Frontier Developments’ Jurassic World Evolution 2 is a significant step above the studio’s first stab at the iconic dinosaur-themed franchise. One of the most impressive aspects of the sequel, besides its refined management mechanics, is its extensive list of prehistoric creatures that players can create and release into their parks. As it stands right now, that roster includes 84 dinosaurs, flying pterosaurs, and marine reptiles that have all been brought to life with noticeable care and attention to detail.
With the Early Cretaceous Pack set to add four more creatures to the mix this week, including the adorable Minmi and Wuerhosaurus, fans are already speculating on what else could be lurking in the shadows. While most of the dinosaurs from the first game have made their way into Jurassic World Evolution 2, there’s a handful of notable exceptions that haven’t, in addition to some other famous no shows from across both the history of the franchise and paleontology more generally.
Dr. Wu’s Missing Hybrids
Hybrid dinosaurs, and the questions they raise about the unstoppable progress of science, have been a polarizing topic of discussion amongst the Jurassic community ever since 2015’s Jurassic World movie. It’s perhaps for this reason that out of the 68 dinosaurs and pterosaurs that eventually found their way into Frontier’s first Jurassic World Evolution, the only 3 that have yet to show up in the sequel are the ones that the studio created itself. Introduced during the original game’s Secrets of Dr. Wu DLC expansion, these are the Spinoraptor, Stegoceratops, and Ankylodocus.
Even though they defy science and are technically paleo-inaccurate, an issue that extends to other sections of the beloved franchise as well, each of the cut hybrid dinosaurs had their own undeniable charms. Between factors like the Spinoraptor’s unique haunting cries, and the Ankylodocus’ somewhat silly facial expression, each would likely be welcome additions to the park-building sequel’s extensive roster of Mesozoic animals. Considering recently introduced hybrids to the series like Camp Cretaceous' Scorpios Rex and Spinoceratops have yet to find their way into Jurassic World Evolution 2 as well, there’s a chance that the studio is holding back its returnees for another exciting DLC expansion.
Jurassic World Dominion’s New Creatures
With the next entry in the Jurassic World trilogy still being over 7 months away, it’s little surprise to see that the new dinosaurs and ancient reptiles that will debut in Dominion have so far been left out of Frontier’s sequel. Considering the studio has always done a remarkable job bringing in dinosaurs from every area of Jurassic Park’s history, such as animals that were only ever present in Michael Crichton’s novels, there’s a sense that most of the upcoming debutants will make their way into the game eventually.
Based on the Jurassic World: Dominion prologue scene that was given an official release last month, fans can potentially look forward to the currently missing Oviraptor and Moros Intrepidus being added to Jurassic World Evolution 2. As it stands right now, the group of smaller theropod dinosaurs that the pair would join has remained suspiciously untouched from the first game, which suggests updates are coming. Both have the distinction of being the first fully-feathered dinosaurs in the franchise’s history, which would also make them unique within the game’s current roster. Similarly, the roughly 6ft Atrociraptor, another cousin of the famous Velociraptor, is also scheduled to have a prominent role in the movie itself and could conceivably join the pair within a theropod-themed DLC pack.
While not a dinosaur, the azhdarchid pterosaur known as Quetzalcoatlus was also spotlighted prominently in Dominion’s prehistoric-set prologue video. This currently absent giant flying reptile, which is believed to be one the largest creatures to ever take to the sky, has been frequently requested by fans ever since the first Jurassic World Evolution. Right now, though, it’s admittedly hard to envision how Frontier would theoretically stuff the beast into the sequel’s tiny clipping-prone aviaries. Based on the fact that the Quetzalcoatlus was believed to be a competent terrestrial hunter as well, the studio could opt to ground the azhdarchid instead of diminishing its impressive stature.
Missing Popular Dinosaurs
With hundreds of new dinosaurs are found each year, Frontier was realistically never going to be able to keep up with the breakneck speed of science when it came to building a new roster for its sequel. There are, however, two famous dinosaurs that have failed to meet the initial cut, which the studio should focus on adding into Jurassic World Evolution 2. The first of these is the lumbering therapod Therizinosaurus, which unlike two of its aforementioned flesh-eating cousins, was actually a herbivore. This unique diet, along with its Wolverine-like claws, would make the dinosaur an undeniably popular addition to the game’s lineup. That is, provided it’s depicted in-game with a full plumage of paleo-accurate proto-feathers. However, one recently teased image for Dominion suggests that Therizinosaurus will appear within the upcoming movie, seemingly without its trademark downy fuzz.
Another popular dinosaur that’s currently missing from both the game and wider series is the Microceratus, an adorable miniature cousin of the famous Triceratops. Throughout the Jurassic franchise’s history, this beaked dinosaur has had a somewhat under-appreciated time of things, which would make its potential appearance in Jurassic World Evolution 2 feel somewhat like redemption. While the Microceratus appeared in the pages of the original Jurassic Park novel, its movie appearances have been relegated to the briefest of cameos. Thanks to pieces of paper and tiny images, fans have known that the dinosaur has been present in the background of three different movies, yet it’s consistently been denied any physical time in the spotlight itself.
Jurassic World Evolution 2 is available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.