New hype? Dark Souls with dinosaurs hits No. 1 on Steam shortly after launch

For anyone who loves Soulslikes and has a soft spot for dinosaurs, Dinoblade probably sounds like a dream come true. Players step into the scales of a young Spinosaurus armed with an oversized greatsword, battling through a prehistoric world transformed by a mysterious catastrophe. The game's demo, released in October, was already very well received. Now that Dinoblade officially launched on Steam on July 23, it has wasted no time climbing to No. 1 in Steam's Popular Releases chart.

At its core, Dinoblade is a classic Soulslike inspired by Dark Souls. Players explore interconnected environments, fight their way through groups of enemies and regularly face towering dinosaur bosses. At the same time, its posture system draws just as much inspiration from Sekiro. Successfully parrying attacks fills an enemy's posture meter until their guard breaks, creating an opening for a devastating finishing strike. The game also adds variety through unlockable Soul Arts, special attacks and summon abilities. Players can further strengthen their dinosaur by spending earned points on attribute upgrades and new skills.

Steam players have embraced Dinoblade's unique concept. Reviews frequently praise its spectacular boss battles and impressive animations. On the technical side, however, the game still appears to have room for improvement. Players report bugs, performance issues and imprecise hitboxes. As a result, the game currently holds an 89% positive rating on Steam. Until July 30, developer Team Spino – led by veteran game animator Jean Nguyen – is offering a 10% launch discount, reducing the regular $19.99 price. Steam currently rates the game as Playable on Steam Deck.