Deal | T. rex needs a hat: Charming park management sim drops to a record-low $3.74 on Steam

Modern media often portrays dinosaurs as terrifying monsters that are just waiting for the chance to make unsuspecting park visitors their next meal. The developers at Canadian studio Washbear take a very different approach with Parkasaurus. Here, the prehistoric reptiles are more adorable than intimidating – and can even be outfitted with hats and other accessories. As the park manager, players build enclosures, manage staff and guests, hatch dinosaur eggs and make sure both humans and dinosaurs are happy. The management sim is currently 85% off on Steam until July 27, reducing the price from $24.99 to $3.74. According to SteamDB, this marks a new all-time low, as previous discounts never exceeded 80%.

Players build custom enclosures, create suitable biomes and have to consider much more than simply providing enough space. Each dinosaur species has its own requirements when it comes to vegetation, humidity, terrain, privacy and compatible neighbors. At the same time, visitors expect restaurants, restrooms and attractions, while staff must be managed efficiently and new dinosaur species unlocked through research and fossil discoveries. Of course, the dinosaurs aren't completely harmless in Parkasaurus. If they become unhappy, they may escape their enclosures and have to be recaptured – and the occasional park visitor might not survive the ordeal.

Visually, Parkasaurus doesn't take itself too seriously either. Instead of realistic prehistoric creatures, the game features colorful low-poly graphics, deliberately cute dinosaurs, whimsical buildings and an overall lighthearted presentation. The hats are especially absurd: they don't just look funny, but can also provide gameplay benefits, such as reducing the amount of space a dinosaur needs or making it more attractive to visitors.

German gaming magazin PC Games awarded Parkasaurus 7 out of 10, praising its beginner-friendly difficulty, varied park management mechanics and charming presentation. The review criticized the occasionally confusing mission structure, somewhat limited staff AI and controls that can feel a little fiddly at times. Critics on Metacritic reached a similar conclusion, giving the game a Metascore of 70. Players, however, have been much more enthusiastic. It holds a User Score of 8.4, while 93% of more than 3,100 Steam reviews recommend the game. On Steam Deck, Parkasaurus is rated Playable.

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