
2021 · Dice
Dinosaur Island: Rawr 'n Write
Players build a dinosaur theme park by drafting dice, assigning them as workers, and then marking actions on their player sheet. Each turn offers a choice of dice that determine available worker actions—research, attraction construction, dinosaur breeding, and infrastructure—resolved by filling polyomino-style tiles onto the park grid. The core challenge is packing attractions, dinosaurs, roads and exit routes efficiently to score points while managing resources and dice outcomes. Play ends after a set number of rounds; the player with the most victory points from completed buildings, dinosaur displays, and connected exits wins.
- Players
- 1–4 best 2
- Playing time
- 30–45 min
- Age
- 10+
- Complexity
- 2.9 / 5
About the game
- Publisher
Expansions
See them in LudoyaWhere to buy it
Shop prices and second-hand copies, checked every day.
On Ludoya's tables
Full stats in Ludoya- 186
- Plays logged
- 106
- Players
- 57m 53s
- Average play
- 54
- In collections
- 14
- On wishlists
- 1
- Pre-ordered
7.6/10
from 19 Ludoya reviews
I'm really enjoying the puzzle-y aspects of this game. I wish that it was a bit longer because I find that luck influences the first round enough that I don't think the game is quite long enough to round out the effect of luck.
Very good but quite hefty for a roll and write especially if you do not know DI well.
Gab Pes8.0 SELL
Rules questions
Answered from the rulebook by Ludoya's rules assistant.
Do buildings have to be connected to roads or my HQ to work or score?
You may place Buildings anywhere there is space and they still give full resources and end-game VP even if not connected, but unconnected Buildings cannot be visited on a Dino Tour (so they won’t earn tour bonuses). (pp. 7, 9)
How do Roads connect — can I cross them or make 3‑/4‑way junctions?
Each Road occupies one square and connects exactly two edges of that square; you may extend or turn Roads but you may not create 3‑ or 4‑way junctions or cross over existing Roads. (p. 8)
What happens to the leftover die after drafting, and do I take Threat from my own drafted dice?
After the draft everyone gains the resources and the Threat shown on the leftover die; you do not take Threat icons shown on dice you personally drafted. (pp. 10–11)
Can I stack my die on an action space already taken, and do I get the Threat from the covered dice?
You may place your die on top of an occupying die to take that action, but you must gain the Threat shown on the occupying die; if you cover a stack you only take the Threat visible on the top die. (p. 12)
When I Make Dinos, do I always build paddocks and do the dinos immediately add Threat and Excitement?
When you take Make Dinos you mark each new individual, cross off the DNA spent, and you build a Paddock only the first time you make a species; each individual you make immediately gives the Threat and Excitement shown for that species. (pp. 13; see also resource/DNA rules p. 4 and Excitement p. 6)
How do Disasters and Death Toll work — when do dinos die and what about circled Park Exits if routes break?
After you gain Excitement in the Run Park Phase you mark one Death for each unsecured Threat and resolve that many Disasters (you must choose ones you can fully resolve); destroyed Roads/Buildings create rubble you can’t build on and if a circled Exit is disconnected at game end it scores 0 VP. (pp. 16–17)
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Play Dinosaur Island: Rawr 'n Write with Ludoya
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Game facts (players, playing time, age, credits) from BoardGameGeek.












