The Dino Game was first introduced by Google in September 2014, as part of a creative solution to soften the frustration of losing an internet connection. Instead of leaving users staring at a bland error message, the Chrome team added a playful pixelated dinosaur—later revealed to be named “Lonely T-Rex”—who stands still on the “No Internet” page.
With a quick tap of the spacebar (or a tap on a mobile screen), the T-Rex begins to run, and the game is on.
The concept is beautifully simple. The player controls the T-Rex as it runs through a monochrome desert landscape, leaping over cacti and ducking under flying pterodactyls. The game gets progressively faster, challenging the player's reaction time and hand-eye coordination.
Here’s how it works:
Jump: Press the spacebar or tap the screen to make the dinosaur jump.
Duck: On desktop, pressing the down arrow makes the T-Rex duck under birds.
Score: Points accumulate the longer you survive. There’s no real end, but the highest possible score is 99,999—reaching it is a rare feat.
Day/Night Cycle: As you play, the background toggles between light and dark, simulating a day-night cycle to keep things visually interesting.