Jurassic World Evolution 2's appeal isn't so much its park management systems as the dinosaurs. There are 84 in total: 79 in the base game and 5 additional for the Deluxe Edition. But you don't get them all at once, so how do you unlock more dinosaurs in JWE 2 to add diversity to your park and increase your appeal and star rating?
How to get more dinosaurs in Jurassic World Evolution 2
Shipments
With the exception of a few scripted instances, you'll start with Expeditions to unlock more dinosaurs in Jurassic World Evolution 2. In campaign mode, you'll bring back adult specimens, which you'll immediately add to enclosures. In other modes, such as Chaos Theory mode, you'll fetch fossils and DNA for incubation.
First, build an Expedition Center for $75. This building becomes available at various times depending on the mode and will eventually unlock for Sandbox mode once you complete missions and scenarios elsewhere.
To access the expedition map, click on the installation and choose "show expedition map". It can also be accessed by clicking the Control Room icon at the top of the bar on the left side of the screen, then clicking the world icon.
You will see different icons on the Expeditions map:
- Yellow icons indicate available Expeditions that you have not clicked or embarked on.
- Light blue icons mean that you clicked on an expedition and abandoned it, but it is still available or there are still specimens or fossils to be discovered.
- Green checkmarks indicate that a site is complete.
- Gray locks mean sites are locked behind search.
Digsites to unlock more dinosaurs become available as you progress and research. Most sites only have one dinosaur available, although some have two. When you hover or click on a shipment, you will see:
- The dinosaurs available on the site.
- Their classifications (carnivorous, herbivorous, etc.).
- The current percentage of genome research for dinosaurs.
- The scientific limit, the logistics and the monetary cost, and the duration of the expedition
Every scientist has a logistical value. This value is represented by the gear icon for each staff member. Select the scientist or group of scientists who meet the logistical requirements of the expedition.
Then choose "Start task" at the bottom right of the screen, given that you have the money to do so. Just like when healing dinosaurs, you need to have the staff available; they cannot perform any other task.
How to extract DNA from fossils
Once an expedition is complete, you'll be notified that there are new fossils available for mining, a process you must complete to unlock more dinosaurs.
Click on the Control Room icon in the toolbar, then click on the Dinosaur Skull with DNA icon for the Fossils menu. You'll see current fossils in your inventory, including those used to augment genome progression and those you can sell for a profit.
Hover over the fossils to see the dinosaur DNA they contain and their current genome progression; the number at the top left of each icon indicates the number of mining slots needed. Click the icons to add them to mining locations and assign scientists.
Once the extraction is complete, the progress of the genome will increase. You need to reach around 50% genome progression to unlock most dinosaurs. The circle icon in the genome progress bar initially indicates this threshold, then advances to indicate the current position of the genetic search.
Finally, each extraction costs $50, regardless of how many fossils you assign, so fill the slots as much as possible.
How to Synthesize and Incubate
Unless you are carrying adult dinosaurs, you will need to synthesize and incubate eggs to unlock more dinosaurs in JWE 2.
To get more dinosaurs you will need to build a hatchery for $250. The hatchery can be a free-standing structure or attached to a fence. Animals can be released directly into an enclosure or transported to other enclosures.
Once you have extracted enough DNA for a species:
- Select hatchery
- Choose an empty bay
- Choose synthesize dinosaur
- Select the dinosaur
- Assign scientists
As with expeditions and extraction, each synthesis has a logistical and monetary cost, as well as a duration, all of which vary depending on the species.
Before synthesis begins for more dinosaurs, you can also see a species' trait chances, batch size, expected survival rate, comfort needs, cohabitation likes and dislikes, and basic attributes, helping you strategize where they will go in your park. Additionally, you can edit a genome to change its appearance, pattern, health attributes, lifespan, social needs, and more.
Once the DNA is synthesized:
- Select hatchery
- Choose the berry
- Click "Select Eggs" (or discard them if you wish)
- Choose one or all eggs
- Choose scientists with the right welfare value
Incubating each egg costs money. You will see the cost near the bottom of the screen. For example, it costs 1 to incubate a Metriacanthosaurus egg, so the investment can be high.
Each egg bears traits. The icon at the bottom right of each egg has a number, indicating its stroke count. Select the eggs to see their characteristics and descriptions. Some are positive, like Docile, which prevents carnivores from attacking ranger teams and terrorizing guests. Eggs with red warning symbols mean a dinosaur carries a negative or dangerous trait.
You can then release the incubated dino into a pen attached to the hatchery or transport it to another pen.
And that's how you unlock more dinosaurs in Jurassic World Evolution 2. Essentially, the TL; DR is that you get more dinosaurs by playing the game. As you progress through Campaign, Chaos Theory, and Challenge modes, new animals will become available in Sandbox mode. For more advice and help on JWE 2, go to this page.
