Dinosaur survival game The Lost Wild has reemerged after a period of silence since its 2021 reveal. The title, developed by Great Ape Games and published by Annapurna Interactive, was showcased during a recent PlayStation State of Play presentation, followed by a 30-minute hands-off demonstration.
The game centers on Saskia, a woman who awakens on a dinosaur-infested island following a car accident. A preview of the game begins in a dimly lit, moonlit forest with no on-screen HUD elements. Playing from a first-person perspective, players must navigate the environment carefully, as noise or the use of light sources like flashlights and flares can alert nearby prehistoric creatures, including dangerous carnivores. Stealth is presented as a core mechanic, as Saskia is not depicted as a combatant.
During the demo, an Allosaurus, an apex predator, made its presence known. In a scene illustrating the game's survival focus, Saskia witnesses a man in a hazmat suit being pursued by the dinosaur. After the man is caught and dropped, Saskia hides beneath a car, narrowly avoiding detection. The Allosaurus then viciously consumes its prey, but ultimately moves on, leaving Saskia temporarily safe. While the in-development build shows room for improvement in character and dinosaur fidelity, the encounter effectively conveys the danger of being discovered.
Great Ape Games aims to portray the dinosaurs not as relentless monsters, but as animals behaving according to their nature. The Allosaurus in the demo, for instance, appeared to be roaming its territory rather than actively hunting Saskia. When a player is detected, quick action is required. The game mechanics shown include creating distractions, such as using a thrown rock to disable an outdoor light and draw the Allosaurus away. If distractions fail, players can attempt to hide in tall grass, slide under vehicles, or attempt to outrun the threat, though the latter proved fatal twice for the developer demonstrating the build.
Developed for PlayStation 5 and PC, The Lost Wild shares a premise with Jurassic Park: Survival, another upcoming dinosaur game focused on evasion. Despite The Lost Wild being announced first, its unique approach to realistic dinosaur behavior and stealth-based survival aims to carve out its own identity in the genre. The game is slated for release in 2027.