Dinolords: tactical RPG + dinosaurs in medieval England, and it’s even wilder than it looks
Imagine a mix of Game of Thrones, Jurassic Park and XCOM, sprinkled with a good dose of medieval madness. Welcome to Dinolords, a game that defies logic by throwing dinosaurs into 12th-century England. At first glance, the idea sounds like a game designer’s delirium after three coffees too many. Yet once you try it, you realize it is much more than a gimmick: a deep tactical RPG, an ultra-satisfying strategic combat system, and a unique atmosphere that fits its offbeat universe perfectly. Developed by Northplay and published by Ghost Ship Games, the game entered Steam Early Access in Q1 2025 and is headed for a full release in 2026 — here is why the premise actually works.
A pitch that slaps, but holds up
On paper, Dinolords is the kind of concept that raises eyebrows: “Knights fighting armored velociraptors? Seriously?” Yes, seriously. And the craziest part is that it works. The game drops us into an alternate medieval England where dinosaurs never went extinct. The result? Feudal lords raise T-Rexes like livestock, peasants hunt triceratops for meat, and pitched battles oppose lancer armies to packs of war-trained raptors. But Dinolords is not just a funny “what if”. The studio behind it has worked hard to give this universe real coherence. The dinosaurs are not here just for show: they are woven into society, the economy and, above all, the gameplay. That is where the game becomes truly interesting.
A hybrid gameplay mixing RPG, tactics and management
Dinolords refuses to be boxed in. It is at once: - A tactical RPG where you play a lord (or lady) in charge of managing your domain, recruiting mercenaries and developing your lands. - A real-time strategy game (but not only) where battles take place on a 3D battlefield, with units to position, skills to trigger and a good dose of micro-management. - A dinosaur simulator where you must capture, train and breed your beasts to turn them into war machines. All served with an active-pause mechanic (like in Dragon Age or Baldur’s Gate), letting you take your time to think through your moves without being overwhelmed. Battles are not pure Total War, but rather a mix of XCOM (for light turn-based tactics) and Mount & Blade (for troop and resource management).
Dinosaurs with personality (and stats)
Forget the generic dinosaurs of Jurassic World. In Dinolords, each species has its own role, strengths and weaknesses. A few examples: - Velociraptors: fast, deadly in packs, perfect for harrying archers or mages. - Triceratops: living tanks that can absorb cavalry charges and break enemy lines. - Pterodactyls: aerial scouts that can drop bombs (yes, bombs) on enemy troops. - T-Rexes: heavy, slow but devastating units, ideal for sowing panic in enemy ranks. The best part? You can customize them. A raptor with light armor for more speed? A triceratops fitted with blades on its horns to slice through shields? Anything goes. And like in a true RPG, your dinosaurs gain experience, level up and develop unique skills.
A believable medieval England (despite the dinosaurs)
The most impressive thing about Dinolords is how well the universe holds together. The developers did serious historical research to recreate a credible 12th-century England, then added the dinosaurs without it feeling “too out there”. For example: - Peasants use ankylosaurs as draft animals to plow fields. - Lords hunt the gallimimus for its meat, considered a luxury delicacy. - Copyist monks study dinosaur bones to turn them into bestiaries (a nod to real medieval manuscripts). - Towns are fortified with reinforced walls to withstand predator attacks. Even politics is part of it: you will manage alliances between kingdoms, peasant revolts and religious conflicts… while making sure your favorite T-Rex does not eat the pope’s messenger.
A striking visual style (without being too realistic)
Graphically, Dinolords goes for a dark, realistic “low-fantasy” style with a cartoon touch that keeps things from getting too serious. The dinosaurs are detailed without being hyper-realistic (far from Jurassic Park photorealism), and the settings evoke games like Kingdom Come: Deliverance or Mount & Blade, but with a richer color palette. Combat animations are particularly well done: watching a knight in full armor get launched into the air by an ankylosaur’s tail is both epic and hilarious. And the lighting effects (especially during night battles) add real atmosphere to the clashes.
A promising game still to polish
Dinolords is still in Early Access on Steam, so there are a few rough edges to sand down: - The AI can sometimes make strange choices, especially in large battles. - The balance between human units and dinosaurs is not always perfect (a well-placed T-Rex can break things a bit too easily). - The interface could be more intuitive, especially for domain management. But overall, the game is already very playable, and the developers seem receptive to community feedback for updates. The Early Access roadmap keeps adding content, from new maps to fresh dinosaur species, so the package keeps growing month after month. And when a game dares such a wild concept and pulls it off this well, you gladly forgive a few teething issues.
Who is Dinolords for?
If you like: tactical RPGs with management and impactful choices; strategy games where battle preparation matters as much as the battle itself; alternate universes mixing history and fantasy (or prehistory, as it happens); and dinosaurs (because come on, who does not like dinosaurs) — then Dinolords is for you. The top-down PvE battles reward careful positioning, and the economy of taming beasts gives every campaign a different flavor. On the other hand, if you are looking for a brute-force hack’n’slash or a pure 4X, look elsewhere. Here, thinking, preparation and management come first.
Our verdict: a brilliant oddity worth trying
Dinolords is the kind of game that makes you smile from the main menu. A bold mix, a rich universe, and gameplay that makes you want to spend hours in it. Is it perfect? No. Is it already super fun and promising? Absolutely. If you want an adventure where you command an army of knights riding raptors to conquer England, go for it — the dinosaurs can be tamed, armored and leveled up like any RPG companion, and your settlement grows battle by battle. Ready to become the king (or queen) of the Dinolords?