Happy Little Dinosaurs – – Gamereactor

If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to guide a cute little dinosaur through the absurd catastrophes of prehistoric life, Happy Little Dinosaurs is your answer. Created by Unstable Games, the same crew behind Unstable Unicorns, this game combines dark humor with cute cartoon aesthetics, resulting in a mix that is chaotic, brutal and surprisingly competitive.

Premisse
In Happy Little Dinosaurs, you and your friends play as cute but incredibly unhappy dinosaurs just trying to get through a series of disasters – natural, emotional or otherwise. The goal? Be the last dino standing, or at least the first to reach 50 points, while avoiding meteors, heartbreak or, worst of all, embarrassing social situations.

Each player starts with a unique dinosaur character and a corresponding personal board. There is a wide range of characters such as the “Nervous Rex” and “Stego Worries,” some more anxious and unhappy than others. The charm is in their resigned expressions – they are doomed, and they know it.

Gameplay
Happy Little Dinosaurs is an easy-to-learn game with a core mechanism that revolves around rolling a die and drawing cards. Players face different catastrophes during each round, and the goal is to survive with as few injuries as possible or to outsmart your fellow dinosaurs by making them bear the brunt of a disaster instead.

The game has three types of catastrophe cards: natural, predatory and emotional. Yes, it’s not just meteor strikes and volcanoes; There’s emotional trauma, too! After all, why shouldn’t a dino have an existential crisis? These cards describe various tragic events players face, with each disaster affecting your dino’s stats or abilities.

Where the game really excels is strategic play: using your hand of cards to sabotage your friends or improve your own position. Some cards allow you to dodge an attack or shift the focus of catastrophe to someone else. Others help increase your score or protect you when things get really catastrophic. There’s a sneaky, almost Munchkin-like atmosphere to it, where forming alliances and then breaking them is just part of the fun.

Art and components
One of the highlights of Happy Little Dinosaurs is the art. It is as cute as it is dark, offering a perfect balance between cute dino aesthetics and, well, constant deadly danger. The characters are colorful, expressive and brimming with personality, making it hard to stay angry even when the game decides your dino’s emotional baggage is just too much to bear.

The cards and player boards are well designed, easy to read and sturdy enough to withstand many rounds of play. The iconography is clear and intuitive, so there is no real guesswork once you learn the rules. In addition, the game comes with a custom die that adds a nice tactile element to the chaos.

Learning curve
Don’t worry if board games are new to you. Happy Little Dinosaurs is accessible enough for beginners yet offers some strategic depth to keep seasoned players entertained. The rulebook is simple and you can get a game started in about five minutes, with each round lasting about 30 minutes, depending on your group.

That said, the randomness of the dice rolls and card draws means that no matter how strategic you are, luck is still a big factor. So if you’re the type who hates leaving things to chance, this game may frustrate you. But if you like light-hearted, chaotic fun where anything can (and will) happen, it’s perfect.

Replayability
The game shines in groups of 3 to 5 players, where the interaction and sabotage elements really come into their own. Solo or two-player games lose a bit of that strategic back and forth, but it’s still fun for a quick, casual game. There is a fair amount of variety in the catastrophe and strategy cards, so no two games are quite the same.

After several rounds, however, some players may begin to see the patterns appear, which can reduce the replay value somewhat if played too often. That said, expansions are available (and more likely on the way) that introduce new mechanics and disasters, so it’s easy to refresh the experience when needed.

Verdict
Happy Little Dinosaurs is a light, funny and visually appealing game perfect for groups looking for a break from more intense strategy games. The balance of strategy, luck and humor makes it a hit for casual game nights, and the art alone is almost worth the price of admission.

It won’t be the most stunning game in your collection, but it’s certainly one of the most charming. So if you like board games with a side of existential crisis and lots of cute dinosaurs, this is a must-have.

Pros:

• Charming, darkly humorous art and theme
• Easy to learn and quick to play
• Fun, chaotic interaction between players

Cons:

• Strong reliance on luck
• Re-playability may decrease after a while without expansions

Final score: 7.5/10