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Biology and evolution

Evolution

A playable simulation of natural selection: evolve your species to survive

2–6Players
60 minDuration
~10 minSetup
Low-mediumComplexity
CompetitiveDynamic

A card game in which players build and evolve an ecosystem of herbivore, carnivore and scavenger species. Each species has a body size, a population and up to three traits — Long Neck, Hard Shell, Carnivore, Cooperation… — which combine into more than 12,000 different species.

Players adapt their species to the abundance of food and the behaviour of rivals: a carnivore may attack and the others respond with defences. It is, in essence, a simulation of variation, adaptation, competition, predation and extinction.

Classroom value

  • A playable simulation of natural selection: ideal for illustrating selective pressure, adaptation and extinction in a single round.
  • Allows a critical discussion of where the model simplifies real biology (heritability of traits, evolutionary pace).
  • Conceptual rigour with a very low barrier to entry: suitable for first-year courses and for non-gamers.
  • The competitive angle makes predator–prey arms races tangible, something hard to convey with theory alone.

In the classroom

No. of players2–6
TeamsYes · 3 per team
People per gamemax. 18
Game MasterNo
Sessions1 session (60 min)
SpaceOne table (card game)
MaterialPhysical game

Technical details

DesignCrapuchettes, Knorre i Machin
PublisherNorth Star Games
LanguagesEnglish

Find out more

Official websitenorthstargames.com
How to playOfficial video
RulebookOfficial PDF