Dinosaur Game Tips: How to Get a High Score
To get a high score in the dinosaur game, watch the right side of the screen instead of your dino, jump in the middle of the safe window rather than as early as you can, hold the jump for long logs and pairs, duck only for dragonflies at head height, and drop fast by pressing down in the air when you jumped too soon. Most runs end on one rushed, early jump, not on speed.
1. Watch the right edge, not the dino
Your dino never moves left or right, so you don't need to watch it. Everything that ends a run comes in from the right edge, and the sooner you spot it, the more time you have to decide between a tap, a held jump or a duck. Rest your eyes about two-thirds of the way across the screen and let the dino take care of itself.
This matters more as the run speeds up. On Medium the dino reaches top speed about a minute and a half in, and by then an obstacle crosses the screen in well under a second.
2. Jump in the middle of the window
Every obstacle has a window: a stretch of shore in front of it where taking off works. Take off before the window and you come down on the obstacle; take off after it and you run into it. The window is narrow, about a third of a second for a tap, so aim for its middle, not its start.
As a rule of thumb, jump when the obstacle is one to two dino-lengths away, and a little further out the faster you're going. The most common mistake is jumping the moment something appears, which lands you right on top of it. Late jumps are more forgiving than early ones: a quick jump still works almost until your nose touches the obstacle.
3. Hold the jump when in doubt
A held jump goes higher and stays up about a third longer than a tap. That makes it the right move for long logs and for two obstacles close together, but it also makes it more forgiving: in the example above, a held jump clears the reeds even when you take off well before the left-hand dino.
The price is that you land later. When obstacles start coming close together (on Hard, or deep into a Medium run), a habit of always holding can leave you landing just as the next one arrives. Use the tap for reeds and rocks, and save the hold for when you need it or when you've jumped early.
If you press jump just before you land, the dino jumps again the moment its feet touch the ground. You don't have to wait until you're down to press.
4. Duck only for head-height dragonflies
Dragonflies fly at three heights. Only the middle one, level with the dino's head, needs a duck. A low one is jumped like a rock, and a high one flies harmlessly over you, as long as you don't jump into it.
Ducking in the air makes the dino drop fast. If you jumped too early and see the next obstacle coming, press down (or swipe down) to get back to the ground sooner.
5. Berries are a bonus, not the goal
Each berry adds 10 points, the same as 10 metres, so a few bunches can lift your score nicely. Low berries are collected just by running through them; the ones floating up high need a jump. Grab them when the shore ahead is clear, and let them go when there's a dragonfly near them or an obstacle right behind. One greedy jump costs far more than any berry is worth.
6. Stay calm at night and at top speed
Every 700 metres the shore turns to night for a while. Nothing about the obstacles changes, but the new colours are a classic moment to lose focus, especially in the Classic look where black and white swap places. Expect it, and keep your eyes on the right edge.
Once the run hits top speed it stops getting harder, so if you've made it that far, the rest is about keeping the same rhythm. Breathe, don't tense up, and keep your taps short.
7. Practise the smart way
- Teach me: Hop rings the next obstacle and calls "jump" or "duck" just in time, with the reason. Following him for a few runs is the fastest way to learn the timing. Coached runs don't count for your best.
- Easy gives you three hearts, so one mistake doesn't end the lesson.
- The Daily is the same course for everyone, all day: play it a few times and you'll learn its tricky spots.
- A Race puts you on the same course as another player at the same speed, so the one who makes fewer mistakes wins.
New to the game? Start with how to play the dinosaur game, then play Dino Run and see how far you get.
Frequently asked questions
How do you get a high score in the dinosaur game?
Watch the right side of the screen, jump in the middle of the safe window instead of as early as possible, hold the jump for long logs and pairs, duck only for head-height dragonflies, and press down in the air to drop when you jumped too soon.
What is a good score in the dinosaur game?
On GameLake's Dino Run, 200 metres on Medium earns your first star, 500 metres two stars and 1,000 metres three. On Easy the stars come at 150, 400 and 800 metres.
Why do I keep crashing when I jump?
Usually because you jump too early and land on the obstacle. Wait until it's one to two dino-lengths away. For long logs, hold the jump so it lasts longer.
Does the dinosaur game keep getting faster?
Only up to a top speed. On Medium the dino reaches it after about a minute and a half; after that the speed stays the same.
Are there cheats for the dinosaur game?
Not on GameLake: scores are saved as you play, and online races replay every jump on the server to check the distance. The fair shortcut is Teach me, which shows you exactly when to jump and duck.