Dino DNA: Top Ten Dinosaurs in Games

Posted byerichagmannPosted inTop TenTags:, , , , , ,

Cover photo from Jurassic World Evolution

I was a huge dinosaur fan as a kid, quick to grab a book about the Jurassic era and easily excited by any toy shaped like my favorite creatures (with pteradactyls topping my personal list!). Well, June 1st is Dinosaur Day, so let’s celebrate by exploring the top instances of these radical relics in video games!

If you think of any others after finishing my list, be sure to share with me in a comment!

10. Final Fantasy VIII
(PlayStation, 1999)

Image from
https://thecrimsongamer.wordpress.com/guides/ffviii/ffviii-perfect-game-walkthrough-chapter-1-4-finishing-up-the-balamb-region/

Squall and Quistis take a stroll over to the school’s training center where they casually encounter a T-Rexaur! Spare no expense!

9. Earthbound
(Super Nintendo, 1994)

Image from
https://lparchive.org/Earthbound-%28by-Leavemywife%29/Update%2056/

Journey to the Lost Underworld of Earthbound where you might see a Wetnosaur or a Chomposaur!

8. Super Mario Odyssey
(Nintendo Switch, 2017)

Image from
https://bit-tech.net/reviews/gaming/nintendo/super-mario-odyssey-review/1/

Mario uses his special cap power to embody a Tyrannosaurus Rex! Does this mean that the 1993 Super Mario Bros movie is now canon?

7. Dino Crisis
(PlayStation, 1999)

Image from https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/dino-crisis-and-dino-crisis-2-get-re-released-on-pc-via-gog-but-that-probably-wont-sate-fans-dying-for-a-remake

A secret research facility that accidentally unleashes a hoard of dinosaurs? It’s Resident Evil meets Half-Life meets Jurassic Park!

6. Joe & Mac
(Arcade, 1991)

Image from
https://dosgames.com/game/joe-and-mac-caveman-ninja/

Beat up dinosaurs. Rescue the women. Enough said!

5. Adventure Island II
(Nintendo Entertainment System, 1991)

Image from https://flyingomelette.com/reviews/nes/ai2.html

Everyone was riding dinosaurs in 1990-1991. Here, Master Higgins befriends a crew of dinos to retrieve his girlfriend Tina from an evil witch doctor!

4. E.V.O.: Search for Eden
(Super Nintendo, 1992)

Image from
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/E.V.O.:_Search_for_Eden

Starting as a mere fish, work your way through the ages of the Earth through the power of evolution! Just a quick stop through the age of the dinosaurs. They won’t be here long, though. Right?

3. Super Mario World
(Super Nintendo, 1990)

Image from
http://www.weepodcast.com/episodes/2016/12/5/90s-percentile-46-super-mario-world-barney-the-dinosaur-with-cara-mcilwaine

For a game about visiting “Dinosaur Land,” there really aren’t that many of them! But, I’d be remiss not to include the iconic first appearance of Yoshi in a Mario adventure!

Image from
https://www.mobygames.com/game/6591/super-mario-world/screenshots/snes/218706/

2. Turok: Dinosaur Hunter
(N64, 1997)

Image from
https://www.nintendo.com/en-gb/Games/Nintendo-Switch-download-software/Turok-1531859.html

You’re a Native American time-traveling warrior tasked with keeping prehistoric pests away from the Earth. Man, Nintendo was really experimental back then, huh?

Honorable Mentions:

Xenoblade Chronicles X
(Wii U/Nintendo Switch, 2015/2025)

Image from personal Nintendo Switch screenshot.

I’ve been playing the Definitive Edition since it released on Nintendo Switch and am in love with the variety of life on Mira. I mean – look at these things!

Mario Kart: Double Dash!!
(GameCube, 2003)

Image from https://www.mariowiki.com/GCN_Dino_Dino_Jungle

Jurassic Park
(Super Nintendo, 1993)

Image from
https://snescentral.com/review.php?id=0415&num=0&fancy=yes&article=review

Must go faster!

1. Primal Rage
(Arcade, 1994)

Image from
https://real3do.uk/3do-game-reviews/primal-rage-3do-review/

A fighting game where dinosaurs beat up other dinosaurs? This was an easy choice for my top spot! Congrats to Primal Rage!

Thanks for stopping by to read my article! Can you think of any other great games that feature dinosaurs? Leave me a comment, and let me know about them! Also, if you enjoy my work, be sure to “like” my post, and consider following my blog for first access to future content!

Published by erichagmann

Arranger / Pianist / Vocalist / Educator / Gamer

20 thoughts on “Dino DNA: Top Ten Dinosaurs in Games”

  1. EXCELLENT list. This makes me think that the Jurassic Park game was much scarier for the genesis – I remember it being very very scary, but I was also a kid!

    primal rage was my favourite. I picked the long necked blue guy and just spammed the middle button, it won me the whole game 😆

    great work as always!!

    Liked by 1 person

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      1. Besides the first two games on the original PlayStation, there was Dino Stalker on the PS2 and Dino Crisis 3 on the original Xbox, which unfortunately killed the franchise. Thankfully, Dino Crisis 1 and 2 were finally released on GOG!

        Liked by 1 person

      1. Hahha. I just interrupted his game of Delta Rune to ask, and he said only “Maybe Dino City, which is a game where you play as a dinosaur.”

        Liked by 1 person

  7. Mentions of Primal Rage, EVO: Search for Eden, Xenoblade Chronicles X, and Adventure Island??? This is clearly the list for me. 😂

    The topics you find for these list never disappoint. Well done.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

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