Jurassic World Evolution 2 – Building the Definitive Dinosaur Park

Jurassic World Evolution 2 delivers the ultimate dinosaur park management experience with 75+ species and Chaos Theory mode. Rated 7.8/10 for excellent creature design despite shallow campaign.

Game Info

Developer
Frontier Developments
Publisher
Frontier Developments
Release Date
November 9, 2021
Genre
Adventure, Management, Simulation, Strategy
Platforms
PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X

Verdict

8 /10

Evolution 2 delivers authentic dinosaur park management with exceptional creature behavior and franchise storytelling, undermined by limited campaign and absent multiplayer features.

Pros

  • Extraordinarily detailed dinosaur behavior with pack hunting and realistic interactions
  • Gorgeous creature animations and visual fidelity across platforms
  • Chaos Theory mode brilliantly reimagines iconic franchise moments
  • Robust park management mechanics balancing accessibility and depth
  • Excellent post-launch support with regular content additions
  • Massive dinosaur roster (75+ species) with paleontological accuracy
  • Strong critical reception from major gaming outlets

Cons

  • Campaign remains shallow with limited progression and story depth
  • Sandbox unlocks locked behind Challenge mode frustrate newcomers
  • Zero multiplayer or cooperative gameplay options
  • No park sharing or community park browsing systems
  • Early PS5 frame pacing issues required patches
  • Minimal expansion of franchise narrative beyond film timelines

Performance Notes

PC: 60+ FPS at 1440p with GTX 1070; PS5: 1440p-4K at 60 FPS (set console output to 1080p if frame drops occur); Xbox Series X: 4K native at 60 FPS; excellent scalability across hardware generations.

Jurassic World Evolution 2 transforms park management simulation through meticulously crafted dinosaur behavior and franchise integration. Set between Fallen Kingdom and Dominion, the game expands the first entry’s foundation with 75+ prehistoric species, realistic behavioral interactions, and a canonical story campaign. Frontier Developments refined the management mechanics, improved AI pathfinding, and introduced Chaos Theory mode revisiting iconic film moments. With 78 on Metacritic and 79% critic recommendation on OpenCritic, Evolution 2 validates that players crave deeper dinosaur interaction over streamlined accessibility. The game sold over 500,000 copies across platforms within two weeks, establishing a new baseline for licensed property gameplay experiences.

How to Play Jurassic World Evolution 2

Jurassic World Evolution 2 combines construction simulation, business management, and creature care into an engaging loop. Players build enclosures, research dinosaur genetics, manage guest satisfaction, and handle inevitable escape scenarios. The turn-based management allows players to pause and strategize, accommodating both casual builders and optimization enthusiasts.

  1. Controls – Intuitive point-and-click construction with drag-and-place simplicity. Console controllers map building functions elegantly despite modest learning curve for complex park layouts.
  2. Progression – Unlock dinosaurs through campaign missions, genetic research, and challenge scenarios. Sandbox mode requires unlocking genetic information in challenge mode first, adding progression depth.
  3. Combat/Mechanics – Dinosaur management emphasizes realistic behaviors: herbivores require appropriate vegetation, carnivores hunt in packs, and containment breaches create catastrophic chain reactions.
  4. Tips – Prioritize profitable attractions early, invest in excellent security systems, and segregate incompatible species to prevent escalating disasters.

Who Should Play Jurassic World Evolution 2

Evolution 2 appeals to franchise enthusiasts, park builders, and simulation fans seeking authentic dinosaur interaction. The game balances accessibility for newcomers with depth for optimization-focused players. Chaos Theory mode provides story-driven structure while sandbox emphasizes creative freedom.

  • Jurassic Fans – The game integrates all film eras seamlessly, with Chaos Theory campaigns directly expanding film narratives through playable moments.
  • Simulation Enthusiasts – The park management mechanics rival Planet Zoo’s biological depth while adding financial complexity and disaster scenarios.
  • Dinosaur Enthusiasts – Realistic creature behaviors, accurate paleontology research, and gorgeous animations transform dinosaur discovery into engaging gameplay.
  • Skip if – You expect multiplayer park cooperation, real-time action sequences, or dinosaur combat gameplay; Evolution 2 stays committed to management simulation.

Jurassic World Evolution 2 Platform Performance

Jurassic World Evolution 2 maintains consistent performance across platforms with minor visual compromises on Switch. PS5 and Xbox Series X achieve native 4K resolution with stable framerate, though early PS5 patches addressed frame pacing issues. PC performance scales excellently across hardware generations from budget to high-end configurations.

Platform Resolution FPS Notes
PC (High) 1440p-4K 60+ Scales beautifully; RTX 2070 delivers consistent 60 FPS at ultra settings
PS5 4K 60 Excellent optimization; set console output to 1080p if experiencing frame drops
Xbox Series X 4K 60 Performance parity with PS5; no reported frame pacing issues
Switch 720p/1080p docked 30 Handheld performance acceptable; docked mode smooth for management tasks

Jurassic World Evolution 2 System Requirements

Evolution 2’s PC scalability suits diverse hardware configurations. The minimum specs support 1080p 30fps gameplay on budget GPUs, while recommended hardware enables comfortable 1440p 60fps experiences. The game benefits significantly from SSD installation, reducing load times between park sections.

Component Minimum Recommended
OS Windows 10 64-bit (v1809+) Windows 10/11 64-bit
CPU Intel Core i5-4590 / AMD FX 8370 Intel Core i7-5775C / AMD Ryzen 5 1500X
GPU NVIDIA GTX 1050 Ti (4GB) / AMD RX 470 NVIDIA GTX 1070 (6GB) / AMD RX 570
RAM 8 GB 12 GB
Storage 14 GB HDD 14 GB SSD recommended

Similar Games to Jurassic World Evolution 2

Park management simulations and creature-focused gameplay experiences provide comparable mechanics or aesthetic satisfaction. Each title offers distinct approaches to simulation depth, though none match Evolution 2’s dinosaur implementation specificity.

  • Jurassic World Evolution – The original game establishing the framework; Evolution 2 improves AI, terrain tools, and adds Chaos Theory narrative integration.
  • Planet Zoo – Frontier’s excellent animal management simulator with superior customization; lacks Evolution 2’s narrative campaigns and franchise integration.
  • Two Point Hospital – Humorous management simulation with excellent UI; focuses on human scenarios rather than creature behavior authenticity.
  • Parkitect – Indie theme park builder emphasizing construction creativity; simpler mechanics but superior park design flexibility.

Jurassic World Evolution 2 vs Competitors

Evolution 2 competes primarily with its predecessor and adjacent management simulators. The game’s strength lies in creature authenticity and franchise integration rather than raw simulation complexity or park design freedom. Financial management and biological accuracy differentiate Evolution 2 from lighter competitors.

Feature Evolution 2 Evolution 1 Planet Zoo
Price $59.99 $39.99 (sale) $39.99
Campaign Length 40-60 hours 30-50 hours 50-80 hours
Dinosaur Species 75+ 60+ N/A (modern animals)
Metacritic 78 68 81

Jurassic World Evolution 2 Story and World

Jurassic World Evolution 2 seamlessly integrates canonical story through campaign and Chaos Theory modes. The campaign follows the timeline between Fallen Kingdom and Dominion, incorporating returning characters and narrative threads. Chaos Theory mode reimagines iconic moments from all Jurassic films, allowing players to rewrite history by building parks at San Diego Zoo (The Lost World), InGen’s original Jurassic Park site, and other franchise locations. The world-building emphasizes paleontological accuracy; dinosaur species exhibit authentic behaviors based on paleontological research, herbivores form herds, carnivores organize pack hunts, and species interactions reflect actual compatibility research. Guest commentary and radio broadcasts immerse players in the Jurassic World universe while managing infrastructure challenges.

Jurassic World Evolution 2 Multiplayer and Online

Jurassic World Evolution 2 emphasizes single-player experiences without multiplayer integration. Frontier elected to focus development resources on campaign depth and AI authenticity rather than online systems. This design choice maximizes content depth for primary gameplay loop but eliminates cooperative park-building opportunities.

  • No Multiplayer – Single-player only; no competitive or cooperative online modes available.
  • No Park Sharing – Players cannot visit other players’ parks or share park designs through built-in systems.
  • Challenge Mode – Progressive challenges provide structured single-player progression and dinosaur unlocks for sandbox mode.
  • Sandbox Freedom – Unlimited creative freedom with configurable disaster frequency, budget, and dinosaur availability after campaign progression.

Jurassic World Evolution 2 DLC and Expansions

Frontier Developments released extensive post-launch content through 2024, adding species packs, major expansions, and cosmetic DLC. The Biosyn and Malta expansions introduce new campaigns with unique mechanics and geographic challenges. All DLC remains available at original prices or sale, enabling customizable content investment levels.

  • Dominion Biosyn Expansion ($19.99) – Two new maps, Dominion-era campaign, Biosynth facility building, and eight new dinosaur species including Giganotosaurus.
  • Dominion Malta Expansion ($19.99) – Three new maps, Mediterranean biome, underground facility mechanics, and dinosaur trading systems.
  • Species Packs ($7.99 each) – Seven packs total: Early Cretaceous, Late Cretaceous, Feathered, Marine, Predator, Secret, Deluxe Upgrade; each adds 3-5 new creatures.
  • Free Updates – Cosmetic dinosaur skins, building assets, and quality-of-life improvements released regularly; no paid battle pass or subscription models.

Jurassic World Evolution 2 Community and Support

The Evolution community thrives on Reddit, Discord, and Steam Forums with active discussion of strategies, dinosaur behavior, and park designs. Frontier maintains communication through official channels, addressing bugs and incorporating feedback into patch cycles. The modding community remains active on PC with Steam Workshop integration.

  • Official Forums – Frontier Developments hosts dedicated community spaces with developer participation in strategy discussions and technical support.
  • Reddit and Discord – r/jurassicworldevo and numerous Discord communities host thousands of members sharing park screenshots, strategies, and creation content.
  • Mod Support – Steam Workshop integration enables dinosaur retextures, building recolors, and gameplay adjustments created by community modders.
  • Updates – Frontier released significant updates through 2023 addressing physics bugs, UI improvements, and introducing community-requested features.