Dinosaurs of the Lost World

About this board game

Dinosaurs of the Lost World is a 1987 exploration and strategy game for 1–4 players, with play lasting about 90 minutes. Players lead different expeditions into a Lost World, searching for dinosaur species, collecting specimens, and working toward victory.

Every game uses a modular board, so the locations of dinosaur sites and required items are completely random from one play to the next. This changing landscape gives each expedition a fresh challenge, while the many dinosaur stand-up pieces and comic-book-style dinosaur areas add distinctive visual character.

Exploration is only part of the challenge. Players can influence one another indirectly by moving dinosaurs into their opponents’ paths, or interact directly by trading items amicably or attacking another expedition. Equipment, weapons, and ammunition are limited, so every dinosaur encounter demands careful judgment.

• Explore a randomly arranged Lost World.
• Find dinosaur species and collect specimens.
• Trade with or attack opposing expeditions.
• Manage restricted weapons and ammunition.
• Face potentially costly dinosaur chases.

Combat carries serious consequences. Losing an encounter can cost useful tools and victory points, while escaping a dinosaur sends the expedition back to base camp and costs its next turn. Since actions at camp are limited, a failed battle can affect what an expedition accomplishes over several turns.

That combination of modular exploration, player interaction, resource limits, and high-stakes encounters gives Dinosaurs of the Lost World more strategic depth than many family games. The result is an engaging expedition game in which finding specimens matters—but surviving the journey may matter just as much.