Biome (2024) Board Game – Board Game Guys

Biome is a board game designed by Jessica Apel and Grzegorz Siwek, with stunning artwork by Lioness Games and one more artist. It was released in 2024 and falls into the categories of Animals, Card Game, Educational, and Environmental. The game is designed for 1–4 players aged 14 and above, with a runtime of 60–120 minutes.

Game Components of Biome

Double-sided centerpiece board

4 player mats

64 wooden cubes (16 each in 4 player colors)

12 starting cards

8 achievement cards

2 white wooden cubes

185 wooden tokens (sun, insect, fruit, leaf, fish, and rodent)

50 wooden chicks

30 wooden rabbits

16 straw nests

1 metal coin

4 legend cards

1 standard die

1 starting player token

4 player point tokens

1 season tracker token

170 plant and animal wildlife cards.

How To Setup Biome

To set up Biome, each player receives a player mat representing their biome, which includes habitats such as marsh, prairie, and jungle. Players start with the starting cards and place the centerpiece board in the middle. The game begins in Fall of Year 1, with each player drawing two cards from the deck and collecting two resources of their choice. The game also includes setting up achievement cards and preparing the deck of plant and wildlife cards.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Key Mechanics:

Resource Management: Players collect resources such as insects, leaves, fruit, fish, rodents, and sunlight to play cards.

Tableau Building: Players build their biome by playing cards into their habitat areas.

Action Execution: Each card has a unique action that can be taken once per game.

Seasonal Events: The game progresses through seasons, each with specific events like nesting in Spring and predation in Summer.

Achievements: Players can earn points by completing public and private achievement goals.

Game Objective:

The game ends when one player reaches 120 points or fully fills their biome. The player with the most points at the end of the game wins.

Player Experience

In Biome, players take on the role of conservationists aiming to construct the most diverse and fruitful ecosystem. The game combines resource management, positional strategy, and action execution, with elements of randomness and player interaction. Players must balance building their biome, managing resources, and using card abilities strategically. The game also features predators that can disrupt opponents’ biomes, adding a layer of competition and strategy.

Pros

High Replayability: With 170 plant and animal cards, each game can be significantly different.

Strategic Depth: Players must manage resources, build their biome, and execute card actions strategically.

Interactive Elements: Predators and seasonal events add player interaction and unpredictability.

Multiple Pathways to Victory: Players can focus on different strategies, such as building a diverse biome or using predators to disrupt opponents.

Cons

Limited Card Diversity: Compared to other games in the ecosystem theme, Biome has fewer cards, which can make the game feel less complex.

Simplification of Ecosystems: The game simplifies complex ecosystem dynamics, which might be a drawback for players seeking more realistic ecosystem management.

Overlapping with Similar Games: Biome shares similarities with other games like Earth and Ark Nova, which might make it less unique in a saturated market.

Personal Thoughts on Biome

Biome is suited for players who enjoy resource management, tableau-building, and strategic planning. It is particularly appealing to those who like games with a strong environmental or conservation theme. However, players who already own similar games like Earth might find Biome too redundant. Despite its simplifications and limitations, Biome offers a fun and engaging experience with high replayability, making it a great addition for fans of the genre.

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