Paleo Pines Reviews
Paleo Pines doesn't do much to change the farming sim genre, but the inclusion of dinosaurs introduces fun and new ways to play.
Overall I felt disappointed in Paleo Pines. The world is bright, colorful, and fun to be in. The dinosaurs are truly adorable. Playing the flute to learn their song to befriend them is a very unique experience. But the rest of the execution is just mediocre at best. Forgettable quests, roadblocks on things that just aren't fun, cost of supplies is too high, and the fact we can't even go into our house is a real bummer. The quality of life things that we all basically expect in games these days just aren't there. I'd love to see some changes made to the game. I honestly really did try to get into Paleo Pines because the visuals are adorable, but at the end of it all, I was left incredibly bored and lost interest.
The gameplay can get a little repetitive, but overall, the core experience of finding and befriending dinosaurs is well worth your time. There could certainly be some improvements, such as the ability to fast-travel back home or between biomes, and a limited supply of quests is disappointing.
Paleo Pines takes a unique approach to the ranching genre, asking you to learn a new way of developing your home. Pacing suffers along the way, and much of the side content feels more like filler. It may not have revolutionized the genre and may not be for everyone, but fans of the genre will find something surprisingly engaging, even with its flaws.
I haven't much negative to say about Paleo Pines. I don't love it, but I do like it a lot. The retail price of $29.99 is more than fair considering what you get – you get a lot of bang for your buck. I was able to overlook the basic visuals to see the magic behind them. While the farming elements feel basic, the dinos make this game stand out from the crowd. Collecting and taking care of them is worthwhile and feels rewarding in the long run.
Before our review of the different sections, we can comment that we are with a quite different simulation game, in the sense of having dinosaurs, which will be the greatest virtue that we will get. And this, to the surprise of fans of the genre, will be a very interesting twist to keep in mind.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Paleo Pines is a life simulator game with a twist: dinosaurs. With a wonderful setting, excellent visuals, and a catchy and charming soundtrack, the game offers a peaceful and pleasant gaming experience to put the world on hold.
Review in Italian | Read full review
If you enjoy simulation farming games and want to see some adorable dinos, then this game is a solid choice. However, you will need patience, or else you will have short playtime sessions.
Paleo Pines is a simple but effective farming sim with a fantastic hook.
Paleo Pines is a great game for young gamers just starting out with farming/life sims, but it lacks that all-ages appeal.
Explore the titular island in Paleo Pines as you embark on a quest to collect all of the numerous dinos and variants in a fun exploration-focused title that leaves its life simulator aspects behind - oftentimes, for the better.
From my overall experience with Paleo Pines, I had the most fun when discovering and befriending dinosaurs, but the rest of the game can feel like a chore at times. The jankiness of the movement makes farming more difficult than it needs to be and although the open-world section is decently sized, it has invisible boundaries on small cliffs or ledges that can break the immersion of the game world. Despite my gripes with the gameplay, the art style of the game is charming and I’m a fan of how adorable the art team rendered the dinosaurs. The world and characters also blend well together and the only real issue I had with the visuals was that the corners of the skybox could sometimes be seen and the stiffness of the human animations. Also, while doing the townspeople’s tasks, which can be a bit fetch-questy, it becomes noticeable how empty certain sections of the game world are. However, the prospect of getting more dinos to live on your ranch is what warrants launching the game up at least a couple times.
Paleo Pines is a cute sim that focuses more on collecting and exploring than it does farming and its large selection of dinos to befriend are totes adorbs. Amassing a collection of dino pals is rewarding and a lot of things are done well but it just doesn't do enough to keep players hooked like similar games do. Here's hoping the developers take what works and really run with them in their next game.
Ultimately, I’d say Paleo Pines is a well-made game, worthwhile if you don’t mind spending a good chunk of your time repeating routines. Many hours in, riding dinosaurs and befriending them still feels novel! Taking a trip into town to see how I could help the neighbours felt like almost all of the purpose I needed. The negatives I saw are things that maybe could be ameliorated with updates, and it seems like a good fit for future content add-ons. Once you adjust to your life in Paleo Pines, you can spend many hours making that life your own.
Paleo Pines’ dinosaur-themed take on the farming sim is enjoyable, though it does require a bit more patience than other releases in the genre. There’s a bit of a slow burn during the opening hours, whilst the focus on offering a player-led experience can leave you muddled as to where you need to go next or what you need to do to progress. When you do get the ball rolling though? It can be a lot of fun, with a real satisfying sense of discovery felt as you explore the world, uncover its secrets, and, of course, bring new dinosaurs back to your farm. There are areas in which it can improve, but Paleo Pines still offers a charming and unique take on the genre.
Paleo Pines is a competent farming game with some interesting takes on Dinosaur care, and if that’s all you’re looking for you will most certainly find it here. Unfortunately, the game follows many other releases in the genre in its lack of imaginative or meaningful changes on tired and familiar gameplay, with the things it does right few and far between. If you don’t mind the lack of imagination and lackluster visual presentation, Paleo Pines would be a good game for you, but might be better for a younger audience or someone who’s yet to play a farming game.
Paleo Pines is a slow burn, and the game holds itself slightly back with characters that don’t have to keep you engaged…Still, players who enjoy relaxed farming sims and dinosaurs will gradually want to discover and create a harmonious environment alongside these beings.
While it’s got a set of flaws, Paleo Pines offers a charming and immersive farming sim experience. Its focus on dinosaurs adds a unique twist to the genre and instantly makes it stand out. Even if you’re not particularly into dinosaurs, the endearing design of these companions is sure to win you over. The heartwarming narrative, vibrant setting, and lovable characters create an enjoyable gaming journey. With its captivating gameplay and adorable dinosaurs, Paleo Pines is a solid choice for farming sims and cozy game enthusiasts.
Paleo Pines' dino-based farming sim experience may make for a great first step into the genre for some gamers, but those who know what to expect from the genre may find more than a few questionable gameplay decisions hidden inside. With its adorable style and recontextualization of a farming sim's relationship with animal helpers, it plants the seeds for some strong ideas that (mostly) do enough to help you push through its most frustrating bits. Mostly.
Paleo Pines is by no means a bad game - it presents creative new mechanics and is a clear winner for any players who are big fans of dinosaurs. The experience just feels like it could've used a bit more time in the oven to perfect things like its graphics, direction, and the depth of its characters. It may not be perfect, but Paleo Pines offers a laid back and lighthearted adventure across a dinosaur-covered world that's well-suited for any player looking for a relaxing Jurassic adventure.