Jurassic World Evolution 2 Vs Jurassic World Evolution 3

On November 9, 2021, Jurassic World Evolution 2 launched on major platforms to massive worldwide appeal. As the sequel to the original 2018 launch, fans were eagerly anticipating quality and content upgrades. And Frontier Developments delivered. They added tweaks and new features to the original mechanics. 

Notably, Frontier added a new management tool to rest your scientists. New, unique animations for particular dinosaur species, thus making them feel more alive. And more customization options that encourage every player to create parks that stand out. The story campaign suffered the most, though. It had a bare-bones plot serving as little more than a quick and easy tutorial. 

Anyway, with the next iteration on the horizon, it begs the question: “What does Frontier plan to do differently this time?” And, “will the new game be worth buying over, say, previous iterations you may already have in your  game collection?” Let’s find out in our comparison article between Jurassic World Evolution 2 vs Jurassic World Evolution 3 below.

What is Jurassic World Evolution 2?

Jurassic World Evolution 2 is the second game in the Jurassic World Evolution series. It adapts the Jurassic World film, allowing you to construct and manage your very own dinosaur park. It’s your job to ensure the survival and sustenance of multiple dinosaur species, which in the sequel, features over 75 prehistoric types. 

Due to the vast number of species, sprawling parks are often built and constructed in breathtaking environments worldwide. It’s all about how far you can push your creativity. At your disposal are several customization options, ranging from dinosaur skins to park buildings and enclosure designs, allowing you to design a truly unique Jurassic World. 

As for the game modes, you have three: Campaign, Sandbox, and Challenge mode. The Challenge mode is where park management thrives. Beyond managing food, power, and staff, you’re given several scenarios. The scenarios themselves are wide-ranging. For instance, you can build on a specific island to accommodate a particular dinosaur species with unique behavior and needs. Or, you can manage a natural disaster.

What is Jurassic World Evolution 3?

Jurassic World Evolution 3, on the other hand, is the upcoming third iteration in the Jurassic World Evolution series. You will still be building and managing your very own dinosaur park. However, the idea is that you will have both old and new features to grapple with. 

The dinosaur species you’ll be building parks for have been confirmed at 82 different types. Therefore, there are likely more marine and flying reptiles to be discovered. You’ll also be responsible for the day-to-day needs of the dinosaurs and staff. Generations of dinosaurs will come through your parks. And it’s your job to nurture them from children to adults, so to speak. 

Interestingly, you’ll be able to modify the genes of dinosaurs, thus creating potentially unique genetically-modified species. Moreover, Frontier promises that the dinosaurs will behave more authentically, with social behaviors that accurately depict their thoughts, feelings, and reactivity. Still, Frontier promises to add “new and improved construction tools.” This should provide more unique ways to make your parks your own. 

You’ll have verticality, for instance, enabling you to create mountains, valleys, and waterfalls in your parks. And you’ll be able to share these templates with friends online, with cross-platform functionality enabled. In Campaign mode, we may see more depth. For instance, you could run into rival factions with more complex motivations during your conservation efforts.

Story

Jurassic World Evolution’s story campaign hasn’t always been the most profound. However, it’s often centered around completing goals and objectives in the Conservation, Entertainment, and Security sectors of dinosaur park management. You’ll run into conflicting human interests and potentially negotiate with rival factions. 

Jurassic World Evolution 2’s story follows the Department of Fish and Wildlife. They capture and conserve dinosaurs roaming freely in the US. You collaborate with Ian Malcolm and Clair Dearing from the films to manage dinosaurs in the new sanctuaries you build for them.

However, the campaign is more of a lengthy tutorial. And its sole purpose seems to be getting you up to speed on the game’s building mechanics. Since Jurassic World Evolution 2 has little difference in gameplay from the original, returning players may feel that their time would be better spent skipping the campaign. 

Jurassic World Evolution 3’s story campaign doesn’t intend to change much from the second game. You’ll be a member of the Dinosaur Integration Network, whose goal is to conserve and manage dinosaur habitats. However, Frontier does promise a deeper campaign. It’ll be expansive, adding more varied challenges and locations around the world.

Gameplay

The gameplay, however, is where I suspect the most improvements will be made. For one, the building and park management systems might be more comprehensive and extensive. You’ll engage with modular building pieces and verticality, allowing you to manipulate terrain like you would in Planet Zoo. Incorporating waterfalls will be possible, as well as hills and valleys. These might potentially broaden the dinosaur species to include more marine reptiles and distinct lagoon areas. 

Meanwhile, dinosaurs seem like they’ll be more social and behave authentically. This is due to unique animations, and what Frontier claims will be imbuing them with thought, feeling, and reactivity to the world around them.

Verdict: Jurassic World Evolution 2 Vs Jurassic World Evolution 3

Overall, based on Frontier’s promise for Jurassic World Evolution 3, we’re looking at improvements in both the story and gameplay. The story promises to be more expansive, featuring a wider range of challenges and locations. Meanwhile, the gameplay promises more customization options, including the ability to manipulate terrain and add modular pieces. And the more intelligent dinosaur behavior is sure to create a more believable and authentic Jurassic World. 

It’s worth noting that Jurassic World Evolution 3 is expected to launch on next-gen PS5 and Xbox Series X/S. This could result in improved performance and visual fidelity. Possibly, Jurassic World Evolution 3’s new and advanced features make it the superior title. However, it will not be until October 21, 2025, when it launches. That’s when we will know for sure whether the third game has more worth and value compared to its predecessors.