Very Bad Lands

A recent trip to the Chicago Field Museum rekindled my awe for the magnificence of dinosaurs—their evolution from primordial sea creatures to the towering, land-dwelling giants that ruled the Earth for millions of years. Then, in a cataclysmic instant, a mass extinction event wiped them out.

That sense of sudden chaos and desperate survival is at the heart of Very Bad Lands, a fast-paced game where players become dinosaur species battling to outlast a relentless onslaught of natural disasters. Designed and illustrated by Marc Larivière and published by Randolph, this game supports 3 to 6 players, runs under 20 minutes, and is recommended for ages 8 and up.

Setup

Choose a first player—preferably the oldest, since they lived closest to the age of dinosaurs! That player shuffles the Dinosaur cards and deals two to each player. Everyone selects one and returns the other to the box. Then, in turn order starting with the first player, reveal your Dinosaur and read its species and special power aloud.

Gameplay

Each round of Very Bad Lands consists of four phases: Disaster card distribution, Swapping, Revealing, and Passing First Player. You’ll keep playing rounds until at least one player goes extinct.

1. Distribute Disaster Cards

The first player shuffles the Disaster cards, then deals one to each player and one face-up in the middle of the table creating the River. Players may look at the Disaster card in secret.

2. Swap

In turn order starting with the first player, each player chooses one of three options:

1. Keep their Disaster card.
2. Swap Disaster cards with the face-up card in the River. Cards swapped remain face up.
3. Swap their Disaster card face-down with the player to their left. This player cannot refuse the swap. If the player happens to be last, they can only swap with the River or with the top card of the Disaster deck.

Note some cards have immediate effects when placed in the river and must be executed.

3. Reveal

Simultaneously everyone flips their Disaster card face up. Apply all Dinosaur powers that trigger at reveal.

Next, determine who loses life. Compare value of each Dinosaur’s disaster card. The value of Disaster cards can be modified by a Dinosaur’s power, but the name and effect remain regardless of the card’s value.

The player with the lowest valued card loses one life. Ignore the river card(s), since they don’t belong to any player. To track life loss, rotate the dinosaur card 90 degrees left.

A quick note on protection: if a Dinosaur is protected, its Disaster card value is ignored—it cannot lose a life. The loss passes to the next lowest unprotected value, potentially making a higher number the one at risk.

If a player has no lives left for their dinosaur, they become extinct, and all other players win! Otherwise…

4. Pass First Player

Pass the First Player card to the next player clockwise, then start a new round from phase one.

Continue playing rounds until a Dinosaur goes extinct.

Impressions

As chaotic as a mass extinction event, Very Bad Lands captures that vibe perfectly. Players make quick, simple choices, hoping to survive each disaster and make it to the next round. Figuring out which dinosaur takes the hit is just as straightforward, although younger players may need a little guidance at first. Fortunately, each player gets a reference card to help keep the game moving smoothly.

Jurassic Tactics with Dinosaur Powers

The Dinosaur powers add a fun layer of strategy to the gameplay. There’s enough variety to keep the game replayable, with each card offering a unique twist. A few highlights include the Dilophosaurus, which causes all protected players to lose a life when it takes a hit, and the Protoceratops, which can choose to reveal its card on its turn and add 4 to its value instead of swapping. The T-Rex version can be combined with the Very Bad Lands: Brachio Edition. For additional variety in Dinosaur powers, mix and match the two sets—each version features a unique lineup of dinos with distinct abilities.

Abrupt Extinction

The only aspect of Very Bad Lands that felt a bit unusual was the end game condition. I expected the game to continue until only one species remained as the ultimate survivor.

Instead, as soon as one player is eliminated, the game ends and everyone else wins. That “everyone else wins” outcome sometimes feels unsatisfying or a bit anticlimactic, but it makes sense for a family-friendly audience.

Fun for Herbivores, Carnivores, and Siblings

Very Bad Lands features playful, inviting art that reinforces its family appeal. The gameplay supports that tone as well. Rounds move quickly, and players stay engaged as they help determine who takes damage each turn. There is a smidge of take-that in Very Bad Lands so keep that in mind if your kids struggle with that.

The rules prevent anyone from ganging up on a specific player—swaps are limited to either the River or the player to your left. That structure keeps things fair while still creating fun, tense moments. Dodging a disaster feels great, and just because you’re holding the highest-value card doesn’t mean you’re safe from losing a life.

Very Bad Lands is clearly aimed at kids and casual family play. It’s not one I’d bring to a strategy game night with friends, as it leans a bit too light. But with the right group, I’m sure it will shine. 

Have a gamer who loves dinosaurs and card games? Pick up a copy of Very Bad Lands from your friendly local game store or Hachette USA —before the next meteor comes crashing down!

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The Family Gamers received a copy of Very Bad Lands from Hachette Boardgames USA for this review.