Dinosaur Game

The Dinosaur Game was introduced in September 2014 by a team of Google Chrome developers—Sebastian Gabriel, Alan Bettes, and Edward Jung. Their goal was to create something entertaining for users who lost internet access, transforming a moment of annoyance into one of enjoyment.

According to Gabriel, the idea was to “reminisce about the prehistoric ages when Wi-Fi didn’t exist.” Thus, the adorable T-Rex—nicknamed “Project Bolan” after Marc Bolan, the lead singer of the 1970s rock band T. Rex—was born.

It’s built directly into the Chrome browser, requiring no downloads or special permissions. Whenever your device goes offline and displays the familiar “No internet” message, the dinosaur appears. Press spacebar (or tap on mobile), and the game begins.

Over time, it evolved from a simple Easter egg into a cultural icon, inspiring fan versions, mobile ports, and even physical arcade machines in Google offices.