Credit: Universal PicturesJurassic World Rebirth (2025) might be sending “impact tremors” through the worldwide box office right now, but the franchise no longer has the monopoly on dinosaur theme parks.
Dinosaurs Are Enjoying a Second Heyday Across All Media
Dinosaurs have always been popular. But since the release of Steven Spielberg’s ground-breaking blockbuster thriller Jurassic Park in 1993, that popularity hasn’t waned.
Sure, there was a hiatus between Jurassic Park III (2001) and Jurassic World (2015), but that’s just Jurassic—global interest in these remarkable prehistoric beasts remained.
Now, while Rebirth, which has grossed well over $500 million worldwide (meaning another sequel is inevitable), keeps the Jurassic franchise front and center, it looks like other creatives are starting to make their own content that centers on theme parks with dinosaurs.
In the same way the cult classic film Groundhog Day (1993) birthed an entire genre with the “24-hour time loop” concept (Edge of Tomorrow, Happy Death Day, Palm Springs, and so on), it seems Jurassic Park has done something similar.
Forget Jurassic World Rebirth — Sink Your Teeth Into “Clawed”
A new contender is about to enter the world of prehistoric zoos, as developer/publisher Flatrock Games is preparing to launch “Clawed”, an upcoming survival-horror video game set in a dinosaur theme park but without any ties whatsoever to the Jurassic Park franchise.
Though the trailer dropped a while ago, recent weeks have seen the developers allow gamers test a playable demo. And the results are nothing short of breath-taking.
“Clawed” is shaping up to be something special. The graphics are solid, the dinosaur models are worthy of an official Jurassic game, the park has its own identity and feel without feeling like a cut-and-paste, and the atmosphere is tense. But what stands out is the music featured in the demo — it’s haunting, visceral, and channels that sense of awe John Williams evokes.
Watch the trailer below:
Is “Clawed” Really About a Dino Theme Park Gone Wrong?
Yes, “Clawed” is an unapologetic love letter to Jurassic Park, centering on a theme park called Prehistoria, a once-thriving dinosaur theme park now overrun by its own creations.
“Embark on a covert mission to the dinosaur theme park Prehistoria, where you must explore the park’s grounds to scavenge resources, solve puzzles, and fight your way through diverse biomes, underground tunnels and deadly enclosures,” the synopsis on Steam reads. “But beware, you are not the apex predator here.”
On July 14, Flatrock Games added an update to the Steam Community board, saying that they “will not be dragging out a prolonged release date” and that once they “think it’s good to go,” a date will be announced. The estimated release date for the game is during Q3, 2025.
Related: D-Rex Makes Second Appearance in ‘Jurassic’ Franchise After ‘Rebirth’, but With Way More Screen Time
More Upcoming Dinosaur Video Games, Including Jurassic
“Clawed” isn’t the only upcoming dino-centric game. Far from it.
“Prehistoric Kingdom”, already available on the PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store, allows players to build and manage their own dinosaur zoo, just like the park management simulation series, “Jurassic World Evolution”, which is getting a third entry on October 21.
On the fan-made front, “Cretaceous Kingdom” has garnered a lot of attention from Jurassic fans. Originally designed as a Jurassic Park project, its creator received a cease and desist from Universal last year, prompting a swift rebranding. The channel recently shared a video with some new reveals and when to expect a playable version of the game.
Then there’s the first-person action-adventure title “Jurassic Park: Survival”. While there’s no release date, it’s easily the most highly-anticipated game out of everything we’ve talked about. Set 24 hours after the events of the 1993 film, players will return to Isla Nublar as Dr. Maya Joshi, an InGen scientist who must survive the island’s deadly prehistoric inhabitants.
Do you think “Clawed” looks good? Let us know what you think in the comments!