Tiny Epic Dinosaurs (2020) Board Game

Tiny Epic Dinosaurs is a 2020 board game designed by Scott Almes and published by Gamelyn Games. The game combines elements of worker placement, contract fulfillment, and hidden victory points in a unique theme revolving around managing a dinosaur ranch.

Game Components of Tiny Epic Dinosaurs

70 Dino Meeples

60 wooden tokens

1 wrangler die

8 ranch mats

4 action mats

30 research cards

28 contract cards

Deluxe Edition includes the Laboratory Mini-Expansion, 4 Research Cards, and 2 Unique Dinosaurs.

How To Setup Tiny Epic Dinosaurs

Setting up Tiny Epic Dinosaurs is relatively quick and straightforward. Players start by arranging the action mats, which are printed on both sides to accommodate different player counts. Each player receives a ranch mat and a set of ranchers. The game includes various components such as dinosaur meeples, wooden tokens, and cards that need to be shuffled and placed within reach. The setup involves harvesting initial resources, placing the first set of ranchers, and preparing the contract and research cards for the game.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Worker Placement: Players use their ranchers to perform various actions like acquiring dinosaurs, building pens, feeding dinosaurs, and researching technologies.

Resource Management: Players manage resources such as greens (for herbivores) and red meat (for carnivores) to keep their dinosaurs fed and healthy.

Breeding: Dinosaurs can breed if placed in the same complete enclosure, producing new dinosaurs.

Contract Fulfillment: Players complete contracts to earn points.

Game Objective: The player with the most points at the end of the six rounds wins, with points derived from fulfilled contracts, remaining dinosaurs, and research developments.

Player Experience

Tiny Epic Dinosaurs offers an engaging and immersive experience, with a well-integrated theme that makes the game easy to learn but challenging to master. Players are consistently engaged due to the quick turns and the need to pay attention to opponents’ moves. The game requires strategic planning, as players must balance resource gathering, dinosaur care, and contract fulfillment. The compact size of the game makes it highly portable, and the solo mode, featuring the Rival Rancher, adds an extra layer of challenge.

Pros

Easy to Learn: Simple and quick setup with an easy learning curve.

Engaging Theme: The dinosaur ranching theme is well-integrated and immersive.

Strategic Depth: Requires planning and strategy to manage resources and dinosaurs.

Portable: Compact design makes it easy to carry around.

Solo Mode: Includes a challenging solo mode with the Rival Rancher.

Cons

Small Components: The tiny size of the components, especially the dinosaur meeples, can be frustrating for some players.

Small Text: The text on the cards is very small and can be difficult to read.

Limited Strategies: Some players feel that there is only one main way to gather most points via contracts.

Personal Thoughts on Tiny Epic Dinosaurs

Tiny Epic Dinosaurs is an excellent choice for fans of worker placement and resource management games, particularly those who enjoy dinosaur-themed games. It is suitable for players of all ages, serving as a great gateway to modern board games. However, it may not be the best fit for players who prefer games with larger components or those who find intricate small details challenging. Overall, it offers a fun, challenging, and strategically deep experience that is both portable and highly engaging.

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