Build Your Jurassic Dream Team with Dino Dunk!

“Dinosaurs and basketball! That looks awesome!”

Apparently, Cody Stevens, designer of Dino Dunk! understands the minds of 10-year-olds, as this combination was enough to arrest the attention of my oldest son while we walked around on family day at Gen Con. And honestly, who hasn’t dreamt of fielding a basketball team made up entirely of Jurassic-age creatures? As a father of five kids, I am always on the lookout for games that I can play with my whole family. Dino Dunk! from Twin City Games is an endearing dexterity* game simple enough for children to pick up quickly yet strategic enough to hold the attention of their parents.

Dino Dunk! is a dexterity game in which 2–4 players try to score goals by flicking wooden disks representing dinosaurs or balls across a colorful prehistoric playmat. Each dinosaur has a unique ability that enhances its gameplay, and players are able to choose their lineup based on those abilities. For kids who are aspiring paleontologists, I imagine choosing a lineup based on your favorite dinosaurs would be just as fun!

My kids love how hands-on this game is, and how easy it is to set up and play. The unique abilities of each dino add a level of interest and skill to an otherwise simple game. Being able to manipulate and flick characters is a big draw for our young, active gamers. The durability of the double sided game mat and wooden pieces is a big draw for parents of those young, active gamers. While my family probably qualifies as a hardcore tabletop family, there are times when we want quick setup, fast-paced and lighthearted playthrough, and easy cleanup. Dino Dunk! fits the bill here, without feeling like we’re sacrificing fun.

* LTN Gamesplain: Dexterity games require players to use manual dexterity or hand-eye coordination to to accomplish a task or goal.

Play count: 6 times
Player age: 7–36 years old