Paleo Pines

How did I not know that Paleo Pines was a thing??? This is a farming and cozy game that has dinosaurs in it! If that right there does not make you want to rush and play this, I am sorry, but we cannot be friends! This is not a perfect game, but I can easily overlook the few issues that it does have and proudly say that this is one of my all time favorite farming games right now. This is how you do a game like this right, it has so much personality, so much charm and it is just so freaking adorable that I was smiling for like 95 percent of the time I was playing the game.

A Tale As Old As Time

The premise of Paleo Pines is one that I am sure you are very familiar with if you have played a farming game before. We have moved to a new town and we have an old dilapidated farm that we need to fix up and maintain, all the while making friends and doing jobs for the townsfolk to help the community. Granted, that part of the plot is as stock as you get when it comes to a farming game. However, the twist here is the dinosaur aspect of things! You need to help your dinosaur pal, Lucky find friends and become more confident, plus dinosaurs are a part of this world so that is awesome.

Making Me Smile And Making Me Laugh

The main plot of Paleo Pines where you fix up your farm and help Lucky and the dinosaurs happens as you progress through the game and it is very charming. However, what is even more charming are the various interactions that you have with the different townsfolk. Each one has their own quirky personality and will give you a job to do, but there is always a bit of whimsy and charm to what they ask you to do and you do feel like you get to know each townsperson a little bit better with each interaction you have with them. The dinosaurs also have their own personalities so you need to make sure that their needs are being met also. It is all done with such a lovely style that it is impossible not to feel connected to the people and the dinosaurs.

Dino-Mite

Paleo Pines is a farming sim where you need to gather resources, talk to people, take on jobs, and fix the homestead. The twist here is the dinosaurs. You need to make friends with dinosaurs and you do this by finding a special kind of stone, without this the dinosaurs will run away from you! This special stone is very hard to come by and that is the only part of the game that bothers me! Once you have befriended a dinosaur, you need to create a paddock for them, feed them, and be good to them. Once a dinosaur is your friend, they can help you! This ranges from being able to smash rocks to watering your crops. It is such a fun gameplay loop, one that I honestly never got tired of.

They Knew What They Were Doing!

How can you look at Paleo Pines and not smile? This is one of the most adorable farming games that I have ever played. Ok, let’s forget about the dinosaurs for a moment. This game has a bright and colorful world that is made up of a few different biomes. The people are all nice to look at and have friendly faces and the whole world here is just so adorable. Now, the dinosaurs are some of the cutest looking dinosaurs that I have ever seen. There are many different styles of dinosaurs here and I love how expressive their faces and eyes are, you really do want to make them and the townsfolk happy! The only thing I will say is that the sound is not all that memorable and if they could have gotten some voice acting, that would have been epic!

Pros:

• How can you not love those dinosaurs?
• This is a fun and charming farming game
• It is so much fun getting to know the people and the dinosaurs
• This is the ultimate chill out and make you feel happy game

Cons:

• I do wish those special stones for the dinosaurs were more plentiful
• Some voice acting and a bit better music would have been great

Ever wanted to own your own dinosaur ranch? Well, thanks to Paleo Pines, you now can. There are a tremendous number of games that allow for taming dinosaurs and exploring the world with them, but none of them provide the same dopamine levels as this cozy game. Take a prehistoric ride through a delightfully colorful world without having to fight off every dinosaur for a hundred miles with a stick. Instead, prepare yourself for a lovely time getting to know all of these adorable creatures that have been lovingly rendered. If that sounds like a nice time to you, keep reading as we get into it.

Gameplay

So, this game kind of functions like Stardew Valley meeting ARK: Survival Evolved. You take control of the only known descendant of the legendary flute whisperer, who arrives on an island that you can explore and turn into a paradise. With a little bit of Animal Crossing: New Horizons thrown in for good measure, this game focuses primarily on you travelling around, meeting and taming dinosaurs, while cultivating the land and turning it into a habitable environment for all. You are creating a wonderful world that humans and dinosaurs can live together in peace. It sure sounds nice, doesn’t it? Good, because that’s the point.

You can spend your time farming with your dinosaur friends or petting their snoots. In either case, there’s a lot to do and a whole world with multiple biomes to see. Along with all this, there is also the quiet quest of discovering the past and learning the lost history of your ancient ancestors.

Cozy Game

This is, what we in the business, call a cozy game. It’s not designed to be played competitively, its not designed to make you angry or annoy you in any way. It isn’t a test. It just wants you to be comfortable and enjoy yourself. This atmosphere that the game tries to cultivate is specifically designed to help you relax. Express individuality and creativity, build your ranch your way and enjoy yourself. Gain the trust of your dinosaur friends, and the community, and build on those relationships, making sure that everyone stays happy.

Visuals

The visuals in this game are amazing. The dinosaurs are so dang cute, I cannot help but want to chase them all down and pet them. The games delightfully bright and colorful palette makes for a truly awe-inspiring time, as you traverse the many different environments, from forests, to rolling meadows, to deserts where you can discover even more dinosaurs. There is something distinctly pleasant about dino spotting, where you can sit and watch them frolic in their natural habitats. Not many games can make you want to just stare and take it all in, but this game nails that feeling with ease. Also, yes. Just in case you were worried, you can customize your character.

Pros

• Excellent and adorable visuals
• Interesting world

Cons

• More content in games like this is always appreciated