Dinosaur Island: Rawr 'n Write
- Players
- 1-4
- Best withThe player count this game plays best at.
- 2 players
- Play timeHow long a full game runs once everyone knows the rules.
- 45 min
- AgeThe minimum age printed by the publisher.
- 10+
- ComplexityHow demanding the rules are, from 1 (very light) to 5 (very heavy).
- 2.9 / 5
- Year
- 2021
About the game
Dinosaur Island: Rawr 'n Write reimagines the acclaimed Dinosaur Island as a roll-and-write, where players draft dice and use them as workers in a placement phase before solving a polyomino puzzle to fit attractions and dinosaurs into their park. Building roads and routes to guide visitors to the exits earns bonus points as your park grows. With 1-4 players and a 45-minute playtime, it condenses the theme-park-building tension of the original into a portable pencil-and-paper format. Whoever accumulates the most victory points by the end wins the race to build the ultimate dinosaur park.
Hobbli's Notes
Hobbli's team likes how this roll-and-write captures the drafting and puzzle-fitting tension of the original Dinosaur Island in a much lighter, faster package. The combination of dice-drafting and polyomino placement gives it more strategic bite than many roll-and-write games. It works well solo or with a full table, making it a versatile pick. Fans of the original game may miss some of its bigger production, but this version stands well on its own.
What we like
- Clever combination of dice drafting and polyomino puzzle-solving.
- Strong solo mode alongside multiplayer play.
- Portable roll-and-write format is easy to set up and clean up.
- Captures much of the strategic depth of the original Dinosaur Island.
Keep in mind
- Less thematic spectacle than the original board game version.
- Puzzle-fitting can create analysis paralysis for some players.
- Roll-and-write format may feel less exciting to those who prefer physical components.
Who it's for
Good for fans of park-building and puzzle games, ages 10+, playing solo or in groups of up to 4 who enjoy dice drafting and spatial planning.
