SOS Dino Review
A charming, cooperative strategy game that gets kids thinking, this one ticks all the boxes!
When it comes to board gaming with kids, the experience can be very hit or miss. Often a game that younger players will enjoy leaves parents feeling bored or frustrated, the same is true for the kids if their gamer parents try to get them into a game that’s over their heads. I’m pleased to report that SOS Dino may be one of the first kids board games that I found myself genuinely enjoying, and with good reason.
The 3D terrain elevates the experience.
SOS Dino is a 1-4 player cooperative tile laying game from LOKI, a company that specialises in cute, high quality board games for kids. At first glance SOS Dino looks like a typical mass produced family game, but upon closer inspection and after multiple playthroughs with the whole family, I couldn’t be more pleased with the experience. Featuring beautifully sculpted, pre-painted dino miniatures, 3D terrain elements and clear, colourful art, the game draws you in immediately.
Rex ‘ain’t worried!
The concept is simple, players must work as a team to maneuver the four dinos across a landscape succumbing to four erupting volcanoes, as they make their way towards the safety of the mountains, they must try to save as many dinosaur eggs as possible. 2 points are scored for every dino that makes it to safety and 1 point for each saved egg. Each turn, a tile is drawn from the bag to indicate which volcano’s lava will flow that turn, each volcano is colour coded to one of the four dinos and if that colour is drawn, then that is the only dino that is not permitted to move that turn, the player then moves any one of the other remaining dinos and the next player takes their turn. Simple and effective.
There are several obstacles such as rocks and thorny vines blocking spaces around the map and as the lava continues to flow, its rivers will eventually cut off points of escape making dynamic planning and clear communication essential for victory. Additionally, there is a chance of drawing a projectile tile from the bag which results in no dinos being moved that turn and another rocky obstacle being placed in the dinos’ path, and if it should happen to land on a space with a dino, then that spells the end of the road for the determined sauropod.
In the early stages, the lava flows pose little trouble…. but then…!
The rules are simple and easy to learn and teach. You’ll find yourself getting into your first game with very little lead in time and, depending on the age and capability of your players, an average game clocks in at about 20 minutes, remaining within most young ones’ attention spans. The first time we played it, our youngest immediately asked to play it again, a request we all eagerly accommodated.
Bathrooms were few and far between in prehistoric times.
I’m a huge proponent of board games as a teaching tool, and there is so much to like about SOS Dino in that regard. The first lesson is sharing. No one player claims a particular dinosaur since any player can move any permissible dinosaur on their turn, so learning to work together for mutual benefit is key here. This encourages younger players to open their minds to a more holistic view of the game space. The next point is strategy, pulling tiles from the bag and figuring out how best to place them, if there is a choice at all that turn, prompting players to think ahead. And of course there’s the cooperative element, which encourages kids to work together for mutual gain, sure they may be determined to get that one favourite dinosaur home, but if doing so sacrifices a greater achievement, its something for them to consider.
Final Thoughts
Adorable and relatable!
As families are the target audience for this Jurassic romp, I asked my family to share their thoughts on SOS Dino. Mrs M. said she enjoyed the cute design of the components and how the experience brought our family together. Young Mr K. remarked on the strategic elements and how he enjoyed planning his next move, while Little Miss L. said the pink and purple dinosaurs were her favourite because they’re pretty! So there you have it, glowing endorsements from all involved. As for me, I enjoyed playing a game that could challenge each of us on different levels. Gaming with my family improves the bonds we share and SOS Dino is no doubt going to remain in our collection for a good few years yet. If you’re looking for a solid strategy game featuring colourful characters, gorgeous production design and quick and easy set up, then SOS Dino is one I recommend checking out.
Feel free to share your favourite family game experiences in the comments below. Do you have a particular game that you’d recommend to kids or families? As always I’d love to hear from you and you can reach me at aboveboardnz@gmail.com. Until next time, play games and take care!
