This game was loaned to us via the UK board Game Review Circle on Instagram in exchange for an honest review.
All thoughts and opinions are our own.
7.8
What is Uh Oh, Dino!?
Uh Oh, Dino! is a fast-paced, family-friendly co-operative game of dinosaurs, earthquakes, and a race against time. Players work together to rescue Stegosaurus eggs and return them safely to the nest before the shifting earth and flowing lava make the land too dangerous to cross.
Designed by Sabrina and Dave Culyba and published by Ludoliminal, Uh Oh, Dino! combines real-time tension with charming prehistoric chaos. The game is now live on Kickstarter, where backers are able to help bring these adorable dinos to life.
What's in the box?
- 4 Stegosaurus Wooden Dinos
- 12 Wooden Eggs
- 1 Cloth Draw Bag
- 42 Turn Tokens
- 1 Earthquake Track
- 12 Valley Tiles
- 1 Earthquake Die
- 1 Super Fruit Card
- 3-Piece Home Tile
- 4 Dino Cards
Note: As this is a Kickstarter prototype, components may be subject to change before the final release.
The components in Uh Oh, Dino! immediately impressed us with their quality and charm. The chunky wooden dinosaurs and eggs feel great in hand and add a real sense of tactility to the game. Each Stegosaurus has its own unique expression and personality, which gives the table a playful burst of character — and the clever egg-shaped cutout that lets the dinos “carry” their eggs is such a delightful, thematic touch.
The colours are bright and cohesive, tying beautifully into the prehistoric theme. We especially like the double-sided earthquake tracker, which adds an extra layer of challenge for players looking to dial up the tension.
Our only small concern is with the turn tokens — a few of the spikier designs might show signs of wear faster than the smoother ones. It’s a minor worry, though, in an otherwise strong presentation.
How to Play Uh Oh, Dino!
Setup
Each player chooses one Stegosaurus piece and its matching card. In a two-player game, each player controls two dinosaurs.
Assemble the three-piece nest tile and lay out the valley tiles in pairs beneath it. Each valley tile shows a symbol that matches those found on the earthquake die.
To begin the game, roll the die to trigger the first earthquake — move the corresponding valley tiles as indicated — and then choose a starting player.
Taking a Turn
On your turn, draw a tile from the cloth bag. One side of the tile shows a footprint with a number — this number tells you how many actions you may take. The opposite side shows a symbol that will trigger once you’ve completed those actions.
(Note: Adjacency in Uh Oh, Dino! includes all eight spaces surrounding your Stegosaurus, including diagonals.)
After drawing, take all of your actions first, then resolve the symbol on the opposite side of the tile.
Available Actions:
- Move: Move your Stegosaurus orthogonally or diagonally.
- Alley-Oop: Jump over an adjacent player to the space directly opposite them.
- Stomp: Shift the land tile you’re currently on one space closer to the centre.
If your dinosaur moves onto a space containing an egg, you automatically pick it up — no action required. Each player can carry one egg at a time. When you reach the nest, the egg is automatically dropped off.
Tile Symbols
Once you’ve finished your actions, flip the tile and resolve the symbol shown on the other side:
- Earthquake: Place the tile onto the earthquake track, roll the die, and move all valley tiles showing the matching symbol the number of spaces shown on the next step of the track.
- Lava: Place this tile on any space adjacent to your Stegosaurus to create a new hazard.
- Super Fruit: You may either eat the fruit immediately (storing it on your player card) or place it in the shared pool for another player to use.
Using Super Fruit
At any time during your turn, you may use your collected Super Fruit for free. Each combination offers a unique bonus:
- One Super Fruit – Lava Slide: Move any lava piece one space.
- Two Super Fruit – Mighty Stomp: Shift any land tile one space closer to the centre.
- Three Super Fruit – Quake Cast: Choose which symbol is affected by the next earthquake instead of rolling the die.
Winning (or Losing) the Game
There are twelve eggs to recover in total. The game can end in several ways:
- Victory: The final egg in play is returned to the nest.
- Defeat: A player’s Stegosaurus is lost during an earthquake (if this happens, the game ends immediately).
- Survival: The players endure the final earthquake without being wiped out.
If you survive to the end, count the number of eggs successfully returned to the nest. Then, refer to the scoring table on the back of the rulebook — depending on how many eggs you saved, one player rolls the die to determine if the valley has truly been rescued!
Our Thoughts on Uh Oh, Dino!
Uh Oh, Dino! is a light, easy-to-learn strategy game that’s ready to play within seconds of opening the box — and packs away just as quickly. That quick setup really suits a game like this, making it super accessible for families and players of all ages.
This game leans fully into its family-friendly nature. The turn structure is simple enough for younger players to grasp, while the underlying strategy keeps older players engaged. We found ourselves genuinely invested in saving our eggs — and setting up future moves so others could do the same. The cooperative aspect is well-balanced, and every action feels purposeful. Nothing is included just for the sake of it; each component contributes to the game’s momentum and tension.
The Earthquake Tracker adds a great layer of pressure and excitement, forcing players to think carefully about every move and make the most of their limited actions. It’s a small mechanic that makes a big impact.
We think Uh Oh, Dino! is a wonderful entry point into the board game hobby, especially for younger players. It’s a perfect fit for family game nights, and while it’s probably not one we’d reach for as a two-player couple (we tend to prefer heavier, thinkier games), it was a definite hit at game night. We can easily see families getting this to the table again and again.
Visually, Uh Oh, Dino! really shines. The bright colours, chunky tiles, and interactive components are instantly eye-catching. The way everything ties into the theme — from hopping little dinosaurs to the eggs that slot perfectly into their backs — is genuinely delightful. It’s tactile, playful, and impossible not to smile while playing.
We also love the risk–reward element when drawing tiles from the bag. Choosing whether to risk pulling a spikier token for extra actions but with the potential for causing earthquakes or lava pits adds a small but satisfying moment of suspense each turn — clever design that gives players agency without ever breaking the game’s simplicity.
Overall, Uh Oh, Dino! is a cracking, lava-filled game of family fun. The designers have clearly understood their audience, creating a cheerful, cooperative experience that feels polished, purposeful, and joyfully replayable.
Rob 7.8 - Jess 7.8
💡 Looking for a more intensive cooperative game? Check out our review of Stardew Valley: The Board Game.
0 Comments