Credit: Universal PicturesLong before the Jurassic Park franchise became synonymous with hybrid dinosaurs, globe-spanning chaos, and blockbuster spectacle, it was firmly rooted in suspense-driven horror.
Both Michael Crichton’s original novels, Jurassic Park and The Lost World, leaned heavily into graphic violence, tension, and survival.
Jurassic Park (1993) translated much of that atmosphere onto the screen, with scenes like the T. rex breakout and the raptor kitchen sequence still regarded among the most suspenseful moments in blockbuster cinema history.
The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997) doubled down on horror elements with an even darker tone and bloodier dinosaur attacks.
After that, however, the franchise steadily shifted toward large-scale action. Later sequels introduced military subplots, dinosaur hybrids such as the Indominus Rex and Indoraptor, cloned humans, global-scale threats, and even mutant dinosaurs, which dragged the series away from the contained survival horror tone that defined the original films and novels.
Related: Universal Abandons ‘Jurassic World’ Era, Begins Shift Back Toward ‘Jurassic Park’
For years, fans have openly called for the franchise to return to those roots.
YouTube creators have even produced their own Jurassic-inspired analog horror shorts using Blender, reimagining Isla Nublar as the genuinely terrifying place it’s supposed to be. Meanwhile, channels such as InGen 2D have built audiences by animating some of the grisliest scenes from Crichton’s novels that never made it into the films.
Now, that long-requested horror direction is becoming official with Jurassic Park: Survival.
First revealed during The Game Awards 2023 with a cinematic trailer, the upcoming first-person action-adventure video game from Saber Interactive is set on Isla Nublar 24 hours after the events of the original film, and has already drawn comparisons to Alien: Isolation (2014) thanks to its emphasis on survival horror through tension, stealth, and vulnerability.
Jurassic Park: Survival follows InGen scientist Maya Joshi (voiced and performed through motion capture by Payal Mistry), who becomes stranded on “a fully realized Isla Nublar” after the collapse of Jurassic Park. Players will explore abandoned facilities including familiar locations and never-before-seen areas, evade “reactive” dinosaurs, each of which has its own “distinct and adaptive behaviors”, according to the official website for the game.
A behind-the-scenes featurette shared by Universal Pictures and Saber Interactive in summer 2025 offered a closer look at the project’s grounded horror approach, showcasing dark interiors, rain-soaked jungle environments, and dinosaur encounters designed around suspense rather than action.
Jurassic Park: Survival Is Coming Soon
The official synopsis for the game states:
“Return to Isla Nublar the day after the events of the beloved 1993 Jurassic Park film in an original adventure 65 million years in the making. Survive thrilling first-person action as InGen scientist Dr. Maya Joshi, who was unable to evacuate Isla Nublar, in this single-player action-adventure game and discover a never-before-told story. Through thrilling encounters, experience the wonder and danger of dinosaurs, each with their own distinct and adaptive behaviors brought to life by John Hammond’s vision.”
Jurassic Park: Survival will be released on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. No release date has been announced.
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