Jurasic World Evolution

Pros

• Beautiful graphics that perfectly capture the wonder of the setting
• An expansive sim experience that really opens up in sandbox mode

Cons

• Gameplay that locks you out of advancements until you trudge through the story
• Scientific advancements tied to a frustrating timer system

Jurassic World Evolution is a management simulator that puts you in charge of a dinosaur theme park. Both fans of the Jurassic Park franchise and kids with fond memories of playing Dino Park Tycoon in elementary school computer labs will find a lot to love here, but the game sometimes leans into the grind, resulting in some tedious aspects that many players would rather overlook. But the level of polish invested in the game and the unique angle create an experience well worth checking out if you're a fan of the genre.

Developer Frontier Developments come with some impressive chops. While the sub-genre of the theme park simulator is not hugely represented in the PC gaming space, Frontier Developments has been leading the charge for years. Their Planet Coaster and Roller Coaster Tycoon franchises represent the cutting edge of representation, but the Jurassic World franchise brings a whole host of new wrinkles to the formula. One of Frontier Developments' major strengths is in the flexibility they put into creating rollercoasters an the ability to make them feel visceral and alive. Unfortunately, that's not a strength they can really lean into here. Rollercoasters themselves are entirely absent, but the developer really sticks the landing in the management aspect of the game. The fundamental push and pull of the game comes down to satisfying three factions in your operations. Keeping security happy ensures that your dinosaurs don't rampage through the park; satisfying entertainment keeps guests coming through your gates and money in your coffers; and fulfilling the demands of your science team allows you to create new and innovative attractions that allow your park to grow. It's a simple but effective system that adds a level of strategy to what could otherwise be a too free form game.

The presentation here is on point. The dinosaurs themselves are positively gorgeous, and that creates a drive to not just keep your guests happy but to unlock the newest breeds of dinosaurs available. But the process of unlocking these new types can be something of a chore. It requires sending researchers out to unlock new DNA strands, and this is tied into a real time system that seems to draw from the worst qualities of mobile freemium games. It's a black mark on a game that's inherently about the joy of scientific discovery. Also frustrating is the fact that players need to work their way through the campaign to unlock new attractions and breeds in the sandbox mode.

Just as impressive as the visual flair are the sound. Jeff Goldblum serves as one of the primary narrators, guiding you through the tutorials with his trademark mix of ironic whimsy and laconic tone. While he's ostensibly the guide through the campaign's tutorial, these instructional lessons aren't overwhelming. Too many games guide you hand through the entire experience, but Jurassic World Evolution gives you more options. While it's there if you need it, you have a tone of options to build the park as you want almost from the start. Story mode guides you through three different islands, each with their own unique quirks and challenges.

Pros

• Beautiful graphics that perfectly capture the wonder of the setting
• An expansive sim experience that really opens up in sandbox mode

Cons

• Gameplay that locks you out of advancements until you trudge through the story
• Scientific advancements tied to a frustrating timer system