Gods Love Dinosaurs (2020) Board Game

Gods Love Dinosaurs is a board game released in 2020 by designer Kasper Lapp and published by Pandasaurus Games. The game combines elements of abstract strategy, animals, prehistoric themes, and puzzles, making it a unique and engaging experience for players.

Game Components of Gods Love Dinosaurs

Ecosystem tiles

Animal board

Animal symbols and meeples (prey, predators, dinosaurs)

Dinosaur eggs and nests

Starting tiles for each player

Terrain tiles (various habitats)

Volcano marker

Golden eggs (special scoring eggs)

How To Setup Gods Love Dinosaurs

To set up the game, players start by preparing the tiles, organizing them into A, B, C, and D stacks based on the player count. The animal board is placed in the center of the table and filled with tiles from the A stack. Each player receives a starting tile, three dinosaur eggs, and places a dinosaur and initial prey animals on their respective spaces on the board.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Mechanics

Tile drafting and placement

Resource management (animal breeding and feeding)

Ecosystem management

Objective

Build an ecosystem that supports a healthy population of prey, predators, and dinosaurs.

Ensure dinosaurs have enough food to lay eggs, which are the primary scoring mechanism.

The game ends when the tile stacks are depleted, and players score points for eggs and living dinosaurs. The player with the most points wins.

Player Experience

Playing **Gods Love Dinosaurs** is a delightful and challenging experience. Players take on the role of “gods” tasked with creating a balanced ecosystem where each life form can thrive, albeit temporarily, as they are eventually consumed by the food chain. The game requires careful planning and management to ensure that there is enough food for the predators and dinosaurs, making it both easy to learn and strategically deep. The game’s theme is well-realized, with a focus on the delicate balance of an ecosystem, which adds a layer of realism and engagement.

Pros

Easy to learn but offers deep strategic gameplay

Well-designed rulebook with clear instructions

High replayability due to varied tile placements and strategies

Engaging theme that requires careful ecosystem management

Family-friendly and suitable for players of various ages and skill levels

Beautiful components, including detailed animal meeples.

Cons

Limited player interaction, as the game is more focused on individual ecosystem management

Concerns about long-term replayability due to the potential for repetitive strategies

Thin animal meeples may be prone to physical damage.

Personal Thoughts on Gods Love Dinosaurs

**Gods Love Dinosaurs** is an excellent choice for those who enjoy tile placement and resource management games. It is particularly suitable for families or for introducing new players to more complex board game mechanics in a friendly and accessible way. The game’s unique blend of simplicity in rules and depth in strategy makes it appealing to a wide range of players. If you’re looking for a game that challenges you to build and maintain a thriving ecosystem, all while satisfying your love for dinosaurs, this game is definitely worth checking out.

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