Deathground Imagines Jurassic Park as a Survival Horror
Jaw Drop Games have released a new trailer and launch details for Deathground, a survival horror that sees players explore an abandoned research facility that housed dinosaurs. The only trouble is, those same dinosaurs are now loose and very hungry.
Deathground lets gamers play solo or with up to four other people as they explore the mysterious complex. They’ll need to move quickly and quietly, though, as the roaming prehistoric beasts will react to movement and sounds using dynamic AI behavior.
“You must survive against the deadly dinosaurs that stalk through the shadows of these derelict facilities, and complete the tasks needed of you before being extracted,” the developer said in a press release.
“The game features dynamic gameplay enriched with mission objectives, stealth and combat; unpredictable AI dinosaurs; a range of items and weapons; and truly terrifying environments, harnessing the power of Unreal Engine 5.”
There’s a Raptor in my Toilet
Deathground completed a successful Kickstarter campaign a few years ago as it exceeded its £80k ($103,520) goal by over £38k ($49,170). Deathground was also the recipient of a UK Games Fund and Epic MegaGrant.
“These deadly predators are different sizes and will have different behaviours,” Jaw Drop Games said on its Kickstarter page. “We want to ultimately realize the vision of filling the world with a variety of different dinosaurs and let our audience experience what it would be like to survive in that environment.”
As part of game development, Jaw Drop Games teamed up with Tommy Thompson, a researcher and senior lecturer on AI-driven game design. He provided consultancy to ensure the AI dinosaurs act in as realistic a manner as possible, although it’s fair to say that the raptor in the trailer that’s hiding in a portaloo is a creative liberty.
A Spiritual Successor to Dino Crisis
Deathground is Jaw Drop Games’ debut title, but the UK-based studio is comprised of industry veterans who have worked on horror titles such as Alien Isolation, Amnesia: A Machine For Pigs, and SOMA.
The Kickstarter page is still being regularly updated with game info and news as the team moves Deathground from its private Alpha testing phase for backers closer to an Early Access release later in 2025.
“We are a team of passionate dinosaur fanatics and have been laying the foundations of the project for some time now,” the studio said on its Kickstarter page.
“We want to actively involve our community so we’ll do our best to listen to all the feedback and incorporate it into the game where it makes sense. With your support, we have the passion, the technology and the resources to make this game happen.”