Diiiinooosaaaaau – or so my daughter would shout across the room whenever I fired up Paleo Pines. So, no, it’s not a Peppa Pig review this time. With the release of Paleo Pines, Jurassic Farming Simulator time was a fresh take (or prehistoric) on the farming simulator genre. But will it withstand the amount of other farming simulators out there? Let’s find out and dive in!
Time to travel to a charming island known for its friendly dinosaurs, quirky townsfolk, and mysterious past. Befriend dinos and enlist their help to fix up your ranch and farm crops to create your cozy dino sanctuary. Then, set out with your companion, Lucky, to uncover the island’s secrets.
Dino-Time
So, what do you get when you boot up Paleo Pines? Well, it’s a game that manages to impress in multiple ways. One of its standout features is its stunning visuals. The game’s graphics are polished and professional, and the attention to detail is commendable. Everything is rendered with impressive precision, from the dinosaurs to the landscapes and characters. The creatures are cute but also distinct and recognizable, with different colors and markings. This led to my daughter shouting at the TV because she recognized a lot of dinosaurs from the TV shows she watched. While there is occasional clipping, it doesn’t significantly detract from the gameplay experience. The same goes for the sound effects, ranging from footsteps, weather, and dinosaur calls, which are so well executed that they create a completely immersive experience.
In addition to the impressive visuals and sound, the writing in Paleo Pines is also a highlight. The game provides a wealth of information about the various dinosaur species, which is engaging and informative. The witty character dialogue and amusing item descriptions add to the game’s charm and humor. Although the NPC relationship-building mechanic is not a significant game focus, it’s still an excellent addition. The ability to build friendships with NPCs and receive discounts from shops is a rewarding experience.
Dino-Gameplay
Paleo Pines is an enjoyable game with a decent farming system. However, I felt less motivated to do it after a while. On the bright side, earning enough currency is easy, and you can focus on any aspect of the game that you find most enjoyable. The game’s exploration mechanics are a lot of fun. A journal item is an excellent tool that allows you to record information about discoveries, and there are many areas to unlock as you gain new dinosaur skills.
The plot in Paleo Pines is minimal, but the game offers many activities. You can prioritize the ones that pique your interest, but the story’s pacing might not be what you expect. However, the charming characters and the passing seasons make the game worth playing and exploring. The game progresses stress-free daily, making it a relaxing experience. In addition, the dinosaurs level up as you play, and you can use the extra time to forage for ingredients. It certainly helps if you want to play this game with kids ranging from 2 to 8 (?) – I don’t know when the dino phase ends.
Like most farming simulators, there is also seasonal change. Paleo Pines has three seasons, and you can grow any crop in any season, which is a refreshing change from other farming games. The game’s mechanics are easy to understand and excellent for players who enjoy a more relaxed and laid-back experience. Paleo Pines is a fun game that offers plenty of exploration and farming mechanics to keep you engaged, but it has some shortcomings.
Dino-Controls & Cons
The game offers a smooth control experience despite the vast content available. Unlike similar games like Stardew Valley or Minecraft, there is no toolbar, but equipping a tool is a breeze with a single button tap. You can quickly cycle through all your tools, and the game offers basic settings options, including some accessibility tools. While the game provides detailed information, some gaps can be frustrating, and while some of these gaps are intentional, such as not providing hints on where to find missing dinosaurs, the lack of guides in the game may limit your enjoyment. Although the game’s main selling point is that dinosaurs can help you on the farm, it can be unclear what some of the skills mean or how to use them. After a while, I found myself befriending dinos simply because they’re cute without needing them for anything.
This is precisely the point I tried to make at the start of this review. There has been an influx of excellent farming simulators lately. I am worried that Paleo Pines’s more laid-back, sometimes point-missing attitude might be its own counterpoint compared to games like Fae Farm. Nonetheless, it still offers a challenge and fun in its way.
Conclusion
After spending many hours playing Paleo Pines, I can confidently say that it is a well-made game that can provide hours of entertainment, as long as you don’t mind repeating routines. Even after a significant amount of time, the experience of riding dinosaurs and making them your friends remains engaging – especially when playing it with my kids. Helping the neighbors in the town felt purposeful and added to the overall experience. Although there were some negative aspects, they are minor and could be improved in future updates. This game is a perfect fit for content add-ons, and once you get the hang of it, you can easily spend countless hours making your life in Paleo Pines your own. But I worry it will get lost in the tremendous amount of sims releasing these days – so be sure to check it out if you love dinosaurs.
7/10
Tested on the Steamdeck (256gb version)
