Feels like we’ve been here before
Jurassic World Evolution 3 is here, and if you’ve played the first two games, you’ll feel immediately at home. That’s both its strength and its weakness. The series continues to deliver dinosaur park-building in a polished, visually appealing package, but it does so without shaking up the formula in any meaningful way. For longtime fans, that means comfort and predictability. For newcomers, it’s a solid if somewhat standard simulation experience.
If you’ve ever wanted to breed dinosaurs, build expansive enclosures, and manage park operations, Evolution 3 delivers all of that with precision. The game has expanded the roster slightly and introduced some minor improvements to tools and interface, but the core gameplay loop remains virtually unchanged. You still manage dinosaurs, staff, finances, and guest satisfaction while sculpting terrain and designing your perfect park.
MSRP: $59.99
Platforms: Xbox (reviewed), PlayStation, PC
Price I’d Pay: $39.99
The dinosaur AI and animations are still impressive. Watching a T. Rex stalk an enclosure or seeing a herd of herbivores interact remains one of the most satisfying aspects of the game. Visually, Evolution 3 is solid on Xbox Series X, with crisp models, smooth performance, and detailed environments. The sound design, including roars, ambient effects, and the subtle background score, continues to complement the experience without stealing the spotlight.
While the game looks and plays well, the lack of meaningful change is noticeable. Management systems, breeding mechanics, and park construction all feel lifted directly from the previous titles. There’s nothing wrong with that if you loved the first two games, but it does make Evolution 3 feel safe. Those hoping for new gameplay mechanics, a more dynamic ecosystem, or meaningful chaos events might feel underwhelmed. In fact, the biggest change in this game is the focus on generational systems. Players will be able to shepherd entire populations of dinos from juveniles to adults, males and females, players will be able to shape their dinosaurs as they see fit.
Some interface and pathfinding issues that plagued the previous games remain, particularly with dinosaur movement in large enclosures. Missions and objectives also lean heavily on familiar structures: build, upgrade, manage, and repeat. It’s polished, but not groundbreaking.
Jurassic World Evolution 3 is exactly what you’d expect if you’ve played the series before. It’s enjoyable, visually pleasing, and satisfying to manage, but it doesn’t reinvent the wheel. For fans of dinosaur park simulators, there’s enough here to keep you entertained, but the lack of innovation keeps the experience from feeling truly fresh.
Review copy of game provided by publisher.
