Dinosaur Island (2017) Board Game

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

Game board

Player boards

Dinosaur meeples

Worker meeples

DNA dice

Various cards (DNA, attraction, specialist, plot twist)

Tokens (money, threat, excitement, DNA)

Visitor meeples

How To Setup Dinosaur Island

Set up the game board in the center of the table.

Each player receives a player board and meeples.

Shuffle and place the various cards and tokens within reach.

Determine the start player and begin the game.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

In Dinosaur Island, players compete to build the most successful dinosaur theme park by managing resources, attracting visitors, and creating exciting attractions. Players will take turns placing workers, collecting DNA, hatching dinosaurs, and expanding their park. The game objective is to have the most points by the end of the game, which is achieved through a combination of dinosaur DNA, attractions, visitors, and park security.

Player Experience

Pros:

Engaging theme and artwork

Strategic depth with various gameplay mechanics

Replayability with different strategies to explore

Immersive experience of running a dinosaur theme park

Cons:

Steep learning curve for new players

Complexity may be overwhelming for some

Luck factor with dice rolling may impact gameplay

Personal Thoughts on Dinosaur Island

Dinosaur Island is a visually stunning game that offers a unique blend of theme park management and dinosaur breeding. The game’s components are well-made, and the artwork adds to the immersive experience. However, the game’s complexity and learning curve may be off-putting for some players. With a mix of luck and strategy, Dinosaur Island offers a challenging and rewarding gameplay experience.

In terms of pricing and availability, Dinosaur Island can be found in both new and used markets, with prices varying depending on the condition of the game. For fans of economic and worker placement games, Dinosaur Island is worth checking out. However, those looking for a lighter or more beginner-friendly game may want to skip this one. Overall, Dinosaur Island is a solid choice for players who enjoy thematic strategy games and are willing to put in the time to learn its intricacies.

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