Some dinosaur game fans were so preoccupied with whether or not they could tame dinosaurs they didn't stop to think if they should. Still, when it comes to dinosaurs, life, uh, finds a way. And while plenty of games about dinosaurs are about introducing them to the concept of deep tissue lead poisoning, others let the players tame or even ride Earth's progenitors.

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A few games - some of which aren't explicitly about dinosaurs but technically do have them, allow players to form some bonds or imprint themselves on these dinosaurs. In turn, the dinos won't eat them and might even take them for a dino nerd's dream team ride or die drive-by in the ghettos of prehistoric Earth. Anyway way these games imply that opportunity.

8 Ark: Survival Evolved

ark survival evolved beer
  • Release year: 2017
  • Platforms: Linux, Microsoft Windows, macOS, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Android, iOS, Nintendo Switch, Stadia

Ark: Survival Evolved isn't just one of the most popular survival games right now; it's also one of the few games that let players stalk and tame their dinosaurs like a lovestruck boy in a petting zoo. There's a fairly wide selection of dino delights in this game, but for peak swag, players will want the T-Rex.

Each dinosaur in the game has different stats and benefits and also requires specific equipment with which to be caught. Taming them is also an organic process as players will need to attend to them, feed them, and nurse them back to health until the Stockholm Syndrome kicks in.

7 Jurassic World Evolution 2

Northwest USA in Jurassic World Evolution 2
  • Release year: 2021
  • Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and Series S, Microsoft Windows, Xbox Cloud Gaming

Jurassic World Evolution 2 is a refinement of its predecessor in many ways. It features even more tools and tricks to keep the players on their toes as they manage their dinosaur theme park. Of course, these are technically not dinosaurs since they're just test tube GMO clones as per Jurassic Park lore, but the differences are negligible.

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Players will have to remember that these knock-offs are still wild animals that need to be fed in captivity; otherwise, the hangry predators might find their own buffet among the herbivores. Sadly, players can't really ride the dinosaurs here, but at least one gets to raise them.

6 Parkasaurus

  • Release year: 2018
  • Platforms: Nintendo Switch, Microsoft Windows

Is Jurassic World Evolution 2 a little too realistic and serious? Then Parkasaurus might offer something a little more relaxed and cartoonish. It's also a dinosaur theme park management sim, except the visual style leans more on the adorable side and doesn't take after a children's horror film.

In any case, the taming interaction and exchange are similar in Parkasaurus. Players have to attend to the needs of their wild animals and train them a bit in theme park etiquette. Failure means guests become part of the menu, which is bad enough considering some T-Rex variants have heads that can catch fire while chasing hapless human victims.

5 Monster Hunter Stories 2

A Hunter flying on the back of a Rathalos in Monster Hunter Stories 2
  • Release year: 2021
  • Platforms: Nintendo Switch, Microsoft Windows

The main Monster Hunter games do have some monsters that resemble dinosaurs and are practically dinosaurs in all aspects except the name. But those games don't let players tame dinosaur-type monsters. Thankfully, Monster Hunter Stories spin-off games let players do just that.

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This is an RPG title that lets players tame and even ride the very monsters that they hunted in the main Monster Hunter games. To that end, it's a more refreshing change of pace since some of these monsters (dinosaur ones included) look like they make good mounts.

4 Pokemon Games

Aggron is a dinosaur-like Steel type Pokemon
  • Release year: N/A
  • ​​​​​​​Platforms: Any

Again, Pokémon games don't explicitly label their dinosaur-looking Pokémon as dinosaurs; but they have sets of Pokémon named and modeled after specific real-life dinosaurs. The most notable one is a T-Rex knock-off named Tyrantrum who has the biggest and strongest jaw among all the Rock-Dragon-type Fossil Pokémon.

Heck, even other Pokémon like Lapras resemble a plesiosaur. So essentially, catching certain Pokémon ​​​​​​​in any Pokémon game might as well be taming dinosaurs. In fact, players can even limit their Pokémon collection to those that look like dinosaurs or prehistoric Pokémon.

3 Horizon Forbidden West

Horizon Forbidden West Aloy Battling Machine
  • Release year: 2022
  • ​​​​​​​Platforms: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5

Anyone with a set of functioning eyes will clearly see that the robots in both Horizon games are modeled after dinosaurs. Most of them even behave like animals. For that matter, Aloy can tame and ride some of them to make exploration easier.

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Thus, this even becomes a self-imposed mini-game for players since there are many different kinds of robots that qualify as mounts. The Clawstring is obviously a robot raptor, while the Sunwing is a robot pterodactyl. Sadly, robo-T-Rexes are off the table.

2 Dino Storm

Dino Storm mount (1)

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  • Release year: 2012
  • ​​​​​​​Platforms: Microsoft Windows

Dino Storm's had one heck of an elevator pitch: cowboys, dinosaurs, and laser guns. Apparently, that was quite stellar back in 2012 despite the convolution. This old game is still alive and kicking which is impressive enough seeing as it's written in Java code.

In any case, dinosaurs count as mounts here, and players don't need to put too much effort into taming them. Some of them are ready and willing to saddle up. There are several mounts here, and all players have to do is evolve their dinosaur into something bigger and meaner.

1 Minecraft Jurassic World DLC

Minecraft Jurassic World trex (1)
  • Release year: 2020
  • ​​​​​​​Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux

Minecraft's love letter to Jurassic World fans took form in the Jurassic World DLC. Once players have bought it, they get access to a special map that's a faithful recreation of Jurassic World. This map has different game modes where players can manage and tame the theme park.

They can also imprint themselves on the dinosaur of their choice in order to tame them and gain their loyalty. If not, then players can raise their own dinosaurs via the lab and even groom them to be lap-dinos; just be wary of the clever girls.

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