Dino Dodge (Plus Expansions) Kickstarter Preview

At a Glance: Dino Dodge

Disclaimer: I received a prototype copy of Dino Dodge for the purpose of review. All opinions are my own. Dino Dodge launches on Kickstarter on April 26, 2022.

Dino Dodge Intro Story: Meatballs of Annihilation

The earth exploded next to George, the least intelligent of all the dinosaurs. Giant meatballs kept crashing into the ground, and George hadn’t the foggiest notion as to why. All he knew was when they hit, the earth shook and became a pool of red hot…tomato sauce? Again, he wasn’t sure, but his friend stepped into one of those pools and melted, so it obviously wasn’t good.

“Out of my way!” shouted a nearby dinosaur. George looked to the side and saw Ruby, a local tyrannosaur, charging at him. George froze. Ruby continued to run and yell. George stumbled as he tried to get out of the way, but he was too slow. Ruby crashed into George, sending him rolling to the side. Ruby fell and slid to a sudden stop.

“S-sorry,” said George.

“I thought I told you to move!” Ruby shouted as she pushed herself up. “I could have been ki—”

The ground where Ruby stood erupted as another giant meatball impacted, sending dirt and debris flying everywhere. George closed his eyes as the ground shook. When he opened his eyes, Ruby was gone. In her place was another pool of tomato sauce.

“I wonder where she went?” George asked aloud, mostly to himself, but with the slight hope that someone had seen which we she had gone. After a moment of silent thinking, George padded along his way.

“With so much sauce and so many meatballs, where is the pasta?” George wondered aloud.

“What you talking about?” bellowed Yara the ankylosaurus from approximately a tree length away (ankylosauruses are notorious for their keen sense of hearing). “That ain’t no meatb—”

Another meatball collided with Yara. Taken by surprise, George hadn’t time to brace himself, much less close his eyes. The ground shook and Yara disappeared, replaced by more tomato sauce.

“Huh,” thought George aloud.

He continued plodding away toward his favorite watering hole. As he got closer, he could see a number of other dinosaurs already there, watching the sky between sips. George smiled and started to walk faster. He sure was thirsty!

A meatball thrice the size of the watering hole crashed down in its place, obliterating everything. This time George forced his eyes to remain open, but he still couldn’t figure out where all the dinosaurs were going at the same time the meatballs fell.

“I’ll just have to find my own meatball,” he said to himself. He continued on toward his favorite watering hole—well, where it used to be, anyway. The way the ground sizzled as he got closer intrigued him. He tentatively placed a foot on a steaming portion of ground—not yet tomato sauce—and, sure enough, it was quite warm. Still, he kept walking, and the ground became increasingly warm until the heat was almost too much to bear.

“I should turn around,” said George amiably. “No sense in burning my feet for a drink of tomato sauce. I wonder where my friends have—”

Overview/Roadmap

First off, I would like to thank Blue Gear Games for providing me with this prototype copy of Dino Dodge for the purpose of review. I also received the deluxe content. There are four expansions with the deluxe content, which I will discuss further on.

This review has two parts. First, there is the Short Review, where various aspects of the game are discussed. Then comes the Gameplay Review, in which the setup and gameplay are discussed in detail, along with initial thoughts. Following the Gameplay Review section are some final thoughts and a final verdict of the game. Feel free to jump around, or read it all in one go.

Dino Dodge: Short Review

Meteors fall, dinosaurs become extinct. That’s history, right? Well, there may be more to the story than those old bone diggers let on. In Dino Dodge, we get the true account of the last days of the dinosaurs. Yes, meteors did fall (in abundance), but the dinosaurs were not easy prey. They engaged in all sorts of shenanigans to survive for as long as possible—and for most, being the last survivor was enough.

Dino Dodge is a hand-management game in which players move from underneath booming meteors, push their fellow dinosaurs into lava (the land is made that way by the aforementioned meteors), and otherwise embody the 5 D’s of dodgeball: dodge, duck, dip, dive and dodge.

Alright, so there isn’t any ducking or dipping or diving, but I can assure you that there is copious amounts of dodging! As for the rules, I’ll go more in depth further on, but be it known that Dino Dodge is full of take-that actions that put players out of the game. Fortunately, games tend to play quickly, so nobody’s ever really out for too long.

Immersion

There’s something about running around the land which is slowly (and then quickly) becoming lava that puts me in a laser-focused mindset. The gameplay is simple, but I don’t want anybody to stand in my way! For me, the immersion factor is certainly there, even with this chaotic theme. Sure, it’s not exactly realistic, but that’s why it can be so much fun!

Theme

Dinosaurs! I love dinosaurs (we may have named our oldest after one…), so I was immediately intrigued by the theme. The fact that players are running around like a microraptor with its head chopped off trying to avoid a meatball-esque Armageddon is a sub-theme I never knew I needed until now.

Art & Components

My copy of Dino Dodge is a prototype, so I can’t speak for the final production quality of everything. However, I will comment on what is available for me to comment on.

The art is fun. Given, there isn’t a ton of it on most of the cards, but what we do get is cartoony and amusing. The dinosaurs themselves are cute, and some are reminiscent of the cast of an old 90’s sitcom where everyone is incompetent (looking at you, George). The landscape is evocative of the theme, and the dino meeples look and feel great, even at this prototypical stage!

You’ll be playing with a number of regular-sized cards, as well as square, double-sided land cards your dinosaurs will be traversing throughout the game. You’ll also get dinosaur characters for up to five players, along with a couple of round tokens. With the expansions, you can expect a nifty dino die, more tokens (for new mechanisms!), and more cards in the form of events. You’ll also get an egg, pterodactyl, and velociraptor meeples to use in the expansion(s).

Standout Performances

• Simple rules / easy to learn
• Quick gameplay
• Great for kids (my four-year-old enjoys it—with help—and my six-year-old loves it without any assistance)
• Fun for adults
• Dinosaurs!
• Various expansions add extra depth
• Lava

Breaking the 4th Wall

In theater, breaking the fourth wall refers to when characters (or something else) directly address the audience, thus pulling them out of the narrative and making the astutely aware that they are, in fact, watching a performance and that’s it’s not actually real.

Whenever I take a long, hard look at a game for things that simply didn’t work, I always take into consideration what the game is—what it was designed to do, how it does that, etc. In Dino Dodge, there are some aspects that some players might not enjoy—such as player elimination—but I wouldn’t dock marks because of that. However, I do think it is important to mention that there is player elimination, so that players who loathe the mechanism can be appraised beforehand. That said, Dino Dodge is a pretty quick game to play, and players don’t stay out for too long before the game ends. So it evens out.

Aside from that, I will mention that the core game—without expansions—is good, but that the expansions really do add a lot to the gameplay in terms of depth, repetitive plays (i.e. “replayability”), and overall enjoyment. The core game is still fun and good, but I feel like the expansions give it that extra kick that I like to see in my games. But, it’s possible you don’t want all of that extra stuff, and the core game will be perfect for you. To which I say: follow your heart.

Dino Dodge: Gameplay Review

First Impressions

Obviously my first impressions were good, thanks to the dinosaurs on the box and the dino meeples inside. As far as gameplay first impressions went, I was pleasantly surprised at how simple the game rules were. Setup was easy and turns didn’t take more than a minute or two to get the hang of. Along with the art, I was happy with what I had in front of me. After playing, I was still happy, but did want more (this is where the expansions come into play). I’ll talk more about all of this in this Gameplay Review section.

Setup

As mentioned, setup is pretty simple. Arrange the eight land cards in a circle on the table. Each player starts with a “Move You” card, along with four other random cards to form their hand. Players select a dinosaur to call their own (hi, George!), place them on a land card, and place a meteor card ominously above one of the lands. Boom, you’re ready. (Well, the “Boom” comes later, but you get the idea.)

Dino Dodge Gameplay

I found the gameplay to be simple and quick, which is a great combination. On your turn, you first draw a meteor card and place it above a land card (highest number toward the land). Then, you must play at least one action. This occurs by playing one or more cards. By playing a card and following the text on it, you can move yourself or an opponent, and you may also be able to “bump” a fellow dino as you do the moving. Bumping relocates the targeted dinosaur to the adjacent land card in the direction the original dinosaur was moving. So, basically, you’re pushing the other dinosaurs out of the way. This can be to your advantage or disadvantage, so use it wisely.

Other actions come from the icons associated with the land cards. By playing a card from your hand with a symbol matching the card you’re on (or two cards from your hand with matching symbols if you are not on that particular land card), you can activate land abilities. These allow you to swap land cards, swap meteors, reset meteors, and move (and bump) meteors. When you’re stuck and can’t move, these land actions can be a real life saver!

Another action you can do is your own dinosaur’s specialty action. Activate this by playing two of the same types of cards (i.e. two “Move You” cards), regardless of the icon displayed on them. Once activated, move your dinosaur according to its green stat, then all other dinosaurs within a certain range (i.e. the blue stat) are moved a number of spaces equal to your red stat. Then you may draw a card. This can be a great way to get out of a sticky situation, but is also wonderful when it comes to messing with the other players. The Primal Powers expansion allows you to manipulate these stats, creating the potential for some serious shenanigans.

When you’re done taking your 1+ action, check to see if you’re dead (i.e. if you end your turn on a lava land card). If you’re not, that’s great! If you are, well, you should have planned out your extinction party a little better. Regardless, after your action phase, all players with a dinosaur underneath a meteor are “playing chicken” and get to draw a card (as long as they have fewer than five cards already in their hand). Then, check to see if any of the meteors are going ka-frickin’ boom. If not, then proceed to the next player’s turn. But if so…

Check to see if there’s a dinosaur underneath the booming meteor(s). If so, they need to do their best to dodge it. Players are given a chance to get away by playing an action. If they can’t, then it’s ka-frickin’ boom!

And they’re dead.

But if they can, then life is good! They live to die another day. Things get tricky once meteors start making impact, though. You see, meteors that collide with the land turn it into lava. So, flip the card over to its lava side, and it’s stuck like that for-ev-er. It also adds to the mayhem, because if you’re stuck on lava under a booming meteor, then the action you must play to get out of there must be a double-card action (i.e. playing two cards with the same icons/text). That makes it a lot harder, and is the cause of most early demises. But it’s always good for a laugh when you force someone into that situation.

The game continues on until there is only one dinosaur left standing. That player wins the game! But, as we all know, history cannot be altered and that dinosaur will inevitably be annihilated and become oil for our vehicles. But at least the dino can celebrate for a moment before leaving this mortal existence.

Dino Dodge Expansions

The deluxe version of Dino Dodge I received included four expansions: Mysteries of Mother Earth, Primal Powers, Cataclysmic Events, and Prehistoric Pals. Each expansion adds a small bit to the core game, and each can be included separately or mashed together for the ultimate experience.

The Mysteries of Mother Earth content brings special land abilities once the land cards are turned to lava (not literally, mind you; your table won’t melt). You’ve got Dino Poop (my kids love this one, if only for the name), a tar pit (’twas everyone’s downfall the first time we played with this expansion), volcano (lava everywhere!), and even a velociraptor, to name a few. There is one “aura” for each land (so 8 in total), and are secret until a land is annihilated by a meteor. I really like this content. For one thing, it’s not huge, but it creates some amusing (and deadly) situations that really add something special to the gameplay. Personally, I wouldn’t play without them. My kids (ages 4 and 6) love the surprise that comes. And you know what? I dig it, too.

Primal Powers is even simpler than the Mysteries of Mother Earth content. With Primal Powers, players are able to collect power tokens, which they can save up (if they want) and use to increase their dinosaur’s stats when using its special ability. This is a game changer when it comes to messing around with the other players. Essentially, you activate your dino’s special ability, state which stat(s) you’re modifying (i.e. your movement, range, and hit box), spend the power tokens (one token increases one stat by one point, so horde them to make a huge play!), and ruin lives. Don’t feel bad, either; they’re going extinct anyway.

If falling meteors isn’t enough, then Cataclysmic Events should be the ball of stress you’re looking for. Basically, you have a deck of event cards, and one card is revealed at the start of The Sky is Falling phase. Do what the card says. Boom. Easy peasy. The events affect players (i.e. discard cards), land cards (i.e. swap or flip cards), and meteors (i.e. add more meteors or move pre-existing meteors). Things can get wild fast with these events, but with Dino Dodge, that’s half the fun!

The last expansion is Prehistoric Pals, which adds a pterodactyl and a dinosaur egg. The dinosaur egg gives players an extra way of drawing a card—this time from your personal discard pile. So that’s nice, especially if you know you have a card you need. That can be a real life saver (if you draw it, of course). The pterodactyl is, perhaps, one of my favorite additions. As a free action, declare you’re going to call in a favor from your favorite prehistoric air lift. Then you roll the dino die. Move the pterodactyl the number of spaces equal to the number of footprints shown on the die. You may pick up any dinosaur along the way, and that dinosaur gets dropped off where the pterodactyl ends its movement. If you roll the eyeball, you magically teleport to the space the pterodactyl is located. It’s always hilarious to move someone into harm’s way when they thought they were safe. Of course, the same can be done to you, so laugh carefully.

Thoughts on Gameplay

It’s fun. There is a lot of player interaction, which helps keep everyone engaged. Some people don’t like being pushed into the lava, but it’s all part of the game, so if you can’t handle the heat, get out of the lava flow! But really, the game plays quickly, so if you’re ousted, it won’t be for long.

Dino Dodge is, as expected, a light-hearted romp with light mechanisms/strategy. It’s a good filler game when you don’t want to think too hard, but is fun for all ages. My kids, ages 4 and 6, love playing with us. Things are a little more cutthroat when playing with only adults (because I don’t want tears), but dang, the kids can be brutal as well. They’re in it for the laughs, though, which is as good a reason as any. Our four-year-old needs help with his cards and some basic strategy, so there’s a lot of coaching with him. Our six-year-old can read his cards just fine and we don’t have to coach him, aside from reminding him what the icons mean.

Final Thoughts

I think the fact that Dino Dodge is enjoyable by adults and kids alike is a testament to the game’s nature. The simple gameplay, coupled with quick playtime, makes it an ideal game for families with kids, or for some back-to-back-to-back gaming.

I’m going to go right out there and say it: Dino Dodge is not the type of game I would normally choose to play for game night. However, the game is still good, and I still enjoy playing it. In fact, I really love playing it with my family. It’s perfect for us, and I can see it being a staple on our table during family game nights for years to come. The kids love it, I enjoy it, and there is always laughter. And sometimes tears. But we enjoy ourselves as my kids learn how to lose with dignity, and that’s the important part.

Dino Dodge: Final Verdict

I always strive to give a fair verdict, regardless of its type. As I mentioned above, it’s not a game I would choose for game night, and yet I’ve been playing it and enjoying it quite a bit. Funny how that works, isn’t it? And, so, I come to the part of the show where the gavel falls.

Dino Dodge is fun. It’s easy to learn, quick to play, and supports a wide range of ages. The expansions add to the fun, and really, I wouldn’t play without them. Where the base game is good, it is the expansions that makes it shine. With that in mind, and with fond memories, I am giving Dino Dodge a final verdict of Two Thumbs Up. It may not be a perfect game, but Dino Dodge has found a place in our hearts—and on our table. Add in the expansions to the mix and I’ll give it Two Captivating Thumbs. Yes, I do think the expansions add a lot to this game. I don’t think I’d ever play without at least one (but more is always better 😁).

In the end, Dino Dodge is a fun romp that fills the air with laughter as dinosaurs melt in excruciatingly hot lava flows. What more could a family want?

p.s. My son, age six, asks to play Dino Dodge daily. And he may have broken down into tears when I told him I had to send it to another reviewer. Soooooo yeah. That’s a thing.

Verdict Scale (Lowest to Highest)

The Final Verdict is based on a scale of 1-7, although this scale is not numbered. Instead, it uses thematically appropriate words to describe the performance of the game.

Tomatoes – This game was emotionally taxing and difficult to finish.

Uninspiring – This game had me daydreaming about other games.

Lackluster – This game had its moments, but it probably won’t see much table time.

Laodicean – This game is decent. It works. There’s a reason people like it.

Two Thumbs Up – This game is pretty dang good.

Captivating – This game is outstanding! It’s more than good; it’s practically a staple.

Standing Ovation – This is the best game you will ever play. Period.

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