The Dino Kid update adds a new survivor NPC who you rescue from a dungeon, then level up through feeding, finding lost items, and taking care of his needs. Level him up to 5 for the Babysitting badge and he starts collecting logs for your base automatically. Finding all four trinkets: Lunchbox, Yo-Yo, Crayon, and Plush, triggers the hardest Cultist attack, which rewards a Gem of the Forest and Cultist Gems if you survive. There are six badges you can get from this event.
How Do You Start the Dino Kid Event in 99 Nights in the Forest?
At the start of a new run, check the bench near the campfire. You can find a new clue system that tracks Dino Kid's location and the items he has lost throughout the forest. The first clue points you toward Dino Kid's dungeon.
Unlike other rescued kids, Dino Kid is held inside a dungeon guarded by Alpha Wolves, so approach with caution and clear the wolves before attempting the rescue. Once the area is clear, use the red key to unlock the dungeon and rescue Dino Kid the same way you would any other missing kid in the game. Bring him back to camp and place him in a tent near the campfire.
Interact with Dino Kid and select Befriend to start the event. From this point, your job is to feed him regularly, find his lost belongings, and keep him happy as he levels up over multiple nights.
How Do You Level Up Dino Kid in 99 Nights in the Forest?
There are three ways to raise Dino Kid's EXP and level him up:
1. Feeding
Food is the primary EXP source. Dino Kid's hunger bar decreases over time, and you need to drag food near him and press E to feed it when the bar is low enough. If his hunger bar is full, feeding does nothing and gives no EXP. Food quality affects how much EXP you get per feed:
| Food Type | EXP Reward |
|---|---|
| Small food (Cooked Morsel etc.) | 15–20 XP |
| Cooked Steak | Up to 50 XP |
| Stew | Up to 70 XP |
TIP: Building a Crock Pot and cooking Stew is the most efficient way to stack feeding XP, since Stew gives the highest return of any food item. Prioritize this once your camp is stable.
2. Finding Lost Trinkets
Four items belonging to Dino Kid are scattered across the forest. Clue locations appear on your map through the Dino Kid bench quest tracker, though the search radius narrows progressively as you upgrade your campfire. Return each item to Dino Kid to receive EXP:
| Item | EXP Reward |
|---|---|
| Lunchbox | 100 XP |
| Yo-Yo | 150 XP |
| Crayon | 350 XP |
| Plush | 750 XP |
NOTE: The Crayon is the hardest trinket to locate and tends to end up in difficult-to-reach areas like the military base. The Plush is locked in a cage in a new map area and requires Cultist Gems to retrieve.
3. Taking Care of His Needs
Dino Kid's mood changes throughout the run. When he becomes sad, check why and address the issue. Common problems and their XP rewards:
- Too cold: Expand the campfire's range to cover his area (+100-150 XP)
- Needs sleep: Make his bed in the tent (+100-150 XP)
- Injured: Use a Bandage to heal him (+100-150 XP)
NOTE: Taking care of each need rewards you with XP in addition to keeping his mood stable. If Dino Kid is unhappy at night, those nights do not count toward the Dino Kid Tape badges.
What Are the Rewards for Leveling Up Dino Kid in 99 Nights in the Forest?
There is no direct item reward for leveling Dino Kid up. The reward is the passive help. Dino Kid levels up, he begins helping around the base by cutting down nearby trees and collecting logs automatically. This is genuinely useful, especially in later nights when resource management becomes tough. Also, for defending the final attack, you get these following in-game rewards:
- Gem of the Forest
- 3 Cultist Gems
TIP: You can also give him various items to unlock unique interactions, which counts toward the Playtime badge.
How Do You Get Every Dino Kid Badge in 99 Nights in the Forest?
There are six badges tied to the Dino Kid event, tracked from the badge board near Dino Dad's desk in the lobby area.
| Badge | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Playtime | Give Dino Kid 10 different items that he has unique interactions with |
| Babysitting | Level Dino Kid up to Level 5 |
| Warding | Defend Dino Kid from the hardest Cultist attack after finding all four trinkets |
| Dino Kid Tape 1 | Keep Dino Kid protected for 5 nights (unhappy nights don't count) |
| Dino Kid Tape 2 | Keep Dino Kid protected for 25 nights (unhappy nights don't count) |
| Dino Kid Tape 3 | Keep Dino Kid protected for 60 nights (unhappy nights don't count) |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Check the clue bench near your starting campfire at the beginning of a run. It provides a location hint for Dino Kid's dungeon. He is guarded by Alpha Wolves, so clear those before attempting the rescue, then unlock the dungeon with the red key and bring him back to camp like any other survivor.
Picking up the Dino Kid Plush from its locked cage, which requires Cultist Gems to unlock, triggers a mega Cultist attack the next night. The attack comes in three waves with a time limit and is the hardest combat encounter in the event. Surviving it on the hardest difficulty rewards a Gem of the Forest and three Cultist Gems.
No. A night only counts toward the Dino Kid Tape 1, 2, and 3 badges if Dino Kid is in a good mood for that night. Keep his hunger up, make his bed when prompted, and expand the campfire to prevent coldness. Any night where he is unhappy is skipped toward your badge progress.
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