Why Primal Planet Is Trending
Primal Planet quietly became one of the most beloved metroidvania releases of 2025 — and it's still gaining new fans in 2026. Built entirely by solo developer Seethingswarm over five years, this prehistoric pixel-art adventure landed with Very Positive reviews and enthusiastic coverage from PC Gamer, IGN, and Metacritic, with critics calling it "a gorgeous gem" and "a dinovania that stands tall next to the best in the genre."
Word-of-mouth in communities like r/metroidvania continues to push new players toward this hidden gem. The combination of a dinosaur companion mechanic, village upgrading, cinematic cutscenes, and local co-op sets it apart in a crowded genre. If you're asking "should I play Primal Planet?" — the community answer is a resounding yes.
Key Stats
Trending in the Steam — category with 16 concurrent players and Trending on Steam this week.
What Is Primal Planet?
Primal Planet drops you into a lush prehistoric world teeming with carnivorous dinosaurs, primitive tribes, and — unexpectedly — ancient alien invaders. You play as a humble cave dweller whose family is threatened, and the game follows your transformation from a struggling survivor into the planet's last hope, all told through hand-drawn pixel-art cutscenes that punch well above the solo-dev budget.
The "dinovania" tag the community coined fits perfectly. Like classic metroidvanias, Primal Planet features an interconnected map you gradually unlock as you gain new abilities. But it layers on top: a dinosaur companion you can pet and upgrade, a village you help rebuild, a crafting system that never overstays its welcome, and a surprising co-op mode so a friend can join your prehistoric adventure on the couch. At 12–18 hours to complete, it's a focused, heartfelt experience — not an endless grind.
What Players Are Saying
✅ Reasons to Play
- Gorgeous hand-drawn pixel art with a dream-like prehistoric atmosphere
- Dinosaur companion, village building, and crafting all add variety beyond combat
- Local co-op makes it a rare couch-friendly metroidvania
❌ Things to Consider
- In-game map system is weak — some players report aimless wandering mid-campaign
- Underwater sections are widely considered the low point of the experience
- Shorter than genre heavyweights at 12–18 hours
What the Community Is Saying
What a fantastic experience! I came into the game not expecting a lot, but what i found was a game made from the heart, with exquisite pixel art (that water dive splash is fantastic) and a very engaging, simple but yet challenging gameplay. Lets get one thing out of the way…
B-tier metroidvania I liked the art and the non-verbal story-telling. This is a good metroidvania for beginners and achievement hunters. The combat is fairly easy and forgiving. There is an overabundance of healing items which makes up for the fact that most save spots don't…
I really didn't enjoy this game, but dinosaurs. Anything with dinosaurs is automatically good. I did not like the navigation, the map, the quests, the villagers, swimming nor the combat. but I had a pet dinosaur.
A fun little metroidvania of cavemen vs dinosaurs vs aliens. Primary gameplay is fun with hunting creature with your little dino buddy and a variety of different dinosaurs bring quite a few interesting environments to life. While there is a lot that tries to expand the normal…
I wish more this game is seen by more eyeballs. Finally a metroidvania which does not take place in a futuristic world with robot enemies. Prehistoric times and challenges are inserted seamlessly into this metroidvania. Plus it scratches the itch of playing a dino game. 90s kid…
Good premise, good art, but badly let down by the combat. I got to some dinosaur boss battle where the thing is pacing back and forth, and you can run right through him, but only sometimes. Sometimes his tail movement is a hurt box. How big of a hurt box to avoid? No idea.…
Should You Play Primal Planet?
Primal Planet holds very positive reviews on Steam with a 91% positive rating, well-received by the Steam community. It attracts 16 players at its recent 24-hour peak, showing strong player retention for a — title. Consistent updates and active developer engagement have maintained its strong reputation.
Primal Planet is mid-range priced at $19.99 on Steam, developed by Steam / GOG. Players who enjoy the — genre and want something currently trending on Steam will find Primal Planet worth checking out.
Should You Play Primal Planet?
Primal Planet holds very positive reviews on Steam with a 91% positive rating, well-received by the Steam community. It attracts 16 players at its recent 24-hour peak, showing strong player retention for a — title. Consistent updates and active developer engagement have maintained its strong reputation.
Primal Planet is mid-range priced at $19.99 on Steam, developed by Steam / GOG. Players who enjoy the — genre and want something currently trending on Steam will find Primal Planet worth checking out.
Is Primal Planet Worth Playing in 2026?
Is Primal Planet worth buying in 2026?
Yes — Primal Planet is absolutely worth buying in 2026. At $19.99 it delivers 12–18 hours of charming metroidvania gameplay with gorgeous hand-drawn pixel art, a dinosaur companion mechanic, and local co-op. Steam reviews sit at Very Positive, and PC Gamer called it their favorite new metroidvania of 2025.
Does Primal Planet have co-op?
Yes, Primal Planet supports local co-op for two players via shared/split screen. You and a friend can explore the prehistoric world together, which adds a fun social dimension to the exploration and combat.
How long is Primal Planet?
Most players finish the main story in around 12–18 hours. The game is on the shorter side for a metroidvania but packs in meaningful exploration, village upgrading, and multiple dinosaur encounters throughout.
Is Primal Planet like Hollow Knight?
It shares the interconnected world and exploration DNA of Hollow Knight but is notably more accessible and less punishing. Primal Planet leans more toward wonder and discovery than relentless difficulty, making it a great pick for players who bounced off harder metroidvanias.
Is it free to play?
Primal Planet is a paid game on Steam. Check the Steam store page for current pricing and any active discounts.
How many people play Primal Planet?
Player counts for Primal Planet vary. It appears in TrendingGames.gg's top-1000 tracked games, indicating active Steam followers and community interest.
