The notion of a new Cuban video game drawing "inspiration" from the Jurassic period seems almost farcical amid the nation’s economic turmoil and societal regression to what feels like prehistoric times.
In a twist of irony, the regime heralds a virtual journey to the past while millions of Cubans endure a reality akin to their own Jurassic Age.
As reported by the state-run Granma newspaper, the game “Giants of the Caribbean,” developed by the state enterprise Citmatel in collaboration with scientist Manuel Iturralde Vinent, aims to transport players to the ancient seas that once covered the Pinar del Río region over 145 million years ago.
This game, billed as both educational and scientific, reconstructs the marine life of the Caribbean during the Late Jurassic period. Featured creatures include ichthyosaurs, plesiosaurs, oceanic crocodiles, mosasaurs, and pliosaurs, with the latter depicted as the apex predator.
Iturralde emphasized that all the animals featured were identified from fossils unearthed in the Guaniguanico Mountain Range, making the video game — according to the regime — a digital “natural treasure” grounded in Cuban geological and paleontological research.
The scientist pointed out that “Giants of the Caribbean” is the first Cuban video game set in a prehistoric era, with the intent to “draw attention to nature and science” while steering clear of gratuitous violence. Within the game, creatures attack solely for sustenance or in defense against larger species.
Available for download through Citmatel’s Virtual Library at a cost of 150 Cuban pesos, this state-backed product allows players to “become various prehistoric beings” and vie for survival in predator-filled seas. Many Cubans see this as an inadvertent reflection of their own daily struggles.
While the game invites players to “travel to the past,” everyday life on the island increasingly mirrors that distant past: an unending battle for food, scarcity, and mere survival.
Cuban Video Game "Giants of the Caribbean": Key Insights
What is the premise of "Giants of the Caribbean"?
The game transports players to the ancient seas of the Caribbean during the Late Jurassic period, where they interact with various prehistoric marine creatures.
Who developed the game "Giants of the Caribbean"?
The game was developed by the Cuban state enterprise Citmatel in collaboration with scientist Manuel Iturralde Vinent.
What makes this video game unique?
"Giants of the Caribbean" is the first Cuban video game set in a prehistoric era, focusing on nature and science, and avoiding gratuitous violence.