The Dino Game, also known as the Chrome Dino or T-Rex Runner, is a simple yet addictive endless runner game that became an unexpected favorite for millions of internet users around the world. Hidden within Google Chrome, it was originally designed as a way to pass the time when users lost their internet connection. Today, it has become a beloved browser mini-game with surprising depth and a cult following.

Origins and History

The Dino Game was created by Google developers Sebastien Gabriel, Alan Bettes, and Edward Jung. It was introduced in September 2014 as part of Chrome version 39, with the primary purpose of entertaining users during internet outages. The idea was simple: instead of showing a boring error page when there’s no internet, why not provide a fun little game to make the moment less frustrating?

The inspiration behind the game was humorously tied to the idea that life without internet feels like going back to the prehistoric age — hence the pixelated T-Rex.