The Isle just hit a new record on Steam, showing that dino survival is still going strong in the genre

by

Discussing the top survival games throughout history, it’s hard to overlook titles like Rust, No Man’s Sky, and Don’t Starve. More contemporary, a free-to-play game called Once Human, launched in 2024, has been steadily growing its player base. These games generally share the same fundamental structure: you assume the role of a human character, construct a shelter, monitor your vital signs, collect resources, manufacture equipment, and essentially strive to avoid meeting an untimely end.

One unique survival horror game, The Isle developed by Afterthought LLC, has been thriving for nearly a decade by offering a distinct perspective where players assume the role of dinosaurs, battling to survive and evolve in a harsh open environment. With continuous EVRIMA updates enhancing the gameplay, the exceptional dinosaur adventure is continually improving.

Dinosaurs, survival, and mystery

In “The Isle,” you have the opportunity to pick among numerous distinct prehistoric creatures, ranging from colossal titans such as T. rex to nimble dinos like Dryosaurus. To survive and thrive, you’ll need to trust your instincts and abilities, all while ensuring you don’t end up as someone else’s dinner, and instead become a more powerful, skilled creature yourself.

The game offers two distinct playstyles: Survival mode, which presents a challenging, pressure-filled environment where progress is hard-earned, and Sandbox mode, allowing for uninhibited play without significant survival constraints.

Instead of using typical cutscenes, The Isle weaves its narrative through the secrets embedded within the game’s world, inviting the players to gradually decipher these puzzles together as a community.

Despite spending a decade in Early Access on Steam, The Isle has amassed a massive fanbase that continues to expand. Lately, the game reached an unprecedented high of 13,500 concurrent players simultaneously, an achievement driven by the major overhaul known as EVRIMA launched in 2020. The developers essentially discarded the old version and began anew, and it seems their efforts are bearing fruit. Moreover, it’s also gaining popularity on Twitch.

Why The Isle still thrives after nearly a decade in Early Access

In each update, The Isle receives fresh mechanics, enhanced visuals, more fluid animations, and a more immersive survival experience. On the other hand, EVRIMA is being released in stages rather than all at once, consistently incorporating new content, playable dinosaurs, and polishing the gameplay.

To date, it has implemented substantial advancements in areas such as growth, nutrition, battle strategies, and movement systems for a more authentic feel. The maps have been revamped with enhanced world designs, and the development team is currently working on nesting and parenting mechanics. In a forthcoming update, players can look forward to controlling human characters.

The Isle, in essence, can be described as the everlasting Early Access title. Steam has rolled out a useful tool to alert you when a developer overlooks an incomplete game, but it’s not infallible, and The Isle serves as a clear demonstration of this flaw.

Based on the Early Access information, the game’s last update was three years ago, but this is not accurate at all because the developers are actively updating it, just on a separate branch. Therefore, don’t let that misleading label deter you. Steam’s new system still has some bugs to iron out.

Read More

2025-02-25 16:02