Primal Planet

Primal Planet is a side-scrolling metroidvania that blends survival, crafting, and exploration in a prehistoric world filled with dinosaurs and mysterious technology. The game features a pixel-art visual style and tells its story entirely without dialogue, relying on animation and environmental cues.

Players control a caveman who must survive after a sudden attack shatters his family and home. The game world is made up of distinct biomes—forests, mountains, oceans—each populated by a range of ancient creatures and hiding resources needed for crafting tools, weapons, and upgrades. Progress is gated through ability-based exploration, with movement mechanics like spear-climbing and rolling jumps playing a central role. There are also many secret areas providing additional items.

Combat is situational, with the option to avoid or confront threats using traps, stealth, food as distraction, and crafted gear. A local co-op mode allows a second player to join as Sino, a small companion dinosaur with its own abilities. Mostly through combat experience can be gathered and this provides skill points. These can be used to acquire new abilities for the caveman (e.g. double jumping, dashing or a ground slam) or upgrade existing ones, do the same for the Sino companion, or unlock permanent upgrades at a city village. At the village it is also possible to temporarily hire companions.