In 1993, Steven Spielberg introduced audiences to a world of beauty and chaos with the latest in technology in the instant classic Jurassic Park. Since then, the park has expanded into a world that exists on the big screen, the small screen and in video games. The latest release, available now, is Jurassic World Evolution 3 — the newest entry in a series of simulators that feels calm, until it doesn’t.
The Jurassic World Evolution series is a simulator along the lines of Zoo Tycoon, but with extinction-level stakes. The game has three modes: Campaign, the narrative version of the game; Challenge, where players fix up a park with specific needs; and Sandbox, where players start from scratch (certainly not for newcomers). You become the manager of a dino-zoo, responsible for capturing and caring for the dinosaurs that now live among humans, as became canon in the Jurassic World series.
In the game, players meet a number of characters — some new, some familiar — who guide them along their journey as new challenges arise. The game has a steep learning curve, with many elements and tools to master before diving into dino-care and cultivation. However, it patiently walks players through the basics of constructing buildings and creating the infrastructure to support them, while providing the tools needed to handle dinosaurs effectively.
Speaking of those tools, Jurassic World Evolution 3 gives players access to all the support staff and equipment needed to handle not only the dinosaurs in captivity, but those in the wild. That’s right, there are dinosaurs everywhere, and if your park isn’t properly protected, the ones in cages won’t be your biggest concern. Hire elite emergency response teams to tranquillize the dinosaurs and maintenance crews to ensure the ones you’ve caught don’t get out.
Players also have access to a science division that serves as the heart of operations in Jurassic World Evolution 3. Chief among their responsibilities is introducing new dinosaurs to the park, but not by helicopter. Scientists now ensure that the dinosaurs are not all female, as was the case in the first Jurassic Park; males are very much part of the mix. Not only that, players can now breed dinosaurs, creating genetic diversity in the park. The juvenile dinosaurs even inherit traits from their parents, resulting in truly unique creatures.
The player’s biggest task in Jurassic World Evolution 3 is to build a park, zoo or conservatory that will attract visitors — but that can’t happen if the animals are unhappy. Players can manage the comfort and happiness of their dinosaurs by providing what they need: plenty of food, recreation and a landscape suited to each species. A major challenge to a dinosaur’s well-being may also depend on its neighbours. Like everything else, dinosaurs can be temperamental, and players may need to separate certain problem Lokiceratops from the group.
“Once players understand how all the game’s elements work together, Jurassic World Evolution 3 stands out as the best of many classic simulation titles.”
The building and customization options in Jurassic World Evolution 3 are so extensive that no two players are likely to create the same park, yet the system for managing infrastructure remains remarkably simple. Connecting buildings with roads, powering them and ensuring full coverage is as straightforward as in the original SimCity. What makes the game truly customizable is not only the function of each structure but also its aesthetic appeal.
Jurassic World Evolution 3 offers building creation and environmental customization that are out of this world. Players can design their own facilities, such as hotels and guest attractions, completely from scratch. While there are many pre-made structures, including recognizable ones from the films, players can also build from the ground up, adjusting decoration sizes, arranging layouts as they wish and exploring creative possibilities in detail.
Even more impressive than the building tools is the environmental design system. Adding vegetation for food, water sources for drinking or cooling off, and trees for shade is intuitive. Each element blends naturally with the next, forests transition smoothly into grasslands, and ponds look organic rather than artificial.
Nature can also be used to contain dinosaurs. Jurassic World Evolution 3 doesn’t confine players to fenced paddocks; instead, they can use terrain to their advantage. Carve out canyons to form natural barriers, create waterfalls for added beauty, and let visitors take in stunning vistas as they explore the attractions.
Once players understand how all the game’s elements work together, Jurassic World Evolution 3 stands out as the best of many classic simulation titles, all within a unique setting where protecting the lives of visitors is just as important as ensuring their enjoyment.
In every mode of Jurassic World Evolution 3, the parks will keep players on their toes. Use maintenance teams and patrols to prevent dinosaurs from escaping, but even with careful planning, expansion will soon become the main challenge. Developing the land that can be purchased and unlocked, while capturing and transporting more dinosaurs to create a diverse and engaging collection, will keep visitors returning time and again.
The Standard Edition of Jurassic World Evolution 3 is priced at $59.99 US and includes the base game. The Deluxe Edition costs $74.99 US and offers additional dinosaur families, bonus skins and extra scenery options. Players won’t feel shortchanged with the Standard Edition, as it still provides plenty of content, but the Deluxe Edition offers a clear upgrade in terms of creative possibilities. For fans of simulation games or the Jurassic World franchise, this title delivers hours of entertainment and solid replay value.
