Choose Desktop Dinosaurs
Choose Desktop Dinosaurs if it's currently about 63% cheaper on the Steam Store. Desktop Dinosaurs launched in 2023.
Desktop Dinosaurs vs Pocket Dinos
Desktop Dinosaurs and Pocket Dinos both land in Simulation, Casual on Steam, which is why they keep getting compared. The comparison below is built from each game's Steam metadata — release year, genres, categories, Steam Deck status, price, and review score — refreshed daily by imho.run's scraper. Headline differences: Both share Simulation, Casual on Steam. Desktop Dinosaurs (2023) is 3 years older than Pocket Dinos (2026). Desktop Dinosaurs is currently ~63% cheaper on Steam than Pocket Dinos (2.99 USD vs. 7.99 USD). No login or purchase needed — scroll for the full table, the verdict FAQ, and links to ranked similar games for both titles.
Which should you pick?
Choose Pocket Dinos
Choose Pocket Dinos if you want an Indie and Early Access game with Custom Volume Controls and Playable without Timed Input. On Steam, it's the newer release (2026) and ships with the modern feature baseline. Pocket Dinos launched in 2026.
Both Desktop Dinosaurs and Pocket Dinos sit in Simulation and Casual on Steam, so either pick lands in the same broad neighborhood. Use the side-by-side table for the feature view, or follow the "Games like" links below to see ranked alternatives for either title.
Side-by-side comparison
 Desktop Dinosaurs |  Pocket Dinos | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2023 | 2026 |
| Genres | Simulation, Casual | Indie, Simulation, Casual, Early Access |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Unsupported | Unrated |
| Price | 2.99 USD | 7.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 45.2% positive (31 reviews) | 2 reviews |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | Harmonie Games | Diesel Laws |
Side by side
- Both share Simulation, Casual on Steam.
- Desktop Dinosaurs (2023) is 3 years older than Pocket Dinos (2026).
- Desktop Dinosaurs is currently ~63% cheaper on Steam than Pocket Dinos (2.99 USD vs. 7.99 USD).
- Desktop Dinosaurs is Deck Unsupported on Steam Deck; Pocket Dinos has no Deck rating yet.
Desktop Dinosaurs vs Pocket Dinos — FAQ
- Should I play Desktop Dinosaurs or Pocket Dinos first?
- If you want chronology, Desktop Dinosaurs (2023) came out before Pocket Dinos (2026). If neither is a sequel to the other, order doesn't really matter — start with whichever fits your current mood, since both share enough on Steam to make either a reasonable opener.
- Are Desktop Dinosaurs and Pocket Dinos similar?
- They overlap on Simulation, Casual on Steam, so the catalogue groups them together — but "similar" depends on the specific mechanics. Use the genre + category rows above to decide whether the overlap matches what drew you to the one you've already played.