Dinosaurs are by far one of the coolest and most interesting species humanity has had the pleasure of uncovering. For dozens of years, the behaviors and abilities of these creatures have captivated humanity on the big screen - and now in gaming. Although the realm of dinosaurs in video games still leaves a lot to be explored, there's still a great selection of titles that delve into the Mesozoic Era.

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Although there are lots of games featuring dinosaurs, there are few that allow players to actually step into the role of a dinosaur. The ones that do range from letting players rampage around as a massive T. rex to looking for prey as a raptor. Some have more of a focus on destruction, while others invite players to learn how to survive in a brutal world. And, occasionally, the dinosaurs have guns.

1 Super Mario Odyssey

A Brief Stint As An Apex Predator (In A Red Hat)

Most Super Mario Odyssey players will know that Cappy, Mario's sentient hat, allows gamers to hop into the body of multiple different entities. One of these entities is the apex predator itself: the T. rex. As T. rex Mario, players can rampage around certain maps, destroying everything in their path, which may even lead to a power moon or two.

Players can easily hop into a T. rex while it's napping - which it does often. They can only be found in the Cascade Kingdom by Fossil Falls and the Wooded Kingdom in the Deep Woods. Unfortunately, this means the chance to be a dinosaur are precious few and Cappy can only keep hold of one for a short time.

2 Lego Jurassic World

Entertaining Moments In Jurassic Story

The Lego games are known for taking great franchises and movies and turning them into creatively fun games. Lego Jurassic World is no different, as it takes on the storylines of the first four Jurassic Park movies and adapts them into a charming video game world.

The whole game is fun in its own right, with a more PG approach than most dinosaur games. The biggest downside is it doesn't really incorporate playing as a dinosaur into its basic narrative. Players will have to collect the amber brick hidden in each level, but once they do, it unlocks 20 different playable dinosaurs. It might take a while to get there, but there's no other chance to stomp around as a Lego dinosaur.

3 Saurian

Surviving The Brutal Dinosaur World

Saurian is a survival game that simulates Hell Creek during the Cretaceous period, where players can step into the shoes of various dinosaurs and experience first-hand the trials of surviving a dinosaur-infested world. The game was released as an early-access title in 2017 and has received lots of updates, but the complete game has yet to be released.

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Saurian is a great choice for fans of survival games. It's a fresh take on the genre, and ventures into uncharted territory with a great amount of commitment and accuracy. The developers placed a lot of emphasis on making the game historically and biologically correct, making it the perfect combination of fun and immersive.

4 Dino D-Day

Dinosaurs At War (And Some Of Them Have Guns)

Dino D-Day is a re-imagining of World War 2 if the Nazis had researched and weaponized dinosaurs. It's a multiplayer game where players can choose to be an Allied Power or an Axis Power - which means either shooting dinosaurs or ripping people apart as a dinosaur.

The best part about this game is that it doesn't take itself too seriously. It's self-aware, which means it's dark in tone but has comedic moments. Mounted-gun Protoceratops and attack Raptors are enough to keep nearly any gamer entertained, making it a ludicrously enjoyable game.

5 Primal Carnage

Chaotic Dino PvP

Primal Carnage is an action-filled, multiplayer shooting game that combines brutal survival with human v dinosaur combat. With several different maps and five dinosaur and human classes, this game promises endless fun and varying levels of team-based strategy.

The game has great variety which, coupled with its online multiplayer, keeps it fresh and exciting every time. Although the name suggests carnage, there is a certain amount of skill required to play both as a human and as a dinosaur. It's the epitome of a fun dinosaur experience, whether gamers want to rampage as a T. rex or soar in the sky as a Pteranodon.

6 The Isle

Intense Kill Or Be Killed Survival

The Isle is a brutal open-world survival game that combines the unrelenting difficulty of survival with the savage dinosaur world. The game places intense emphasis on the unforgiving nature of the game, highlighting that players only have one main goal: survival.

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The Isle is an MMO that mostly uses its environment to tell a story, as well as the discussions and role-play by players, so they can craft their own dinosaur narratives. Gamers can choose between different dinosaurs, deciding if they want to be small and quick or large and terrifying. The game is in early access so there are still a lot of updates the developers plan on making, but it's a unique take on the MMO survival genre - and even offers a sandbox mode for those who want low-stakes dinosaur gameplay.

7 Yoshi's Island

Lighthearted Dinosaur Platformer

Yoshi is such a distinct and familiar face in the Mario franchise that many players will have forgotten that he's a dinosaur. The Yoshi species is a fictional type of dinosaur, and one of this little green dino's best adventures is Yoshi's Island. First released on the SNES, it's a platform game where players must control Yoshi on a quest to save Baby Luigi and return him and Baby Mario to their parents.

Yoshi's Island received critical acclaim, so much so that it has been officially re-released on the Game Boy Advance, 3DS, and the Wii U virtual console. Yoshi is one of the few characters to have his own successful and beloved spin-off series, and Yoshi's Island is a clear example of why. The art, gameplay, and narrative were all praised and solidified it as one of the best-ever dinosaur games.

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