By: Ankama Players: 2-5 Ages: 8+ Time: 15 mins
Scientists have finally found a way to clone dinosaurs and all over the world zoos are preparing to open and showcase these colossal beasts.
Get your dinosaur enclosures ready and prepare to show off your collection to ‘wow’ your visitors by creating the most attractive dino park.
Do your best when drafting and placing dinosaur meeples to optimize their placement and score as many points as possible.
What Is Draftosaurus? A Light Drafting Game
Draftosaurus was released in 2019 by Ankama and was created by French designers Antoine Bauza, Corentin Lebrat, Ludovic Maublanc, and Theo Riviere. The light drafting game was well received and a year after its release, Draftosaurus was nominated for several international awards, as well as receiving a recommendation for Game of the Year. There were a few expansions produced for the game soon after it’s release, offering new dinosaurs and mechanics to the gaming experience. Draftosaurus is a family drafting game suitable for players ages 8 and up.
Draftosaurus lets people play the role of John Hammond and create their own Dino-themed theme park, with the goal of attracting as many visitors as possible. To create the best park possible, players will draw dino-shaped meeples from a bag and place them on their game board in the most optimal position they can. However, there are various barriers that will affect placements so players will need to choose wisely! Despite its simplicity, Draftosaurus is considered a good drafting game by many enthusiasts.
How To Play: Draft Dino Meeples
Getting started with Draftosaurus is nice and easy as the game doesn’t take long to set-up at all! Each player begins the game with a nicely illustrated zoo board. These will act as each player’s zoo and are segmented into different enclosures and areas that will fill up as the game progresses. Each board is double-sided with a summer and winter side, and although gameplay works the same for both, each side is mapped out and decorated slightly differently.
The game comes with 60 mini-dino figures which players will draft dino meeples from a bag each turn, but the number of players will dictate how many will be in play.
The game is played over two rounds with each consisting of six turns. At the start of the first round, every player takes six dinosaurs from the draw bag and keeps them hidden in their hand.
The game starts with the youngest player rolling the placement dice, which will dictate where players will need to place their dinos. Each player’s game board is made up of different enclosures in different sections of the park and it comes down to the player to decide which dino they think is best to place in what pen. There are placement restrictions on certain enclosures however, so players will need to be tactical when deciding what to put where…but more on that in a minute. Once everyone has made their choice they simultaneously reveal their picks and place them in their park.
Once players have made their choice, they then pass the remaining dinosaurs in their hand to the player on their left, with the placement dice going in the same direction also. Play continues in the same way each turn with the placement dice being rolled, dinosaurs being placed in enclosures, and the remainder being passed to the left.
Once all six dinosaurs have been placed the first round is over. The second round plays identically to the first with players drawing six dinosaurs from the bag at the top of the round, then taking turns to roll the dice and place their dinos. At the end of this round, everyone should have twelve dinosaurs in their zoo and it’s at this point the scoring is calculated. Whoever has scored the most points wins!
In essence, Draftosaurus is a simple game, but like a lot of the ‘Tiny Epic’ games, there is surprisingly more depth to it than you might think at first glance. Both the summer and winter sides of the zoo board have six pens to fill. Each of these has different parameters on what can be placed within them and how with some being more flexible than others. Some can only contain the same species of dino, some only different species, and some have a limit on the number of dinosaurs they can have as a whole. Understanding how to place the dinosaurs in the most optimal way will lead to winning more points, but it’s not always that easy. The placement dice will dictate which enclosure dinos can be placed in, and with the selection available changing each turn, players will need to be adaptable and think on the fly or they can go from first to last place quickly.
Once players have had enough with the summer board, the winter board changes things up slightly. There are slightly different rules for the enclosures, with some of them being trickier to fill due to the stricter requirements. The rules recommend experienced players play through summer and winter in one sitting and combining the score from both to find out who the best zoo manager is.
There are also a couple of expansions available for those that want to add something extra to their games: ‘Marina’ and ‘Aerial Show’. Both games come with their own boards that expand the size of the original and add plesiosaurs and pterodactyls to the existing species available. Neither expansion tampers with the rules too much but having a larger board available and a slightly bigger roster of dinosaurs to draft adds to the strategy and complexity of gameplay.
More about that below…
Expansions: Extend Your Dino Park
Draftosaurus expands the fun with its two exciting expansions: Marina and Aerial Show. Both expansions introduce new elements that enhance the base game, adding depth and variety to each playthrough. The expansions come with additional dinosaur meeples and new player boards.
Marina Expansion
The Marina Expansion introduces the plesiosaur, a new dinosaur species that inhabits the water enclosures of your park. This expansion comes with additional boards that attach to your existing zoo board, providing aquatic enclosures where the plesiosaurs can be placed. The inclusion of water-based dinosaurs brings a fresh strategy to the game, as players must now consider how to optimally incorporate these new spaces into their park design. The Marina Expansion’s aquatic theme adds a new layer of fun and complexity, challenging players to adapt their placement tactics to accommodate the unique needs of the plesiosaurs.
Aerial Show Expansion
The Aerial Show Expansion takes to the skies, introducing pterodactyls and a new set of challenges. With this expansion, players receive additional boards featuring aerial enclosures designed specifically for pterodactyls. The dynamic of the game shifts as players need to balance the land, water, and air enclosures, each with their own constraints and possibilities. Pterodactyls bring an exciting aerial aspect to zoo management, requiring players to think vertically as well as horizontally.
Both expansions integrate seamlessly with the original game rules, making it easy to incorporate them into any game session. They maintain the core mechanics that make Draftosaurus enjoyable while enhancing strategic decision-making and player engagement. By combining these expansions, players can create a more intricate and immersive dinosaur park, offering endless replayability and a richer gaming experience.
Final Verdict: A Breezy Family Drafting Game
Draftosaurus is a fun light drafting game that’s quick to play and easy to learn, but much heavier on strategy than it might look at first glance. It only takes a minute to set-up and start a game and the rules are incredibly simplistic, but the game’s big selling factor (aside from the game board’s artwork and dino-meeples) is the tactical gameplay. Many players are huge fans of Draftosaurus due to its engaging gameplay and charming components. Almost anyone can play Draftosaurus, but it’s those that plan ahead, strategize, and predict what their opponents will do next will excel and enjoy the game the most. Despite only lasting 10-15 minutes, the game is so enjoyable that you’ll want to play through it several times over in a sitting! Make sure to snatch it up before it goes extinct!
Summary: Most Points Wins
Dinosaurs!
Quick to set up and play
Players must strategically place all the dinos they draft to score points
Surprisingly strategic
Expansions to try
Great entry point into drafting games
We recommend this as one of our Best Board Games for 8 year olds. Check out the full article for more picks.
If You Liked This:
If you survived running your own dinosaur park and want to try something similar, below are some games we’re sure you’ll enjoy:
Dinosaur Island: If Draftosaurus didn’t fulfill your fantasy of playing with dinosaurs, Dinosaur Island takes things to another level. The next best thing to owning your own Jurassic Park, you’ll carry out research, bring dinos to life, hire staff, and try to attract (and keep alive) as many visitors as possible!
Barenpark: Create your own zoo made up exclusively of bears! Fit domino-style tiles onto a grid and score points for animal houses, outdoor areas, and constructing various buildings. Whoever creates the biggest and best park that is likely to attract visitors will be declared the winner.
Azul: Use beautifully crafted tiles to decorate the royal palace’s walls in this critically acclaimed drafting game. Draw tiles each turn and use them to try and create specific pattern whilst trying to avoid wasting as many as possible.
Full Azul Board Game review here
7 Wonders Duel: A two-player version of the original, 7 Wonders Duel is a civilization-building card game. Players draft cards and use them to erect buildings, generate money, or construct a wonder. The game is played through three ages each with different decks, with cards varying greatly each playthrough to add to replayability.
Zoo Tycoon: Re-live the fun of the classic PC strategy sim. Use 35 different species of animal to build the best zoo you can. From keeping your guests happy with enough food and gift shops, to working with National parks to re-introduce endangered species back into the wild, Zoo Tycoon offers a truly immersive experience.
FAQ
Q: How many players can play Draftosaurus?
A: Draftosaurus can be played by 2 to 5 players. The game scales well with each player count, offering a fun and strategic experience regardless of the number of participants.
Q: How long does it take to play a game of Draftosaurus?
A: A typical game of Draftosaurus lasts around 10-15 minutes. The short playtime makes it perfect for quick gaming sessions or as a warm-up for longer game nights.
Q: Are the expansions necessary to enjoy the base game of Draftosaurus?
A: Not at all! While the Marina and Aerial Show expansions add extra layers of strategy and variety, the base game of Draftosaurus is already highly enjoyable on its own. The expansions are simply there to enhance the gaming experience if desired.
Q: Can children play Draftosaurus?
A: Yes, Draftosaurus is a light drafting game that’s suitable for children and families. The simple rules and charming dinosaur pieces make it accessible for younger players, while the strategic elements ensure that it remains engaging for adults.
Q: Is Draftosaurus a competitive or cooperative game?
A: Draftosaurus is a competitive game where each player manages their own dinosaur park and aims to score the most points. However, the light-hearted nature of the game keeps the competition friendly and fun.
Q: Does Draftosaurus game involve any reading or complex strategies that might be difficult for new players?
A: Draftosaurus is designed to be easy to learn and play. The rules are straightforward, and while there is strategic depth, newbies should find it approachable and enjoyable from their very first game. The game involves strategic placement of dinosaur meeples according to placement restrictions, which adds an engaging layer of strategy.