Free browser game
Screenshots
Dino Game Online is a free browser game by developer Sebastien Gabriel. In the game, you guide a dinosaur to avoid obstacles like cacti and pterodactyls. This is the same game that you can play whenever you don’t have connectivity and search for something with Google Chrome.
Even with its simplicity and monochromatic graphics, this game has become a legend in video gaming. This is due, in no small part, thanks to the ingenuity of its developers and Google, who offer it whenever you have problems with your internet connection. But, unfortunately, the game doesn’t have an end, and when you hit the max score of 99,999 it resets.
Just two actions for a lot of joy
Dino Game Online only requires you to use two keys: the spacebar to jump, and the down arrow to duck. The T-Rex will keep running to the right, accelerating. What you need to do is jump each time you see cacti, and duck when you see pterodactyls.
Ducking is optional since you can also jump over the pterodactyls, but it’s harder to do. In fact, the game is pretty challenging despite its simplicity because of the constant acceleration. There’s a point where things move so fast, it’s very difficult to time your actions correctly. Get hit just once, and it’s game over.
Charming graphics and premise
The entire thing looks straight out of a Tamagotchi-era device. Black and white graphics, basic animations and almost no backgrounds make this game playable in a browser on nearly any device – with or without an internet connection.
A nice touch is that you’ll get a night setting as the game progresses to keep things from being so uniform. But, of course, the same mechanics apply: your dinosaur keeps running, and you need to avoid the same things, over and over.
A nostalgic pun or a statement
According to its creator, the game is a pun. This is because you're back in the prehistoric age if you don’t have connectivity. However, there’s beauty in the paradox it creates, too. You might sometimes find the game thrilling enough to forget about your Google search, and keep wanting more dino-running action.
In its simplicity, it creates a powerful statement: are things better or worse now? Are you happier with a monochromatic dinosaur running, or with your internet back? Is it disappointing that you get no rewards when you reach the end, or is it a critique of our materialistic age?