Dinosaur Game

The story of the Dinosaur Game begins in 2014, when a team of Google Chrome developers — Sebastian Gabriel, Alan Bettes, and Edward Jung — wanted to make the “No Internet” error page a little less boring. Instead of just displaying the message “No Internet,” they added a small pixelated dinosaur to the page, symbolizing the “prehistoric” times before Wi-Fi.

The team soon realized that this tiny dinosaur could become more than a static image. They transformed it into a running game — a simple, offline experience that users could enjoy while waiting for their connection to return. Thus, the Chrome Dino was born.

The developers nicknamed it internally as “Project Bolan”, a playful reference to Marc Bolan, the lead singer of the 1970s band T. Rex. Over time, what started as a fun side project evolved into one of the most iconic Easter eggs in tech history.

How to Play

Part of the game’s charm lies in its simplicity. When you lose your internet connection in Google Chrome, a gray screen appears with the familiar pixel dinosaur. Pressing the spacebar (or tapping the screen on mobile) instantly starts the game. From there, your goal is simple — run as far as possible while avoiding obstacles.

The controls couldn’t be easier:

• Spacebar or tap – Jump over cacti.

• Arrow key down – Duck under flying pterodactyls.

The further you run, the faster the game becomes. The endless desert landscape scrolls by as the sky shifts from day to night, adding a subtle but immersive touch. Each obstacle requires quick reflexes and precise timing. One mistake — and you’re back to the beginning.

There’s no final level or finish line. The objective is survival and setting a new high score. The simplicity of the mechanics makes it instantly accessible, yet surprisingly challenging the longer you play.