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Paleo Pines

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.
Paleo Pines Game Cover
79%Game Brain Score
story, gameplay
grinding, stability
89% User Score Based on 2,070 reviews
Critic Score 70%Based on 11 reviews

Platforms

Nintendo SwitchLinuxXbox Series X|SPCPlaystation 5Playstation 4Xbox OneXboxSteam DeckWindowsPlayStation
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Paleo Pines Game Cover

About

Paleo Pines is a single player casual role playing game with a kids theme. It was developed by Italic Pig and was released on September 26, 2023. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and positive reviews from players.

In "Paleo Pines" , join Lucky, your dino companion, to uncover the mysteries of a charming island where humans and dinosaurs coexist. Build a thriving ranch, help locals, and befriend various dinosaurs while unearthing the island's hidden history. Together, you and Lucky will embark on a mission to find the missing parasaurolophus and build a cozy dino sanctuary.

Genres & Tags
Play Modes
Paleo Pines screenshot
Paleo Pines screenshot
Paleo Pines screenshot
Paleo Pines screenshot
Paleo Pines screenshot
Paleo Pines screenshot
Paleo Pines screenshot
Paleo Pines screenshot
Paleo Pines screenshot
Paleo Pines screenshot
Paleo Pines screenshot
+10
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89%
Audience ScoreBased on 2,070 reviews
story82 positive mentions
grinding764 negative mentions
  • Charming and colorful graphics with adorable dinosaur designs.
  • Relaxing gameplay that allows for exploration and collection of various dinosaur colors.
  • Unique mechanics where dinosaurs assist with farming tasks, adding a fun twist to the farming sim genre.
  • Limited number of dreamstones restricts the number of dinosaurs players can keep, which can be frustrating for collectors.
  • Repetitive quests that often feel like fetch tasks, leading to a lack of engagement over time.
  • Some controls and mechanics feel clunky and unintuitive, making certain tasks tedious and frustrating.
  • grinding
    780 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The grinding aspect of "Paleo Pines" has received mixed feedback from players. While many appreciate the game's charming blend of farming and dinosaur collecting, they often find the gameplay tedious and repetitive, particularly when it comes to leveling up dinosaurs and managing farming tasks. Players note that the lack of quality-of-life features, such as a shipping box for selling crops, contributes to the grindy experience, making it feel more like a chore than a relaxing farming sim.

    • “Adorable dino farming sim, this game hooked me when I tried the demo out and I admit I loved it so much I bought it as soon as I had cash available. As I'm writing this, I have 146 hours logged into the game. I have completed the main storyline twice now and just enjoy a chill farming life collecting all the dinosaur colors.”
    • “It's a dino farming game... instead of upping your skills, you up your dinos' skills and they help you farm.”
    • “Wonderful little dino farming game that is easy and relaxing.”
    • “Grinding can be an absolute nightmare, mini and main quests a slog to put up with, plenty of functions and even basic tasks aren't ever explained, and not to even mention dino storage.”
    • “It just feels tedious to have to plant 20 different 'juicy' plants so you can find the single one your dino actually likes best.”
    • “I found the game enjoyable, but it got very grindy and repetitive after a few hours.”
  • story
    700 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story in the game is generally described as simple and cute, focusing on a light-hearted quest to find and befriend dinosaurs, with a main character named Lucky. While some players appreciate the engaging graphics and charming side characters, many criticize the repetitive fetch quests and lack of depth in the narrative, leading to a feeling of emptiness after completing the main storyline. Overall, the game offers a relaxing experience, but those seeking a complex or emotionally rich story may find it lacking.

    • “The main plot is sweet and simple, and all of the side characters have their own storylines as well.”
    • “Beautiful graphics; cute, goofy dinos; handful of villagers; and plenty of story to uncover <3”
    • “The story is simple but engaging, and there are so many side things to do in the meantime before actually doing the story that this game has kept me entertained for hours and hours... and I'm not even halfway through!!”
    • “If you're looking for something with a complex story, I wouldn't buy this.”
    • “The quests are all just fetch quests, literally it’s all just 'bring me x' or 'give x to y and report back to me'; there are no other quests.”
    • “The main story line is cute and encourages exploration as well as farming, but overall it feels incredibly unfinished and lacking with little purpose in terms of quests and story/progression.”
  • gameplay
    384 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of this game is characterized by a charming yet simplistic farming experience, where players befriend adorable dinosaurs to assist with various tasks. While the mechanics, such as crop rotation and dino care, offer some unique elements, many players find the overall gameplay loop repetitive and lacking depth, with several mechanics poorly explained or feeling clunky. Despite its relaxing atmosphere and cute aesthetics, the game is criticized for its grindy nature and limited content, leaving some players wanting more engaging activities and clearer guidance.

    • “Very enjoyable gameplay loop with dinos helping you manage your farm.”
    • “The gameplay is overall smooth and as long as any bugs experienced are reported, the dev team is pretty quick to address them.”
    • “Cute storyline, forgiving gameplay, and sweet characters to meet - both dinosaur and human!”
    • “They have nice ideas for example the taming and dino care mechanics and that the dinos help you on the farm, but it's all just poorly executed, feels unfinished and seems more like a demo.”
    • “The stamina mechanic (not being able to run around on the dino without using the stamina that doesn't recharge till the next day) is what keeps me from playing the game, it's just not fun being limited to where I can even go on the map within a decent amount of time.”
    • “This game is a chore and a real grind once you get through the story, and I do hope more content gets added, like a DLC to venture into the swamp or a new mechanic to break through the monotonous grind.”
  • graphics
    207 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their adorable and charming art style, featuring cute dinosaurs and a soothing color palette that enhances the overall cozy aesthetic. While many players appreciate the visuals and find them engaging, some note that the simplistic design may appeal more to younger audiences, and there are occasional technical issues that detract from the experience. Overall, the graphics contribute positively to the game's relaxing vibe, though some players express a desire for improvements and updates.

    • “Beautiful graphics; cute, goofy dinos; a handful of villagers; and plenty of story to uncover <3”
    • “The graphics and overall style of this game is downright adorable, making the dinosaurs even cuter!”
    • “I love the visuals, the cute dinosaurs, and the vibrant and eye-catching color the entire world has.”
    • “Man, the graphical difference between Switch and Steam is night and day.”
    • “As a last thought, because I know a lot of people don't care about it that much, but the graphics are very poor as well.”
    • “The gameplay loop is extremely boring, the graphics get dull extremely quickly, the voice acting is annoying, the world is tiny, and the character designs are... uncanny.”
  • music
    85 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game is generally described as charming, cute, and relaxing, enhancing the overall calming atmosphere. However, many players note a lack of variety, with only a few tracks that can become repetitive, leading some to mute the sound entirely. Despite these criticisms, the integration of music as a mechanic for befriending dinosaurs is seen as a unique and enjoyable feature.

    • “It's fun, it's adorable, the music is beautiful and it's a wholesome game I can get lost in, which was a much needed escape at the right time.”
    • “The music is quite pleasant and very fitting for the game.”
    • “If you want dinosaurs, a chill farming sim, and cute songs that will be pleasantly stuck in your head all day, this game is for you.”
    • “This is the only game I've ever played where I kept the music muted at all times.”
    • “The only things that really bothered me were the music; there were only 2-3 solid tracks, and changing location did not change that.”
    • “I feel like I've only heard three songs in the whole game (title theme, day theme, and a rain theme).”
  • emotional
    66 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game is widely praised for its wholesome and cozy atmosphere, featuring adorable dinosaurs and charming storylines that evoke heartwarming feelings. While many players find it relaxing and enjoyable, some critique the emotional depth of the narrative and character interactions, noting that the story is often surface-level and lacks meaningful engagement. Overall, it is celebrated as a delightful escape, perfect for those seeking a sweet and uplifting gaming experience.

    • “What a cozy and heart-warming game.”
    • “My heart has melted many times by the sweetness and heartwarming feelings all the dinosaurs give off.”
    • “The little happy dance the galli does or the wiggles the para do are heartwarming and I love hanging out with them!”
    • “The story is quite boring, and while I understand it's subjective, it really drags on. The animation of human characters during dialogue feels uncanny, leading to unnatural pauses in conversation, which detracts from the emotional experience.”
    • “The emotional aspect of the game suffers due to the lackluster story and the awkward animations of characters, making it hard to connect with them during key moments.”
  • stability
    44 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The stability of the game has received mixed feedback, with some players reporting minimal bugs and smooth performance, while others have encountered significant glitches that can hinder gameplay. Many users appreciate the game's charm and engaging elements, but express disappointment over the presence of bugs, especially in a newly released title. Overall, while some players have had a pleasant experience, the game's stability issues remain a concern that may require future patches.

    • “Initial impressions are that this game is adorable. I love my little ranch! It's perfectly cozy and it runs great on my PC. I've been looking forward to this and rushed home to play as soon as it launched today. I can't wait to spend more time with my little dinos.”
    • “And since the official release, it has been extremely buggy.”
    • “However, it has glitches that make it virtually unplayable.”
    • “This isn't a bad game, between its dinosaur designs and what is a reasonably good gameplay loop, but it probably should have been playtested a bit more, between glitches and general progression grinding to a halt several times.”
  • optimization
    21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with some players experiencing significant performance issues, crashes, and stuttering, particularly after updates. While the final version shows improvements over the demo, many still find it feels unfinished and unpolished, leading to frustration during gameplay. Overall, the game is deemed poorly optimized at launch, with potential for better performance but currently not recommended for those with mid-tier setups.

    • “The final game really looks, feels, and is optimized way better than the demo was.”
    • “A few small glitches but graphics are great, runs smoothly, optimized really well, and has engaging gameplay.”
    • “It's annoying, but it isn't game-breaking, especially as performance upon release has been otherwise super smooth for me.”
    • “Just a heads up, this game is poorly optimized at the time of release, and can cause your GPU temperature to skyrocket.”
    • “Sadly, there's this terrible stuttering every time you move that makes me incredibly nauseous after 10 minutes of play.”
    • “I was so so so excited for this game, but as soon as I started playing I realized that this game feels unfinished, unpolished, and unoptimized.”
  • humor
    18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is highlighted by quirky dialogues from townsfolk, amusing item descriptions, and the absurdity of certain gameplay mechanics, such as dinosaurs performing unrealistic feats. Players find joy in both intentional comedic elements and unintentional glitches, contributing to an overall lighthearted and entertaining experience. The combination of charming character interactions and humorous quests enhances the game's appeal, making it a delightful adventure.

    • “Some townsfolk have quirky yet very on-brand dialogues ("I'm as busy as a baryonyx" and many others), and funny item descriptions that gave me a chuckle (spring onion "once picked, it's a sprung onion", mango "man come back").”
    • “I recently bought Paleo Pines and I've become obsessed with the game already due to many factors, including the adorable/refreshing dinosaur designs; the interactive townsfolk with different personalities and great sense of humor; and the endless amount of quests, which lead you to develop better relationships with other characters as well as increasing your farming success.”
    • “Also, every glitch I run into makes me bust out laughing!”
  • character development
    14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Character development in the game receives mixed reviews, with many praising the unique and cute character designs, particularly the dinosaur characters. However, some players express disappointment in the lack of depth and development for NPCs, suggesting that while the designs are appealing, the overall character engagement feels limited. The game's cozy atmosphere and responsive development team are noted positively, but concerns about the human character designs and gameplay depth persist.

    • “The character designs are very cute, and I love the fact that the game has such a hands-on development team who are willing to take suggestions and update the game. It's a very cozy game, and I've already been playing for hours.”
    • “This game is so cute; it's like Stardew Valley but better! I love the dino designs and the character designs, and the story is so charming.”
    • “I love the character designs; every one of them is unique and fun!”
    • “Human character design is the worst part of this game, in my opinion.”
    • “The gameplay loop is extremely boring, the graphics get dull extremely quickly, the voice acting is annoying, the world is tiny, and the character designs are... uncanny.”
    • “There is a lack of character development with the NPCs.”
  • atmosphere
    14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its therapeutic and calming qualities, enhanced by cute dinosaur designs and engaging mechanics. Players find it to be a cozy and wholesome experience, particularly when enjoyed with sound and music, making it a delightful way to relax and unwind. Overall, the atmosphere contributes significantly to the game's charm and appeal.

    • “I love the dino designs and the atmosphere is so cute and fun; can't wait to see what else is in store for me!”
    • “The atmosphere and tone of the game is therapeutic and calming.”
    • “It's a good way to pass the time and relax into the atmosphere.”
    • “I recommend playing with sound and music on because it really adds to the wholesome atmosphere.”
  • monetization
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization aspect of the game is criticized for feeling like a cash grab, with users noting that it lacks depth and feels unfinished. Despite having potential, the overall experience is described as empty and lifeless, reminiscent of low-quality games from the past.

    • “The bones for a great game are here, but the game feels half done or even a quarter done; it teeters a little on the cash grab side.”
    • “Feels like one of the cheap cash grab horse/ranch games I played as a child; it feels just as empty, lifeless, and shallow, unfortunately.”
  • replayability
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players find the game's replayability lacking, as after completing the main storyline, there are limited activities available beyond side quests and farming for dinosaurs, which are capped at 45. The absence of renewable resources for collecting dreamstones further restricts replay value, making it less appealing for those who do not enjoy starting new farms solely for rare creature collection. Overall, many feel that the game does not offer enough incentive for repeated playthroughs.

    • “My only big gripe is that after playing through the game, there's not much to do aside from finishing off side quests and continuing to farm and collect dinos, which are unfortunately capped at 45 with no renewable way to grab dreamstones. This is more than enough for every dino but can be a bit restricting unless you start a new farm just for collecting those rare critters. While this can be fun, many might not enjoy replaying the game since the replayability, personally, is not super high outside of wanting to collect more dinos.”
    • “A farming game that isn't replayable feels like a hate crime.”
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70%Critics’ scoreBased on 11 critic reviews
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25h Median play time
33h Average play time
12-46h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 24 analyzed playthroughs
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Frequently Asked Questions

Paleo Pines is a casual role playing game with kids theme.

Paleo Pines is available on Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S, PC, PlayStation 5 and others.

On average players spend around 33 hours playing Paleo Pines.

Paleo Pines was released on September 26, 2023.

Paleo Pines was developed by Italic Pig.

Paleo Pines has received mostly positive reviews from players and mostly positive reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its grinding.

Paleo Pines is a single player game.

Similar games include Garden Paws, Staxel, Bear & Breakfast, The Witch of Fern Island, No Place Like Home and others.