Dino Carnage is a co-op survival horror game set on a remote research island where an outbreak has transformed staff into aggressive threats while leaving the resident dinosaurs untouched. Players take on the role of a cleanup crew contracted by the ZENGEN corporation to clear the area of zombies, recover assets, and uncover hidden details about the incident. The experience blends action, adventure, and indie elements in a first-person perspective on PC, with support for solo play or teams of up to eight through online co-op.
Gameplay
The core loop centers on landing via sky-crane, completing objectives across contracts, and extracting only after full clearance. A mobile armored command post known as the rig serves as the central hub. This vehicle functions as an armory, laboratory with sequencer, fabricator, and vacuum system for rescuing and reprinting fallen teammates using patented technology. Players drive, repair, and upgrade the rig while salvaging wrecks and facility materials to produce supplies and enhancements. Loot collected persists across contracts, encouraging thorough exploration and resource gathering to stock the rig for future runs.
Combat involves realistic firearms, melee weapons, and a specialized tranquilizer dart gun designed for handling dinosaurs without permanent loss, since killing one deducts from pay. Bites from infected enemies spread a virus that requires timely treatment or results in the need to eliminate the affected player. Nine surviving staff members can be rescued and integrated into the crew, where they follow orders to assist in operations. Facility terminals hold security footage that players extract and review back at the rig to piece together the outbreak events.
A field camera allows recording of sessions, with tapes printed and named at the rig. Upon successful extraction, the end credits feature the crew's own captured footage, adding a personal layer to each playthrough.
Game Modes
The primary experience revolves around contract-based missions on the island. Teams work through objectives to eliminate all zombies, recover items, and avoid unnecessary damage to company property while navigating dinosaur encounters. The full loop from deployment to extraction supports 1-8 player co-op, with the rig enabling persistent progress and shared survival elements like infection management and teammate reprinting.
Exploration ties directly into story discovery through terminals and footage collection, blending mission completion with narrative uncovering. Dinosaur behavior adds tension, as these creatures remain active threats that players must manage carefully rather than eliminate outright.
Early Access Development
The island environment, rig mechanics, complete mission loop, co-op functionality, and core story elements are already implemented. Developers plan to refine balance, difficulty, pacing, and add more locations, survivors, recordings, weapons, rig upgrades, and dinosaur behaviors based on player input during this phase. The game remains in active development with an expected timeline of six to twelve months before full release, though the price is not planned to change upon exit from Early Access.
Is It Worth Playing?
Dino Carnage targets players who enjoy co-op survival horror with resource management, base-building elements via the rig, and a mix of zombie clearing alongside careful dinosaur interactions. The persistent loot system and crew reprint mechanics create repeatable sessions where teams can build efficiency over multiple contracts. Those drawn to first-person action combined with adventure-style exploration and light narrative discovery through footage will find the setup engaging.
With no user reviews available yet and the title still approaching Early Access, reception remains untested in the wild. The game suits groups interested in shaping an indie title through feedback on forums and Discord, particularly if the unique rig-driven loop and recording feature appeal. Solo players can also access the full contract system, though the design emphasizes teamwork for handling infections and larger threats. Availability on PC makes it accessible for those monitoring its progress toward a complete version.
