It has been over 65 million years since the dinosaurs went extinct. With all that we humans have achieved in our relatively brief existence, it is good to remind ourselves of the great fortune we have had in the absence of the giant lizards. One of the better ways to accomplish this is through games that bring them to life.
Although video games do a pretty decent job of portraying dinosaurs, they are often pitted against our modern technology and conveniences as seen in Capcom’s recent release Exoprimal. So more than serving as a reminder of our good fortune, video games use dinosaurs to bolster our ego often in a manner befitting heroes. Nonetheless, here are some of the best dinosaur Games on PS4 that’ll let us kick some Jurassic butt or get destroyed by some.
Quick Links: Primal Carnage Extinction | Horizon Zero Dawn | Monster Hunter World | Ark Survival Evolved | Jurassic World Evolution 2 | Time Carnage | Lego Jurassic World | Exoprimal
Primal Carnage Extinction
Release Year: 2015 | Platforms: PS4, Microsoft Windows
This game takes the concept of PvP to newer heights quite literally. You get to play as either a team of humans armed with their state-of-the-art weapons of carnage or a team of ravenous dinos. One is a team of bloodthirsty monsters that sees everything as their next meal and the other is the dinosaurs. Primal Carnage Extinction allows you to experience this unique fantasy from different perspectives with the ultimate goal being the extinction of the other as the title suggest.
The FPS style gameplay in Primal Carnage is quite satisfying, although it lacks variety. The game has been criticized for this. But what the critics don’t realize is that humans vs. dinosaurs is the most primal of battle fantasies and the primeval urge for utter carnage is the only reason you need to play this title.
Horizon Zero Dawn
Release Year: 2017 | PS4, Microsoft Windows
This is one of the best games on PS4 in every aspect that counts. While that is a rare achievement for the console, Horizon Zero Dawn is game that has crossed several boundaries to offer an incredible post-apocalyptic experience with a pre-historic twist. The game revolves around a young tribal girl in the 31st century who, during a routine quest to avenge loved ones, stumbles upon a secret that most people have known since the days of Asamov and Kubric.
While Horizon Zero Dawn does not have the flesh and blood dinosaurs that we’ve come to fear, it does feature something way more intimidating. The monstrous lizards have been brought back to life in mechanical form and the protagonist Aloy is tasked with taking them down to and finish her noble quest by reaching the root cause of all the trouble. Needless to say, this is one game where the dinosaurs have the technological advantage.
Monster Hunter World
Release Year: 2018 | Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows
While the monsters in this world aren’t technically dinosaurs, they are inspired by some, which is close enough for an action RPG. Monster Hunter World is the highest selling title of Capcom’s award-winning franchise and is lauded for introducing some new gameplay mechanics and improving upon existing ones, making it one of the most approachable entries in the franchise.
The game lets you step into the shoes of a monster hunter who has to hunt down the myriad monsters that terrorize a mystical world. The beasts you encounter are part mythical and part based on real-life dinosaurs. These mean monsters are remorseless and will devour anything that’ll cross their path. As a hunter, you have to study them and use your knowledge of hunting to deal with them. All this is easier said than done as each monsters possesses some unique abilities which make their nightmarish look and demeanor seem like the least dangerous part.
Ark Survival Evolved
Release year: 2015 | Platforms: PS4/5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Android, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, MacOS
This title offers the most unforgiving dinosaur killing fantasy where you start out with just your undies for protection. You are left to forage and survive the inhospitable environment till you have enough resources to take on the many hostile beings that roam across the entire map. Everything in Ark Survival Evolves is out to either eat you or use you for target practice.
So, getting a useful enough weapon and a tough enough shelter is prudent from the onset of the game. Although this is no easy task as the game’s survival mechanics are quite demanding with food, water and protection from the elements being priorities. This is also a multiplayer survival game through and through where each player is meant to fend for themselves. So, it is not just the dinosaurs that you have to worry about.
Jurassic World Evolution 2
Release Year: 2021 | Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch
In a perfect world you would expect people to learn from David Attenborough’s freak experiment. Clearly this game proves that three decades isn’t enough time for our species to evolve and learn the obvious. The dinosaurs in Jurassic World Evolution though evolve by the minute acquiring traits that are capable of pushing humanity ever closer to extinction. This simulation game allows you to operate your own facility at the infamous and aptly named Muertes Archipelago.
Now under new management the fate of the newly constructed dinosaur theme park is completely in your hands. That is just a manner of speaking though as you’ll soon find out that managing a theme park with giant carnivorous lizards is no easy task. Especially when they are genetically modified with skills and traits, the special ops wish they had.
Time Carnage
Release Year: 2018 | Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, Mac OS, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch
If you’re looking for a game where you can just kill a bunch of stuff without bothering too much about the backstory or immersive gameplay, then Time Carnage is for you. This action FPS allows you to arm yourself to your teeth and fight hordes of monster, zombies, robots and of course, dinosaurs.
The game has several maps which has you venture into enemy territory and destroy all the inhabitants. For dinosaurs, you’ll find that the prehistoric jungle is not like your casual zombie apocalypse wasteland. There are predators that lie in wait for you, armed with claws and appendages that can tear hole through the next extinction. The game’s challenging combat mechanics are quite difficult, especially when fighting hordes, but are quite satisfying once you master it.
Lego Jurassic World
Release Year: 2015 | Platforms: PS 3/4, Xbox One, Xbox 360, Wii U, Microsoft Windows, Android, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo DS
Any paleontologist worth their salt will tell you that the only thing that interests a T-Rex is devouring anything that isn’t a T-Rex. But if you’re fixed on finding that out for yourself this tasteful Lego re-imagination of the first four films of the popular Jurassic Franchise is going to take you on a theme park ride of a lifetime.
This humorous take on the film series lets you relive key moments and explore more and see if you can change the outcome.
Exoprimal
Release Year: 2023 | Platforms: PS4/5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Microsoft Windows
Exoprimal is Capcom’s most anticipated release this year with new elements that could define the genre of multiplayer action shooter games. The game has several new mechanics, with the most prominent one being the exosuit. The object of this game is to take on opponents in a mysterious world where dinosaurs keep popping out of mysterious vortices.
While mutated hordes of dinosaurs called ‘Neosaurs’ are the main opponents, the objective of the game is to finish timed missions before your opposing exopilots. While the character class system is quite the same as titles with a familiar theme, there are some new mechanics such as the use of rigs for your exosuit. The game offers both PvP and PvE modes. You can either compete with opponents or join forces to accomplish more difficult tasks. The highlights of the game though are the unique in-game story and versatile game modes, which are uncommon among online multiplayer shooters.
