DaRmaZat Theropods is an upcoming side-scrolling point-and-click puzzle adventure set in a world where giant lizards rule the earth and dialogue is non-existent. Expected to release in Q4 2025, this prehistoric throwback stands out with lush pixel art and a strong emphasis on environmental exploration, item-based problem solving, and visual storytelling. Don’t expect lengthy conversations or exposition here—just trial, error, and observational logic.
Puzzle-First Gameplay in Layered Spaces
Theropods‘ demo opens on a surprisingly brutal note—and it’s definitely not for kids. Your mother is eaten alive by a tyrannosaurus, complete with splattering blood. The story then jumps ahead to a lively prehistoric settlement, where you’ve grown up and are immediately thrown into your first puzzle. And that’s essentially what the game is all about: solving puzzles.
These puzzles are scattered across a semi-layered environment, where you occasionally move “above” or “below” the traditional 2D plane, adding a subtle sense of verticality to exploration. Most of the gameplay revolves around combining items, activating objects in the right sequence, or delivering tools to the right character at just the right time.
Nope, Theropods isn’t a traditional adventure game with branching dialogue or deep NPC interaction. Communication is limited to simple gestures—a nod, a wave, or idle animations. Interaction is deliberately sparse and tightly focused on puzzle mechanics. Still, this minimalism carries a certain charm of its own.
No Controller, No Save, No Mercy
As for gameplay, this is a classic point-and-click experience. The interface uses a crosshair that turns orange when something is interactable—but at times, it flashes too quickly or highlights objects you can’t actually engage with, which can be confusing. Then again, this is still just a demo.
Each new scene functions as a self-contained puzzle sandbox, sometimes spanning multiple screens filled with objects and NPCs to interact with. Nothing can be skipped—you’ll need to solve each area completely to move on. This design slows the game’s pacing and can become a bit frustrating when you’re stuck, especially since there’s no way to bypass or defer a tricky puzzle.
Smart, If at Times Obtuse
Due to Theropods’ text-free design, figuring out how to progress can often feel unclear. You’ll find yourself pacing back and forth, scanning each screen for anything that lights up. Many puzzles rely heavily on trial and error, with a good amount of aimless clicking before you stumble onto the correct solution. Still, when you finally crack a puzzle, the sense of reward is genuinely satisfying.
Theropods isn’t a game meant to be rushed in one sitting—it encourages you to pause, step away, and return with a fresh perspective. Bit by bit, you start to understand how its world operates, and that growing familiarity becomes one of the game’s most rewarding aspects.
One of the biggest drawbacks of this PC demo is the lack of controller support, which makes it less than ideal for handheld or couch play. Hopefully, this will be addressed before the final release. There’s also no save functionality, though thankfully the demo is short enough to finish in a single evening. Whether that will be the case for the full game remains to be seen.
Preliminary Thoughts
Theropods delivers a compact yet rock-solid puzzle experience, wrapped in gorgeous pixel art and entirely devoid of handholding. Its dedication to silent storytelling and tightly designed, screen-based challenges gives it a distinct identity—even if a few design choices slow down the pacing. That said, we’re eager to see how the full release expands on this foundation. With added controller support and improved clarity—while preserving its unique charm—Theropods has the potential to stand out as one of the more memorable indie titles of the year.
Additional Information
Release Date: Q4 2025
Previewed On: PC. Download code provided by the developer and publisher.
Developer: Lost Token
Publisher: Dionous Games
Website: https://www.dionous.com/theropods
Relevant Links: Theropods on STEAM
