The Chrome Dinosaur Game, also known as the Chrome Dino or T-Rex Runner, is a simple endless runner browser game built into the Google Chrome web browser. It was created by the Chrome UX team in 2014 as a fun Easter egg that appears when the browser is offline and cannot connect to the internet.
In the game, you control a pixelated T-Rex dinosaur running across a desert landscape. The objective is to avoid obstacles such as cacti and flying pterodactyls by jumping or ducking. The game speeds up gradually, increasing the challenge as you progress. Hitting an obstacle ends the game.
Controls:
- On desktop: Press the spacebar or up arrow to jump, and the down arrow to duck
- On mobile: Tap the dinosaur to jump or duck
The game can be launched anytime by typing "chrome://dino" in the Chrome address bar, even when you are online.
Fun facts include:
- The game was nicknamed "Project Bolan" after Marc Bolan of the T-Rex band
- The game's maximum score references the T-Rex's 17 million years of existence on Earth
- The background switches between day and night modes at milestones
- It is played by over 270 million people monthly worldwide
The Chrome Dinosaur Game is known for turning frustrating no-internet moments into a fun, addictive distraction and has become a cultural icon with many fan tributes and memes inspired by it.