videogamescritic
← all games
Dinoblade

Dinoblade

Team Spino LLC · released Jul 23, 2026

ActionIndieRPG

Dinoblade is an intense action RPG set in a prehistoric world forever changed by a cataclysmic event. Step into the role of a young Spinosaurus, wielding a colossal Great Sword. Confront rival dinosaurs, some armed with weapons of their own, all in a desperate fight to prevent a looming extinction.

84
VGC Score
Stablehigh confidence

anchored at patch: “Patch: July 30th” (1mo ago)

84%
At launch
90%
Steam all-time
72%
Press
91%
Recent sentiment

Screenshots & trailers

Review sentiment over time

Weekly positive-review rate (green) and review volume (bars). Dashed lines mark significant patches; the amber line is the start of the current scoring window. Hover the dots to see what drove a dip or a jump.

How this score was computed

The VGC Score is a weighted blend on a press-comparable 0-100 quality scale. Steam approval rates are first calibrated (95% positive on Steam ≈ 89.5 quality, since Steam approval skews high). Press and tracked creator reviews each count ~2x a player review and share one cap against player evidence (creator buy/skip calls pool into an approval rate, calibrated like Steam approval); all-time sentiment is capped and halved (it's context, not verdict); reviews of the current build carry the most weight when a fresh patch anchors the window; and a 'typical game' prior keeps small samples from pegging the scale. Because press reviews and Metacritic user aggregates describe the launch build, their weight decays as the game ages (3-year half-life after a 1-year grace). That's how a game that launched rough can outgrow its old reception once updates win players over. Reviews under 2h playtime (the refund window), non-Steam activations, and free copies are downweighted.

ComponentPositiveQuality (0-100)Weight (pseudo-reviews)
Press reviews (OpenCritic)7220
All-time Steam reviews90%841000
Metacritic user ratings0
Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted)91%85716
Calibration prior (typical game)7250

Scoring window: since the last significant patch (Jul 31, 2026) · 300 reviews sampled · 716 total reviews in window · weighted 149.4 up / 14.7 down · computed 2h ago · full methodology →

Press & Creators reviews (10)

Individual verdicts from outlets we track: scored reviews first, most trusted outlets first among them. The small badge is each outlet's trust score: how well its scoring history aligns with players.

  • 65
    trust 72Aug 4, 2026

    Dinoblade is a remarkable example of how an idea that started as a bit of fun can turn into a tangible and entertaining product. Jean has managed to craft a solid and satisfying game, albeit one with quite a few rough edges. Overall, this is an imperfect but charismatic debut, recommended for anyone looking for a pure, visceral action experience without too many plot pretensions.

    read full review ↗
  • 71
    trust 70Jul 26, 2026

    Dinoblade takes a wonderfully absurd premise - a prehistoric dinosaur wielding an oversized greatsword - and turns it into a genuinely captivating 15-hour action-soulslike adventure. Its greatest strength lies in its mesmerizing animation work and combat choreography. Watching a massive beast fluidly weave heavy slashes, dodges, and skill combos feels extraordinarily stylish and visually pleasing. The game expands this foundation with well-integrated progression systems, including stat customization, a rich skill tree, and thrilling boss fights that demand precise parries and timing. However, Dinoblade falls just short of action greatness due to a noticeably weak hit feedback. The lack of tactile impact makes even the most devastating slashes feel somewhat floaty, disconnecting the visual spectacle from the controller. Coupled with occasional camera issues and a limited enemy variety toward the final stretch, it slightly dampens the experience. Nevertheless, Dinoblade remains a fresh, wildly entertaining title well worth experiencing for action fans.

    read full review ↗
  • 80
    trust 67Aug 10, 2026

    Dinoblade is a good example of an absurd concept being done right. Once you get past the gimmick of dinosaurs wielding blades, you'll find a Souls-like that sticks closely to the genre's core principles while introducing enough quality-of-life changes to make the experience more approachable for newcomers. The mechanics are solid, the campaign lasts just long enough, and the presentation is good enough considering the game's very small development team. Unless you absolutely hate the genre, Dinoblade is well worth picking up if you want a Souls-like that doesn't require a high double-digit investment of hours.

    read full review ↗
  • 84
    trust 66Jul 31, 2026

    Dinoblade may have been an online novelty, a dinosaur with a sword. Still, it becomes something far more significant: a confident indie action RPG that deserves a spot in the increasing list of unique Soulslike experiences. There’s definitely space for improvement, but the groundwork is solid, and with a little more attention, this prehistoric adventure has every chance of becoming a great game in the genre.

    read full review ↗
  • 90
    trust 66Jul 23, 2026

    Great combat, awesome boss designs, and a soundtrack that knows exactly when to go from mournful to metal make Dinoblade some of the most fun I've had with a game in a while.

    read full review ↗
  • 70
    trust 65Jul 24, 2026

    Dinoblade is equal parts fun and rough around the edges. There's clearly more work to be done before it can earn its place in the soulslike food chain. But its solid gameplay foundations, borrowed from its contemporaries, prove that this game can stand on its own. With an over-the-top premise centered around dinosaurs wielding greatswords, it's a game that thrives on its meme status, provided you can overlook its technical hiccups and barebones storytelling. For $20, you'll get a surprisingly serviceable soulslike that has plenty of bite and enough personality to avoid extinction in an increasingly crowded genre.

    read full review ↗
  • 75
    trust 64Jul 30, 2026

    Dinoblade has never managed to move beyond its status as a meme from four years ago; the narrative and gameplay hardly build on this whimsical idea at all. Instead, the game becomes repetitive, loses its appeal over time due to its boring level design, and is more frustrating because of its technical shortcomings than because of any clever game design.

    read full review ↗
  • 80
    trust 63Jul 27, 2026

    Dinoblade is a short and sweet experience that, while far from an innovative take on the Soulslike genre, does just enough right with its gameplay and over-the-top animations.

    read full review ↗
  • 55
    trust 62Aug 9, 2026

    Dinoblade is a strange game with a fun and engaging idea, but numerous problems and shortcomings in various parts do not allow this idea to reach its potential.

    read full review ↗
  • 81
    trust 62Jul 29, 2026

    Dinoblade delivers on satisfying combat, great animation, and unforgettable dinosaur fights. Although it doesn't completely revamp the Soulslike concept, it packs enough memorable moments to bring its unusual premise.

    read full review ↗

Patch history

  1. Patch: July 30th
    Jul 31, 2026significant · resets scoring window
  2. Patch: July 29th
    Jul 30, 2026
  3. Patch: July 27th
    Jul 28, 2026significant · resets scoring window
  4. Patch: July 27th
    Jul 27, 2026significant · resets scoring window
  5. Patch July 25th
    Jul 25, 2026significant · resets scoring window
  6. Patch Note for July 23rd 2026
    Jul 24, 2026significant · resets scoring window