Dino Hex Trap Review: A Minimalist Dinosaur Defense

Afil Games has carved out a niche on Xbox with their frequent, hex-based puzzle titles, but Dino Hex Trap pivots away from their usual pipe-swapping format to deliver a minimalist tower defense experience. Released on June 18, 2026, for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC, the game is a budget-friendly outing that asks you to defend against waves of prehistoric creatures. While it succeeds in providing simple, functional fun, its limited scope prevents it from being a genre standout.

The Gameplay Loop

In Dino Hex Trap, you are tasked with protecting camps from dinosaurs that insist on skating through the Cretaceous period on skateboards. The objective is straightforward: prevent these fun-loving creatures from reaching your tents. You have 20 life points to manage per level, and keeping your base completely dino-free nets you a bonus gem.

You have four turrets at your disposal: a goo cannon for slowing enemies, a spike trap for localized damage, a mine-dropping tower, and a pulse cannon for area-of-effect destruction. The goo cannon is arguably the most essential tool, as it enables the effectiveness of your other traps. However, the lack of depth becomes apparent quickly. Turrets cannot be upgraded, and two of the four available options feel redundant, leaving you with little reason to experiment once you find an optimal setup.

A Strategy Without Variety

By the time you reach the second half of the 30-level campaign, the "optimal" strategy becomes painfully obvious. The game’s attempt to introduce challenge through diverging paths and multiple bases isn't enough to force the player to adapt. Once you establish a reliable "kill corridor" using a combination of goo and spikes, you can essentially coast through the remaining levels. The pulse cannon, while expensive, becomes a go-to for cleaning up anything that manages to survive your initial defenses.

The control scheme also hinders the experience. While you can sell and replace turrets, navigating the interface is awkward. Without a quick-select option for your four towers—such as using the shoulder buttons—you are forced to manually move the cursor, which feels sluggish during more intense waves.

Final Thoughts

I didn’t not have a good time with Dino Hex Trap. It provides a simple, functional tower defense loop that is easy to pick up and play. However, any fan of the genre will quickly notice the lack of features. With only four turrets, no upgrade paths, and a limited set of enemies, it feels more like a design experiment than a fully-realized strategy game. It’s a decent way to kill a few hours for under £5, but don't expect a deep tactical challenge.