The prehistoric period is one of the most fascinating andmysterious settings to explore in open-world games.
Often blending mythology with Stone Age inventions and vast, hostile settings with the struggle for human settlement, games of the prehistoric genre explore the full scope of intrigue when it comes to the distant and unwritten past.
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The following games exemplify the different angles developers take when approaching this difficult setting, but all have successfully provided an immersive and worthwhile experience.
From hardcore survival MMOs to more laid-back crafting adventures, there is certainly something for everyone when it comes to these open-world games set within the prehistoric genre.
8Polylithic
Low-Poly Survival Fun
Polylithic is a unique game even among other prehistoric open-world titles. With a very colorful low poly aesthetic, it has a more chilled-out atmosphere compared with other hardcore games in the genre.
It’spart base-builder and part RPG, so not only will youprogress your individual character’s skills and equipment, but your entire tribe will also progress simultaneously, allowing you to construct more advanced items and buildings as you eventually move toward the Bronze and Iron Ages.
The art style is certainly one of the main appeals of the game, but this shouldn’t detract from its solid gameplay.
Since Polythithic is still in early access, it’s fair to say that some elements are still in need of polishing, but it is a very solid title when it comes to open-world prehistoric games.
7Tribe: Primitive Builder
A Chilled Out Settlement Builder
Tribe: Primitive Builder is a first-person survival crafting game set on a tropical island. Unlike many other games in the survival genre, the focus of this game is on the construction and base-building elements rather than hardcore survival mechanics.
The game world and its technologies certainly feel prehistoric even if it is not outright specified, andthe vast majority of gameplay consists of building wooden structures and offering sacrifices to rock carvings.
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As you progress and unlock new buildings, your tribe will grow in size and new characters will arrive to inhabit structures.
The game does follow a fairly linear structuregiven that it is set in an open world, and progression can be tedious at times. Overall, it is a very laid-back survival experience that is fun to explore, and the primitive crafting elements can be very creative and enjoyable to build.
Play As A Dinosaur & Eat Your Foes
Out of all the prehistoric open-world games available these days, there aren’t many that take you back all the way to the time before humans even existed. The Isle does precisely this, allowing players toembody a range of different dinosaurs with their own particular strengths and weaknesses.
Starting out as a small hatchling, you will need to scavenge and eat other creatures in order to survive -which often means fighting with other players.
The game’s unintrusive HUD and night vision mode make it incredibly immersive, and there is plenty of fun to be had in trying out the different play styles of the various creatures.
From the flying Pteranodon to the river-dwelling Dinosuchus, The Isle offers tonnes of replayability and progression options.
Although it has technically not left the early access phase after almost ten years, the game is still being updated and has not been abandoned by its developers.
A Mystical Twist On The Survival Genre
Soulmask might not be a title that’s on everyone’s radar, but it isa very solid open-world primitive survival builder inspired by South American and Pacific Island cultures.
The game features a combination of realistic and immersive crafting along with more mystical elements such as magical items and creatures.
Although it may feel fairly generic to some survival veterans, the game is comparable to other popular titles like Valheim or Conan Exiles and can likewise be played solo or with friends.
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What makes Soulmask unique in relation to other titles in the genre isthe unique South American theme that permeates the game world.
In addition to finding crumbled ziggurats in the rainforest, you will also be able to play as several different characters, each with their own unique skillsets. As you learn to survive and prosper, you will gradually build your humble tribe into a mighty force to be reckoned with.
4Conan Exiles
The Ultimate Barbarian Simulator
Conan Exiles
Conan Exilesis one of the most popular open-world survival games of the last decade, and for very good reason. From its immersive gameworld and incredible creature designs to its intuitive crafting and combat systems, there’s really not a lot to fault when it comes to the game itself.
Online players are another issue, and over the years there have been increased instances of cheaters and hackers, but fortunately, the game hassingle-player and co-op PvE modes as well.
Despite releasing in 2017, it still holds up well as a very solid survival game. The crafting system is very in-depth and enables you to create anything from primitive weapons all the way up to stone fortresses and treehouses.
The game world is massive, with several different biomes and settlements to explore. My particular favorite element is the appearance of massive avatars—monstrous deities thattower over their surroundingsand really give the game an atmosphere of mythological grandeur.
3ARK: Survival Evolved
A Legendary MMO Experience
ARK: Survival Evolved
Although technically not exclusively prehistoric,ARK: Survival Evolvedthrows players into a primordial world populated by dinosaurs and other players. Despite its age, it remains one of themost popular survival MMOs on the market, thanks in part to its brilliant progression system, base-building, and creature-breeding mechanics.
As a player, you will also evolve much like the creatures around you; starting out with primitive weapons and technology but gradually advancing to modern and even futuristic creations.
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ARK: Survival Evolved offers a huge amount of player freedom and is a true open-world MMO. With that said,it is still very accessible to newcomers and features a single-player PvE mode for those looking for a more casual survival experience.
The game is at its best when playing with friends, but it is nonetheless a solid experience regardless of whether you play solo or as part of a community. Either way, anyone looking for a solid and intense survival experience in a prehistoric world should definitelyconsider checking out the ARK franchise.
2Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey
Journey Through Man’s Evolution
Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey
Ancestors: The Humankind Odysseyis a unique game centered around the evolutionary process.
Starting off as a primate on all fours, scouring the forest floor for morsels of food and climbing trees to survey your surroundings, you willgradually acquire new skills until you eventually develop into a weapon-wielding hunter on the grassy plains.
The game’s unique progression system, coupled with itswell-developed parkour and survival mechanics, make it a stand-out open-world game in its own right. It might not be to everyone’s tastes, but few games have even attempted to tackle such a difficult concept, let alone do it as well as Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey.
The game may be slow, repetitive, and confusing at times, but whoever said becoming a Homo Sapien was easy?
1Far Cry Primal
The Definitive Cave Man Experience
Far Cry Primal
When it comes to the prehistoric setting and open worlds, it doesn’t get much more immersive thanFar Cry Primal.
Although the series may have come under criticism for its formulaic and predictable approach, the change to a primitive setting certainly worked in its favor and gave usone of the more unique experiences in the franchise.
On top of its immersive setting,the game goes the extra mile to take you back to the Stone Age, even going so far as to invent an original language for the characters in-game to speak.
Gameplay primarily centers aroundbuilding up your own village community, fighting off tribes and dangerous wildlife such as sabertooth tigers, and the usual crafting and exploration we have come to expect from open-world games.
Overall, if you’re looking to be transported back to the dawn of mankind, you won’t find many better representations than that of Far Cry Primal.
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