of different types of dinosaurs as you explore an open-world where danger lies around every corner. That concept is pretty interesting just by itself, but what makes The Isle even more intriguing is the fact that it’s an MMO. That’s right, you get to compete for food and survival with other players.

There’s essentially no hand-holding here and only a vague narrative told through the environment, so you’ll need to figure everything out on your own. In Survival mode, there’s an extra challenge that comes from the fact that you start off as a baby dino. You’ll have to struggle a lot in the early game and it will take you quite a long time to transform from prey to predator. If you’re looking for a more laid-back experience, go for the Sandbox mode instead.

The Isle is one of those games that seems to be permanently stuck in Early Access. Despite having launched via Early Access way back in 2015, this dinosaur game is still very much a work in progress. The world can feel a bit empty at times and the AI still needs a lot of work, to name just a couple of the issues the game is currently facing. But despite all that, The Isle is overall pretty fun and worth checking out if you’re into survival MMOs.

Available on: PC

Beasts of Bermuda (2018)

You can look at Beasts of Bermuda as sort of like an alternative to The Isle. It’s not quite the same but it follows a similar concept. Beasts of Bermuda is an indie MMO revolving around a player-driven ecosystem. The main mode is called Life Cycle and it’s exactly what it sounds like. You spawn into the world as a juvenile dinosaur and have to make your way up the food chain by collaborating with other players or by trying to eat them. The first option is probably your best bet as a new player.

Unlike the Isle, Beasts of Bermuda isn’t focused exclusively on land dinosaurs. You can also play as flying, aquatic or amphibious dinos if you want to be part of a more specialized niche and increase your chances of survival. If you want to skip that part entirely, you can jump straight into Free Roam and play as an adult dinosaur right off the bat. Alternatively, there’s a third mode called Combat that’s basically just a slaughter fest.

Beasts of Bermuda is another one of those dinosaur games that won’t get a full release for quite a while. The game can only be played in Early Access where your mileage will vary depending on your server. Some servers are filled with experienced players actively trying to hunt newbies while others are more relaxed. If you find yourself dying a lot in the early game you may want to stick to Free Roam. At least until you get a handle on what Beasts of Bermuda is all about.

Available on: PC

Dino D-Day (2011)

There aren’t a lot of historically accurate games involving dinosaurs. For obvious reasons. But there is an alternate history dinosaur game set during WW2 and it’s just as absurd as you might expect. In this timeline, Hitler somehow manages to resurrect the dinosaurs and builds an entire army of them. You can join the Nazi dinosaurs as they attempt to conquer the world or try to thwart their plans by siding with the Allies.

Dino D-Day is an over-the-top multiplayer FPS so the background story is obviously just filler. If you’ve played old Call of Duty games you should have a pretty good idea of what to expect in terms of PvP. There’s one huge difference, of course, here you can play as a dinosaur. There are seven dinosaur classes to choose from along with nine human classes. Each side has a little bit of both but you’ll be able to try out more dinosaurs if you play as the Axis.

Dino D-Day has been around for over a decade at this point so don’t expect a huge player base. In fact, you’ll probably struggle to find enough players to play even a handful of matches. But the effort is well worth it. This is one of the strangest dinosaur games out there and even though it’s not exactly well-polished, it’s tons of mindless fun.

Available on: PC

Turok Series (1997-2008)

You can’t make a list of dinosaur games without including this classic. Turok is an action FPS where you play as a time-traveling warrior who finds himself stuck in a savage land inhabited by bionically engineered dinosaurs and all sorts of other strange creatures. The titular Turok is a Rambo-type character so expect plenty of shooting and blowing stuff up.

Turok looks quite dated by today’s standards but it’s still a pretty fun game to play for nostalgia’s sake. The enemy design is really good, there are more than a dozen over-the-top weapons to play with, and there’s enough environmental variety to keep things interesting. The story is pretty cheesy but that’s to be expected from a game like this.

The original Turok: Dinosaur Hunter was only available on the N64 on PC but the game has since made its way to a variety of other platforms. Turok has received numerous sequels and spin-offs over the years, some better than others. The latest entry came in 2008 and was supposed to reboot the series but plans for further installments were eventually scrapped. We may end up seeing a new Turok game at some point, but it’s probably not going to happen anytime soon.

Available on: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Switch, retro consoles

Parkasaurus (2020)

We’re wrapping up our list of best dinosaur games with a city builder/management sim. The debut project of Washbear Studio, Parkasaurus is a cutesy dinosaur tycoon game developed by a team consisting of only two people. The cartoony art style would make it more suitable for kids but you can definitely have some fun with it even as an adult. Just don’t expect a high level of challenge here because the game is pretty simplistic.

Parkasaurus tasks you with building specialized biospheres for your dino friends and tending to them throughout the various stages of their lives – from eggs to adults. There are a couple of dozen types of dinosaurs available in the game along with a plethora of buildings and items you can use to expand and customize your dino park.

In addition to caring for the dinosaurs, you’ll also need to keep your employees and guests happy. It’s all a bit of a balancing act. If you focus solely on building amenities for the guests, your dinosaurs will become rowdy and some of them may eventually escape their enclosures. Meanwhile, if you focus just on the dinos, your neglected guests may leave negative reviews that will affect your bottom line.

Available on: PC, Switch

Did we miss any good dinosaur games? Let us know in the comments section and we’ll make sure to add them the next time we update the list. In the meantime, don’t hesitate to check out some of our other lists down below.

• The Best Cyberpunk Games of All Time
• All Elder Scrolls Games Ranked from Worst to Best
• Top 15 Most Realistic War-Based Video Games of All Time
• Top 10 Best Grand Strategy Games