Best Open-World Games Featuring Dinosaurs

There are so many great things and ideas that can be included in an open-world game, with the genre offering a lot of potential for variety in the worlds that can be created. In open-worlds especially, every detail and idea can be fully appreciated by dedicated gamers, potentially providing hundreds of hours of content to explore.

Related

Best Dinosaur Games

Dinosaurs have been infamous in media for years, whether it’s horror or relaxing park simulations, these are the best dinosaur games to try.

However, despite the capabilities of open-world games, developers have rarely turned to bringing something as extraordinary as dinosaurs into them. While these mighty creatures have made for some fantastically exciting films, including dinosaurs in games remains relatively rare. However, there are some titles where players can live alongside or fight against huge dinosaurs in an open-world setting.

Updated March 26, 2025, by Rachael Phillips: Since their discovery in the early 1800s, dinosaurs have captured the fascination of humans, be it for their unbelievable size or formidable strength, and have become increasingly popular in media (with a lot of credit to Jurassic Park). Thankfully for gamers, dinosaurs have also crossed into the realm of gaming. These are some of the best open-world games featuring dinosaurs that allow players to roam the Mesozoic Era as a predator or that include the creatures as part of the world to be encountered, tamed, or fought.

11

Saurian

The Most Accurate Prehistoric Simulator

Systems

Released

August 2, 2017

Developer(s)

Urvogel Games

Multiplayer

Local Multiplayer

If players are looking for a scientifically accurate game which allows them to take control of a dinosaur from egg to adulthood, then Saurian is a great choice. Taking place in Hell Creek many millions of years ago, the game allows players the option of various dinosaurs to take control of and live out a life in this survival simulation.

Saurian has some surprising features, like other dinosaurs growing more hostile as the player’s dino ages and becomes a competitor, with some even becoming cannibalistic in nature. The uniqueness of this survival game in its carefully researched and sizable open-world makes for a great experience that is underrated.

10

Beasts Of Bermuda

A Multiplayer Dinosaur Life Sim

Beasts of Bermuda

Systems

Released

December 21, 2018

Developer(s)

Sastrei Studios

A big multiplayer game with a strange focus, Beasts of Bermuda, allows players to interact with each other while controlling different prehistoric beasts. Attempting to survive as a creature of the player’s choice on one of the islands in Bermuda, the player becomes part of a much larger ecosystem which is player-created.

Although Beasts of Bermuda is another relatively underground dinosaur-themed game, this doesn’t mean it isn’t worth a look. The survival genre has few games this varied and unique, and the multiplayer style allows players to have an amusing time with a few friends in a bizarre landscape.

9

The Isle

Experience Life (Or Death) As A Dino

Systems

Developer(s)

Afterthought LLC

Early Access Release

December 1, 2015

The Isle is a brutal online survival game set on a large open-world island where the only objective is to stay alive. The original version, known as Legacy has been pretty much abandoned, but players can freely switch to the newer Evrima version, which is slightly less fleshed out but is being continually developed with plans for new dinosaurs, humans, and maps.

Related

Most Brutal Survival Games

There are many survival games on the market, but not all of them are as brutally difficult as these examples.

Currently, players can choose between being a carnivore or an omnivore, each dinosaur having its own mechanics. The realistic (and at times challenging) style of survival, with diet, hunting, nesting, and fighting systems, and the huge community of fans, have helped it become something of a cult classic in the dinosaur genre.

8

LEGO Jurassic World

A Thrilling Open LEGO Adventure

Platform(s)

Android, iOS, Nintendo DS, Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PS Vita, Nintendo Wii U, Xbox 360, Xbox One

Released

June 10, 2015

Although most LEGO games don’t contain much by way of open-world mechanics, LEGO Jurassic World attempts to broach new territory. The game saw an evolution in the LEGO franchise’s classic style and tropes, having an amazing open world area which players can explore outside the many levels containing huge LEGO dinosaurs.

The classic puzzle-filled LEGO adventures have charm, simplicity, and excellent gameplay that is always filled with secrets and great references to whatever IP they’re currently tackling. The Jurassic Park franchise was definitely due a collab with this legendary series, and LEGO Jurassic World lives up to what fans would have wanted and expected from such a game.

7

ARK: Survival Evolved

A Primeval Sci-Fi Crossover

Franchise

ARK: Survival Evolved

Released

August 29, 2017

Multiplayer

Online Multiplayer, Local Multiplayer

Despite being a divisive title with its fair share of problems, ARK: Survival Evolved remains a fascinating survival game set in a world intriguing enough that it has earned itself an animated series on Paramount Plus. Players are tasked with trying to survive on an island populated with almost 200 different species of dinosaurs, prehistoric creatures, and even fantasy beings.

Players get all the run-of-the-mill survival features like resource management, crafting, and base-building, but one of the more unique appeals is the taming system. Players are able to tame dinosaurs and train them – an asset that proves useful in combat, to gather materials, and for traveling. Beyond their functionality, though, it’s simply fun to be able to ride a dinosaur; there is no denying the charm and fun that this game has given to many players and dinosaur lovers.

6

Pokemon Scarlet & Violet

Exciting New Territory For The Franchise

Systems

Released

November 18, 2022

The Pokemon franchise has been going strong since the first game, Red and Green, was released in 1996, and boasts an impressive number of titles. Scarlet and Violet are the latest Pokemon entries to hit the console, bringing with them a whole new direction. As the first open-world Pokemon games, they offer players new ways to experience the universe.

Related

26 Pokemon Based On Dinosaurs

Over the years, Pokemon have expanded their inspiration from common animals to prehistorical creatures to create these dinosaur-inspired Pokemon.

Many of the Pokemon designs draw inspiration from real-life references, be it folklore, domestic animals, or dinosaurs. There are plenty of the latter; in Scarlet and Violet, Tyranitar, Tyrunt, and Baxcalibur are the ones most obviously resembling a T-Rex, though there are lots of other little guys that could be perceived as mythical renditions of prehistoric creatures. After all, Aerodactyl bears quite a few similarities to a Pterodactylus.

5

No Man’s Sky

Who Said Space Dinosaurs Can’t Exist?

Adventure

Action

Survival

Space exploration and dinosaurs are not two things that would usually be associated with each other, but a pairing that No Man’s Sky seamlessly marries together in a way that seems perfectly normal. The main gameplay revolves around the player exploring planets to discover new life forms and technology that can be used both to survive and upgrade their ship/base.

As the universe is procedurally generated, there is no predicting what kind of planet players will land on, or what might inhabit it. Occasionally, however, amid the weird alien species are some familiar ones, including the Diplodocus-like “Rangifae” and T-Rex-like “Tyranocae”, though there is always the possibility of some strange variants.

4

Terraria

Endless Pixelated Opportunities

Platform(s)

PC, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X, Vita, iOS, Android, macOS, Linux, 3DS, Stadia, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch

Released

May 16, 2011

Multiplayer

Online Multiplayer

Terraria is a sandbox side-scroller that goes well beyond what is expected of other 2D games as a procedurally generated open-world. Players are thrown right into the action, leaving them to explore and learn as they go. Fortunately, there are plenty of unique items and enemies to find, making adventuring across the biomes worth it (as well as base-building for the homebodies).

In Terraria, players can summon pets by using their respective item. In a fun Jurassic Park reference, finding and equipping the “Amber Mosquito” will summon a “Baby Dinosaur” to follow them around. While it’s only a cosmetic feature, having a little lizard running around is very cute. As a nice touch, if they are separated, a Pterosaur will carry the dino back to the player.

3

Horizon: Zero Dawn

Great Worldbuilding, Fantastic Story

Horizon Zero Dawn

Systems

Released

February 28, 2017

Platforms

PlayStation 4

All dinosaur games, and most open-world games, have been completely blown away by the capabilities of the Horizon franchise. Only two games deep, the world and adventures of young hunter Aloy have already become legendary in the gaming industry, taking place in a world taken over by machine creatures, including dinosaurs.

4:47

Related

RPGs With The Best Stories, Ranked

While some RPGs excel in their gameplay and combat, these titles blend the best of it all by also providing amazing stories.

Horizon: Zero Dawn is an action RPG with a lot of lore and world-building. Aloy becomes a seeker of vengeance and knowledge in a world that doesn’t want her. This fantastic game doesn’t feature dinosaurs as prominently as some other games, but players will love the experience of fighting the huge mechanical beasts in addition to all the other great elements of the game.

2

Horizon: Forbidden West

A Post-Apocalyptic RPG With Robot Dinosaurs

Systems

Released

February 18, 2022

OpenCritic Rating

Mighty

The Horizon franchise is most notable for its interesting mix of vibes, combining science fiction with prehistoric elements, and Forbidden West only expands on this, being the sequel to Zero Dawn. This game once again follows Aloy as she attempts to save what remains of humanity from a deadly plague.

With a much bigger map and improved mechanics, there is a lot more to explore and do. Some of the most memorable parts of the game are the robot dinosaurs; metal mechanical beasts controlled by the rogue AI, Hephaestus. Aloy is able to override four of these machines to use as mounts and as a helping claw during combat.

1

Xenoblade Chronicles 3

Unite Two Perpetually Warring Nations

Systems

Released

July 29, 2022

OpenCritic Rating

Mighty

Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is an open-world RPG, complete with real-time combat, day/night cycles, side-quests, and class-based character progression. The game follows a group of friends – soldiers from two warring nations – united in their goal to get to the bottom of the conflict, with some twists and tragedies in between.

XC3 may impressively fuse sci-fi and fantasy together, but there are also some recognizable creatures in the game, even if they do take a bit of creative license. Enemies like the “Ardun” very closely resemble triceratops, while the “Ansel” could easily pass as a pterodactylus. Many of the in-game species also have regional variations which add to the world-building. Overall, Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is a dynamic RPG, well-deserving of the high praise it gets.

3:50

More

Best Open-World Games, Ranked

Open-world games give players a ton of freedom to work with. These titles have stood out the most over the years.