Ecologies
Requirements
Description
In ECOLOGIES, you build and maintain food webs in diverse biomes around the world. Each biome has a different ecology, and gives unique rewards when it is healthy and balanced. But watch out, your opponents may decide it's easier to disturb and degrade your ecosystems than nurture their own. In this hectic environment, you must choose how best to protect and care for your ecologies.
Designed by a biology instructor, the game includes 77 unique organisms, 7 biomes, and beautiful vintage Victorian art. (108 cards total)
How-to video provided by "Roll For Crit"
It’s all about building healthy food webs in different biomes. If you create a healthy ecology you get the perks and powers of that biome. Each organism card lists what it eats and what it’s eaten by. You arrange them with plants on the bottom, predators on top. There is a trade mechanic similar to catan where you trade with others based on what you need and what they need. It is a race to get 12 victory points and different organisms give different points. There are biotic/abiotic factor cards that can affect opponents and different strategies such as focusing on one biome, going for perks and bonuses, or disrupting other ecologies.
The game takes inspiration from titles like Settlers of Catan, Agricola, and Dominion. Real science is integral to the game, as it is used in the classroom to teach real concepts to biology students. While it is scientific enough for the classroom, it is also strategic enough for game night.
The points system is based on ecological trophic levels. The producers (plants) are worth less and as you make your way up the pyramid organisms are worth more as it takes a lot of energy to sustain them. In real life only roughly 10% of the energy makes it from one level to the next, meaning you have to have acres of land and hundreds of animals just to sustain one apex predator. There is a 20 page rulebook included with the card game that also gives an overview of the science.
An expanded 24 page rulebook pdf is available here for free download. It contains the same information as the current 20 page rulebook but also includes additional illustrations and examples. Both the 24 page and 20 page rulebooks have been updated and reorganized this year based on player feedback.
Components
| Component | Quantity | Photo |
|---|---|---|
| Poker Tuck Box (108 cards) | 1 |  |
| Small Booklet | 1 |  |
| Poker Deck | 1 deck of 108 cards |  |
Vitals
| Average Rating | 20 reviews |
|---|---|
| Publish Date | September 22, 2019 |
| Edition | First |
| Department | Games |
| Tags | Science Animals Victorian Students / Teachers Strategy Settlers of Catan |
Accolades
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Ratings and Reviews
Love it. Easy to learn. Portable. Just the right amount of complexity. Beautiful artwork. Not to mention some environmental education that doesn't feel forced or like a classroom.
Very casual game with a nice take-that competition aspect and a educational leaning makes it perfect for families!
Chill, fun game. The rules could be a bit clearer in some instances, but overall a great experience.
Really fun and simple game. Love the artwork.
A little confusing to learn, but once you're over the learning curve, it's a great game to play and always worth 2-3 rounds in one sitting.
I LOVE this game! Genuinely different to other games out there. We play it all the time! I also love that it is just as fun for 2 players, as well as larger groups. I also just learned the single play...
This game is addicting and so much fun! My partner and I enjoy playing each other whenever we can. Ecologies is a blast even for 30-somethings! Buy this. It'll be the game you will actually keep playi...
This was a perfect game to bring to my family gathering. We are a game loving crew and this one was a hit. As a wildlife biologist It was a bonus that we got to teach my 11 and 12 year old nephews abo...
This game was an instant favorite and can easily be played alone or with a group. Once we figured out a strategy, the game started to rely more on luck of the draw, but it is still fun to play. I wish...
This is wonderful—my partner is a bio major, and loved it. Can’t wait to pick up the expansions!
Super fun game! I bought it to try it out for my classroom, but it ended up being fun to play at home too. I took away a star for 2 reasons: first there were some questions we had when playing that w...
An amazing game, can’t wait for the expansions!!!!
I am a Wildlife and Fisheries Science Major and love board/card games. My girlfriend got this for me for Christmas and I love it! This is my new favorite card game! It contains simplified examples of ...
My family was a bit confused with the rules around buying and trading, but otherwise is the perfect game for me, as I love animals and semi complex card games.
Beautiful art work and easy to learn. Some deck building games can be really complicated but after a read through of the instruction booklet and a brief YouTube tutorial we were playing. Gameplay is r...
I'm a big biology nerd and I also love Magic the Gathering. It's very reminiscent of Catan in the strategy and MtG in artwork. It's very fun for play, and you get to learn about ecology.
We are really enjoying learning to play this game! It is more nuanced in strategy then I originally expected, and I really appreciate that because it means we can play over and over without getting bo...
