Hands-On Preview: Wilderdark is a New Dino Crisis-Inspired Survival Horror

"It’s kinda like Jurassic Park meets Dino Crisis while also flirting with Outer Wilds, but also… not quite!" That’s the lingering, slightly panicked sentiment I had while playing Wilderdark, the upcoming survival horror from the independent studio Junkfish, the same creative minds that made us all fear for our lives in the acclaimed Monstrum.

Shortly after the game was announced with a trailer that left more questions than answers, we were invited to preview an early demo – which just became available for everyone to test on Steam, by the way. After spending over an hour with the game, I realized that while it wears its inspirations on its sleeve, it refuses to be just a copy of the classics. Instead, it takes those foundations and builds something more unpredictable and exciting.

As you might have already guessed, the title dives headfirst into that 1990s vibe, bringing dinosaurs back to their rightful place in the horror genre. And it effectively taps into that primal, sweaty-palm fear of being hunted by ancient creatures that we would expect from that premise.

However, it’s the way Wilderdark handles its atmosphere and cryptic storytelling that truly caught me off guard. And trust me, it’s safe to say we definitely need to keep an eye on this prehistoric horror.

A Leap Into the Unknown

I can confirm that the word “dark” isn't just in the title for show. Wilderdark ensures you are literally and metaphorically left in the dark from the very second you start the game.

That’s because the demo, which seems to cover the opening chapter, wastes no time on lengthy cinematics. Instead, all the context you get is a short expedition briefing: a reconnaissance team has vanished in an uncharted region, and it’s your job (hope they are paying the protagonist enough for this) to find them and re-establish a connection with the research center.

Without the safety net of a traditional narrative setup, you are immediately dropped into an open area, right in front of an improvised camp, which acts as a “safe room” in the purest Resident Evil sense: it’s the only place where you can access your journal, save your progress, and catch your breath before heading out again.

It’s also here, at the camp, where you’ll first notice the game’s HUD and mission structure. While there is always a primary goal in mind, plenty of secondary objectives demand your attention in the corner of the screen, such as taking photographs and gathering samples of the local fauna and flora. So yes, alongside searching for traces of the lost team, you can also play biologist and channel your inner Todd Snap, which is a nice, grounding touch before the horror truly begins (that we are about to dive into).

Once you step past the perimeter of the camp, the tension spikes instantly. Wilderdark leans heavily into environmental storytelling and atmospheric dread rather than a bombastic soundtrack. The silence of the wilderness becomes your only companion, meaning every rustle of the grass or distant snap of a branch feels like a genuine stress test for your heart – at least I now know my cardiovascular health is up to par after playing this!

Jokes aside, focusing on the raw sounds of nature is a brilliant, nerve-wracking design choice. It doesn't take long for you to realize that some of those noises aren't “natural” at all, and that those subtle heavy thuds in the distance are the sounds of prehistoric predators lying in wait.

Survival is a Game of Stealth

The tension only intensifies once you realize you must rely almost entirely on your senses to avoid becoming a prehistoric snack, as the gameplay is pretty straightforward and purposefully limited (what we’ve come to expect from the survival horror genre). By restricting your mobility and combat options, Wilderdark widens the gap between the player and the looming threats ahead, making every encounter feel like a genuine struggle.

Your moveset is quite grounded, pointing out that our protagonist is no athlete: you can walk, jump, climb low platforms, run, and crouch. A nice touch is that you also have dedicated buttons to lean left and right, allowing you to peek around corners without fully exposing yourself to whatever is growling on the other side.

Managing your resources is just as restrictive as your movement, since the inventory only holds six items at a time, and there’s no way to fight back against the dinosaurs directly. You need to be completely stealth and make Hideo Kojima proud to find any measure of success! However, furtivity isn't just about crouching in tall grass, and you can squeeze into small crevices in the walls or use verticality to your advantage by scrambling up rocks. The environment also offers a helping hand through specialized plants that can provide health boosts or release spores to knock a predator out, granting you just enough of a window for a desperate break for it.

All of that makes you realize that this is no action game – quite the contrary. Hearing the rhythmic thud of footsteps closing in is pretty intense, but it’s when those sounds turn into a shriek right down your neck that you truly realize how scared you are.

And the demo offers zero hand-holding, forcing you to swallow your fear and scout the area to understand the layout. During my time exploring, I had to navigate around packs of Velociraptors and a smaller, albeit equally dangerous, species while hunting for lost floppy disks – remnants of the missing team that leads you to grim discoveries, like bodies dissolved by corrosive substances.

This leads up to what helps bring the world to life: the creature’s behavior. These predators don't just patrol on rails, but also have habits. For instance, I caught the smaller ones hiding in rock crevices to ambush and alert others of my position, while the Raptors roamed with a terrifying sense of purpose. I even flagged a few of them taking a brief mud bath, a moment that provided just enough of a window for me to slip past.

Something that adds an even thicker layer of tension to this atmosphere is the fact that you only truly complete an objective if you manage to make it back to a camp (or find a new one). This means you might have to do everything all over again if you end up dead before registering your findings at a campsite. Yeah, it turns out dinosaur bones are a particularly tough nut to crack.

Looking Good as a T-Rex

We can’t talk about atmosphere without talking about visuals, right? And Wilderdark is surprisingly impressive in this department. The game bets on realistic graphics that make the prehistoric jungle feel dense and suffocating, but it’s the creature design that truly steals the show, since there’s an almost Lovecraftian touch to the predators – I mean, have you ever seen a Velociraptor covered in glowing pink blisters? Well, you will be around here!

Also, judging by the game’s promotional materials, this is just the tip of the iceberg. We can expect even more “warped” prehistoric threats in the final version, including a massive dinosaur with what looks like tentacles sprouting from its body.

As a fan of both survival horror and cosmic terror, this added layer of mystery surrounding Wilderdark is something I appreciate immensely. Even though dinosaurs are a part of our history, there’s an inherent sense of “the unknown” and a primal curiosity toward them that perfectly mirrors Lovecraftian mythos. It’s a match made in… well, maybe not heaven, but certainly in a very intriguing corner of prehistoric hell.

While I did encounter some minor visual bugs during my run, the game’s performance is remarkably solid considering the complexity on display. Between the realistic lighting and the intricate exploration mechanics, Wilderdark is already running pretty well. It’s clear that Junkfish is prioritizing atmosphere, and even in this early state, the world feels alive (or rather, actively trying to kill you). It is worth noting, however, that the developers are already aware of these rough edges. The team has stated that they are actively working on a number of mission improvements, UI overhauls, and general polish for the final launch.

A Roaring Survival Horror

Ultimately, Wilderdark feels like a promising survival horror that successfully resurrects that 1990s dinosaur-horror vibe without relying solely on nostalgia. It’s a unique blend that sits somewhere between the cosmic curiosity of Outer Wilds and the relentless dread of Dino Crisis, carving out its own identity in a genre that has been craving something this fresh (and scaly) for years.

By stripping away your power and forcing you to rely on your senses, it just reminds us that a survival horror with a crazy plot is something that our souls need from time to time!

After spending some time being hunted through its dark corridors of greenery, I’m genuinely excited about the full release. So I’m more than ready to head back into the jungle and test my heart rate once again – though I might need to keep a cardiologist on speed dial just in case.