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Dinosaur Island (2017) Board Game

ByMichail

Dinosaur Island is a board game released in 2017 by Pandasaurus Games. Designed by Jonathan Gilmour and Brian Lewis, this game takes players back to the prehistoric era where they can build their own dinosaur theme park. With vibrant artwork by Kwanchai Moriya and Anthony Wocken, Dinosaur Island offers a unique gaming experience that combines elements of strategy, economics, and science fiction.

Game Components of Dinosaur Island

  • DNA Dice: Used to gather DNA resources.
  • Scientist Tokens: 3 hexagonal tokens numbered 1-3 for each player.
  • Dinosaur Recipe Tiles: Show the specific DNA sequences needed to create dinosaurs.
  • Attraction Tiles: For purchasing and upgrading park facilities.
  • Specialist Cards: Provide unique abilities and extra workers.
  • Visitor Meeples: Yellow and pink meeples representing paying customers and hooligans, respectively.
  • Paddock Tiles: For housing dinosaurs in the park.
  • Security and Threat Level Trackers: To monitor park safety.
  • Objective Cards: Determine the game’s length and victory conditions.
  • Various Boards: Separate boards for each phase of the game.

    How To Setup Dinosaur Island

    To set up the game, players start by placing the phase boards in the middle of the table. Each player selects a set of scientist tokens and a starting tableau. The market board is populated with attraction tiles and specialist cards. DNA dice are rolled and placed on the Phase 1 board. Objective cards are shuffled and distributed to determine the game’s length. Each player receives a paddock tile and a set amount of money and DNA.

    Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

  • Phase 1: Resource Gathering**
    – Players place scientist tokens to claim DNA dice, take dinosaur recipe tiles, or increase DNA storage.

  • Phase 2: Market Actions**
    – Players buy attractions, upgrade their tableaus, or hire specialists.

  • Phase 3: Park Management**
    – Players use workers to create dinosaurs, manage stats, and build out their parks.

  • Phase 4: Visitor Arrival**
    – Players draw visitor meeples from a bag and place them in their parks.
    – Yellow meeples earn money and victory points; pink meeples are hooligans and take up space without reward.

  • Security Check**
    – Players ensure their security level is higher than their threat level to prevent dinosaur outbreaks.

  • Objective: Earn the most points by expanding the park, attracting visitors, and maintaining safety.

    Player Experience

    Playing **Dinosaur Island** is a dynamic and unpredictable experience. The simultaneous worker placement phase minimizes downtime, keeping players engaged. The game’s thematic integration and bright graphics add to the excitement. However, the element of luck in drawing visitors can significantly impact the game’s outcome. Players must balance resource collection, park expansion, and security management to succeed.

    Pros

  • Innovative Worker Placement: Simultaneous placement reduces downtime.
  • Thematic Integration: Deeply immersive dinosaur theme.
  • High Production Quality: Vibrant boards, detailed components, and engaging gameplay.
  • Variability: Different objectives and plot twists in each game.
  • Customization: Players can customize their tableaus with action tiles.

    Cons

  • Luck Element: Visitor draws can be highly unpredictable and impact victory.
  • Complexity: Multiple phases and mechanics can be overwhelming for new players.
  • Table Space: The game requires a significant amount of table space.
  • Ending Mechanics: The game can end abruptly when all but one objective card is claimed, which some players find unsatisfying.

    Personal Thoughts on Dinosaur Island

    **Dinosaur Island** is ideal for fans of strategy games and those who enjoy building and managing complex systems. It is suitable for adults, teens, and older children who can handle the game’s complexity. While it has some flaws, such as the unpredictability of visitor draws and the potential for abrupt endings, the game compensates with its engaging theme, clear game flow, and high production quality. If you enjoy games that challenge you to balance multiple tasks and appreciate a touch of humor and cynicism, **Dinosaur Island** is a great choice. However, it may not be the best fit for those seeking a light or straightforward gaming experience.

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    • Michail, a seasoned tabletop enthusiast, dives headfirst into worlds of fantasy and strategy. Whether commanding a party of adventurers through perilous dungeons or engaging in tactical showdowns on the board, Michail is the maestro of the tabletop realm. Michail's gaming table is a realm where the clatter of dice and the shuffle of cards create a symphony of strategic chaos.

    Hobby: Miniature painting guru, turning pewter into masterpieces
    Preferred Game: Dungeons & Dragons, but always up for a board game brawl

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