Saurian

About

Saurian is a single player open world simulation game. It was developed by Urvogel Games, LLC and was released on August 2, 2017. It received neutral reviews from players.

Saurian is a video game project focused on living as a dinosaur in a dynamic open world through intense, survival-based gameplay.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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59%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,342 reviews

gameplay65 positive mentions

optimization28 negative mentions

The game features beautiful graphics and scientifically accurate dinosaur models, making it visually appealing.
Saurian offers a unique single-player experience, allowing players to immerse themselves in the life of a dinosaur without the toxicity of multiplayer games.
The developers are dedicated to creating a realistic simulation of the Hell Creek ecosystem, and they regularly communicate with the community about updates and progress.

The game has been in early access for several years with only two playable dinosaurs, leading to a lack of content and repetitive gameplay.
Performance issues and bugs are prevalent, causing lag and crashes even on high-end systems, making the game frustrating to play.
The AI behavior is often unrealistic and can lead to immersion-breaking moments, such as dinosaurs acting mindlessly or getting stuck in the environment.

gameplay
280 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
65%
12%
The gameplay of Saurian has received mixed reviews, with players appreciating its unique mechanics and realistic dinosaur simulation but criticizing its repetitiveness and lack of depth. While the game features engaging elements like the raptor prey restraint mechanic and a social system for certain species, many users find the overall experience to be shallow, with limited objectives and a lack of variety in gameplay. Additionally, performance issues and AI problems detract from immersion, leading some players to recommend waiting for further updates before diving in.
- “The game play is really engaging, always having you on your toes, and the mechanics are quite smooth.”
- “It's a beautiful game; it has engaging mechanics, it can get adrenaline pumping or it can be calm and peaceful. It's not for the faint of heart; it can be stressful and intense, and that's what I personally love about it.”
- “The new trike gameplay is completely unique to the raptor gameplay, which makes it interesting each time you play.”
- “Gameplay is frustrating; the game implies you'll receive tips and highlights, but you're on your own. The AI is unresponsive at best, and reactivity is nonexistent at worst.”
- “The game is very interesting for the first couple of hours, but stagnates quickly with no gameplay variety. This is a plague of animal simulator games like this, really unfortunate.”
- “The gameplay is very lackluster due to how bare-bones it is. It lacks depth, variety, and meaningful progression beyond the basic survival mechanics.”
graphics
200 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
37%
57%
6%
The graphics in the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the detailed dinosaur models and vibrant environments, while others criticize the poor optimization and performance issues, leading to significant lag even on high-end PCs. Some players appreciate the scientific accuracy and artistic design, but note that the lack of adjustable settings for brightness and saturation detracts from the experience. Overall, while the visuals have potential, they are hampered by technical shortcomings that affect gameplay.
- “Despite the lack of optimization, the game is visually stunning; each animal and plant is rendered in loving detail with regards to scientific accuracy, aesthetics, and readability in gameplay.”
- “The graphics are beautiful and make me feel like I'm a dinosaur living in the Hell Creek formation of the past.”
- “The graphics are great, the AI is great, the models are good, the mechanics are amazing, and it is pretty accurate as far as current paleontology goes.”
- “The game is poorly optimized with outdated graphics and high render distance, which combine to make what should be a beautiful game with a good challenge into one that feels clunky and looks strange at times.”
- “The graphics are underwhelming, and despite this, the game still performs very badly; it is impossible to get anything above 30 fps at the lowest settings on a high-end gaming PC.”
- “I can play intensive VR games on my PC at max graphics and rendering quality without problems, but for some reason, this game runs like a potato every time I turn it on; it seems to lack optimization or has some really bad memory leaks.”
optimization
115 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
16%
60%
24%
The game's optimization is widely criticized, with players reporting severe performance issues, including low frame rates, lag spikes, and frequent bugs that hinder gameplay. While some users acknowledge that the developers are actively working on improvements, many feel that the game remains poorly optimized, requiring high-end hardware to run smoothly. Overall, the consensus is that significant optimization is needed for a more enjoyable experience.
- “Despite the lack of optimization, the game is visually stunning; each animal and plant is rendered in loving detail with regards to scientific accuracy, aesthetics, and readability in gameplay.”
- “After downloading today's update, I noticed the performance improvement immediately.”
- “I recommend this game, but also suggest waiting until performance is stabilized and more content lands.”
- “The game is poorly optimized with outdated graphics and high render distance, combining to make what should be a beautiful game with a good challenge into one that feels clunky and looks strange at times.”
- “The game is buggy and poorly optimized.”
- “It's basically impossible to hunt herbivores with my kind of performance until adult stage.”
stability
108 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
2%
98%
The game's stability is a significant concern, with numerous users reporting frequent crashes, freezes, and various glitches that hinder gameplay. While some players acknowledge the potential of the game and its early access status, the overwhelming consensus is that it remains too buggy and poorly optimized to recommend for purchase at this time. Many hope for improvements in future updates, but current performance issues detract from the overall experience.
- “For an early access game, it's not that buggy, but it does crash occasionally.”
- “I would not buy it if you are looking for extremely gripping and fulfilling gameplay or a bug-free experience right from the get-go.”
- “The game sometimes crashes whenever I pause the game, then it freezes, and I don't know why. Please fix this glitch as some progress may be lost.”
- “I've bought this game a long time ago when a popular YouTuber said how amazing this game would be from all the trailers and such. Most of those trailers promised awesome gameplay and survival, but I was always met with a buggy mess of a game and super slow updates that never progressed the game enough to make it playable. I've tried playing this game over 5 different times hoping it would get better, which it never did, so save your money unlike I did.”
- “The game is very buggy (even for early access). I wasn't able to drink water about 3 times and died solely for that reason.”
music
54 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
61%
33%
6%
The music in the game has received widespread praise for its beautiful and immersive quality, enhancing the overall atmosphere and gameplay experience. Players appreciate the ambient tracks that create a relaxing environment, as well as the unique compositions that evoke a sense of realism and tension, particularly during nighttime. While some users noted occasional sound issues, the soundtrack is generally regarded as a standout feature that complements the game's visuals and themes effectively.
- “The world feels very alive with good ambiance and music in the background that just wants to make you sit around for a while and listen to it.”
- “The sound design is great, the music is awesome, the way you make the game simple, and have nothing to do in the game, makes the game more of a relaxing experience, it makes you wander around, and find things to do, really beautiful game.”
- “The atmosphere is fantastic (especially the music).”
- “I usually turn the music down to 10% when I play dino games since it's very important to be aware of what is around you in survival games.”
- “There is almost no music at all, but I'm sure that's in the works.”
- “I guess the music was supposed to be creating tension, but it just served to confuse me.”
replayability
39 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
8%
84%
8%
The game's replayability is currently limited due to the availability of only two playable dinosaurs, leading to repetitive gameplay. While players appreciate the engaging mechanics and beautiful design, many express frustration over the slow updates and lack of content, urging developers to add more playable species to enhance the experience. Overall, the potential for increased replayability exists, but it hinges on future updates and additional playable dinosaurs.
- “Overall, it has high replayability even in this early state; the models and animations are gorgeous, and the care and research that was poured into it is second to none.”
- “There is so much potential for when more playable dinosaurs are added that I can't help but be excited about it.”
- “But it's very entertaining; in the future, there will be more animals in the game and more playable animals.”
- “Pretty fun, but once you reach adulthood, it's very repetitive. The issue is that only two dinosaurs are playable, so if you get bored and want to try something new, it's basically impossible.”
- “Currently, the only downside to this game is that it is just way too good for the lack of content it fails to deliver on. As of now, there are only two playable dinosaurs, but both are extremely great to play as. I hope the developers will add more playable options soon!”
- “Right now, there is only one playable dinosaur, so gameplay gets repetitive fast. However, there are still five more playable dinosaurs to come, which will offer much more interesting gameplay.”
story
21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
72%
14%
The reviews indicate that "Saurian" lacks a cohesive narrative, with many players noting the absence of a structured story or quests. While some express disappointment over the game's failure to deliver on its promises, others appreciate the potential for emergent storytelling through gameplay mechanics. Overall, the game's focus seems to be on survival rather than a traditional narrative experience.
- “The story of Saurian is a common one, yet that doesn't downplay the tragedy of it at all.”
- “Heartwarming coming-of-age story of our favorite velociraptor.”
- “The game is driven by complex AI that gives the player random realistic experiences rather than a scripted story, and the other animals behave in an understandable and interpretable way that's more like an animal with the same imperatives as modern ones instead of some monster like most other forms of media portray dinosaurs.”
- “While the details remain murky, the end result is clear: Saurian became another Kickstarter success story that failed to deliver on even its most basic promises.”
- “I'm not completely up to date on the story of what actually happened, but the simple explanation is the team fell apart and management just cut their losses and ran off with all of the budget.”
- “This is not a game that you have challenges, quests, and a story.”
atmosphere
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
71%
11%
18%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and realistic qualities, enhanced by detailed environments, effective sound design, and a fitting musical score. While some critiques mention issues with map layout and mechanics that detract from the overall experience, many players appreciate the game's unique ambiance and the sense of tension it creates. Overall, the atmosphere is considered a strong point, contributing significantly to the game's appeal.
- “The assortment of trees and ferns, the colors, the day and night lighting, as well as the various AI scattered about really make the atmosphere immersive and realistic.”
- “The world of Saurian isn't made beautiful by cutting-edge graphics; it's made beautiful by the elegiac atmosphere of its vigorously accurate ecosystem.”
- “The game is very atmospheric; you feel constantly on your guard, which gives you a sense of belonging in the game world.”
- “If you're looking for an animal survival-style game and don't need it to be dinos, play Ancestors: A Humankind Odyssey (more nerdy/survival) or Maneater (more goofy/fun) and think about what we could have had in terms of the mechanics, handling, atmosphere, level design, and HUD elements for Saurian.”
- “What matters to me is the core mechanics and atmosphere.”
- “Also, the sounds of waves around the beach would really add to the atmosphere, but I can't complain about what we've already got.”
grinding
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
15%
16%
69%
Reviews highlight that the grinding aspect of the game is excessively tedious and often frustrating, with players feeling that survival mechanics lack depth and variety. While some enjoy the initial gameplay, many find the repetitive tasks—such as hunting and resource gathering—become monotonous over time, detracting from the overall experience. Overall, the grind is seen as a significant drawback, making the game less enjoyable and engaging.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Unique gameplay elements, I have only played Dakotaraptor so far, but even in that, it has elements like biting the throat for a faster kill, a risky but worthwhile hunting tactic, scents which uniquely inform you about what's around, predator and prey, without causing massive frame drops like in other games it's featured in (The Isle, particularly, also a pretty good game, if not grindy).”
- “Aside from all this, the game is deeply unfun to play at the moment, too grindy and mechanic-less to provide much but frustration.”
- “Eating small lizards and birds is the only truly viable option for survival even as an adult dakotaraptor, which is unfortunate as catching even these small prey items is incredibly tedious and unfun. I love hunting in games, but this one leaves a lot to be desired; you'll miss more often than not even when your prey is bonking into your head or claws.”
- “This isn't fun, sadly, because of its grindy focus on surviving with little to no purpose outside of 'don't die.' I respect the devs who are working on this game, but they need to get their fingers out of their ears and start listening to the community.”
humor
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is described as a mix of unintentional comedic moments, such as amusing AI behavior and funny bugs, which can enhance the overall experience despite some frustrations with development. Players find humor in the absurdity of certain situations, like dinosaurs reacting in ridiculous ways, contributing to a lighthearted atmosphere that balances the game's more serious elements. Overall, while there are critiques regarding the game's development, the humor is generally appreciated and adds to the enjoyment.
- “Ai leaves a lot to be desired; I’ve watched whole flocks of ornithomimus die because they stood in the water screaming aimlessly at a small gator, which admittedly was extremely funny but also clearly not as realistic as the devs likely intend.”
- “It is funny and I love the feathers.”
- “This was literally the first 2 seconds of the game; I'd be mad if it wasn't so funny.”
emotional
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express a strong emotional connection to the game, highlighting moments of terror and heartbreak, such as witnessing the death of a character's mother by a T-rex. The experience is described as both heartwarming and devastating, with some players feeling deeply affected to the point of tears, indicating a powerful narrative impact.
- “However, the first time I played as a triceratops, a T-rex killed my mother in front of me within five minutes of being spawned, which was terrifying and also heartbreaking.”
- “Heartwarming coming-of-age story of our favorite velociraptor.”
- “I cried.”
monetization
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization aspect of the game is heavily criticized, with users labeling it a "cash grab" due to the absence of promised content, specifically key dinosaur characters. Many feel that their investment is not justified and express frustration over the lack of updates and potential for refunds. Overall, the sentiment is overwhelmingly negative, advising potential buyers to avoid the game.
- “This feels like a complete and utter cash grab and I feel like my efforts to get any sort of refund would be in vain.”
- “A cash grab.”
- “Cash grab, do not buy.”