| | | | | | |

Bios: Genesis (2016) Board Game

ByMichail

Bios: Genesis is a board game released in 2016 that takes players back to the dawn of life on Earth. Designed by Karim Chakroun and Ron Miller, the game is set in the prehistoric era and focuses on environmental themes. With stunning artwork by Fox in the Box, Ion Game Design, and Sierra Madre Games, Bios: Genesis offers a unique and immersive gaming experience.

Game Components of Bios: Genesis

  • Cards: Event cards, mutation cards, and refugia cards.
  • Oversized placards: For bacteria and refugia.
  • Disks: Representing catalysts, enzymes, and antioxidants.
  • Wooden cubes: For manna and chromosomes.
  • Wooden domes: For bionts.
  • Six-sided dice**.
  • Rules and historical background**.
  • Folding player aid**.
  • Box**.

    How To Setup Bios: Genesis

    Setting up **Bios: Genesis** involves several steps, including shuffling and drawing the event cards, which determine the turn order and active refugia and mutation card piles. Players must also place the oversized placards, distribute the disks, cubes, and domes, and prepare the dice. The game includes a comprehensive 50-page rules manual to guide players through the setup process.

    Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

  • Event Cards: Determine climate, catastrophes, and turn order.
  • Resource Management: Manage manna, chromosomes, and other resources.
  • Organism Evolution: Evolve organisms through mutations.
  • Environmental Impact: Resolve catastrophes and changes in the environment.
  • Extinction: Organisms lose all their cubes and go extinct.
  • Game Objective: Survive and thrive in a dynamic and challenging environment.

    Player Experience

    **Bios: Genesis** offers a deeply immersive and complex gaming experience. Players must navigate the challenges of evolving life forms from simple bacteria to complex organisms, all while dealing with environmental catastrophes and resource management. The game is highly strategic and requires careful planning and adaptation.

    Pros

  • Deep Strategy: Offers a rich and complex gameplay experience.
  • Thematic Depth: Immersive theme that simulates the evolution of life.
  • Replayability: High replay value due to the dynamic event cards and mutation systems.
  • Solo Play: Nominated for the 2016 Golden Geek Best Solo Board Game, indicating strong solo gameplay.

    Cons

  • Steep Learning Curve: Requires a significant investment of time to learn the rules.
  • Complex Setup: Setup can be lengthy and involved.
  • Availability: Currently out of stock, with no confirmed reprint date.

    Personal Thoughts on Bios: Genesis

    **Bios: Genesis** is for players who enjoy complex, strategic games with deep thematic elements. It is ideal for those interested in science, biology, and the evolution of life. The game’s complexity and lengthy playtime make it less suitable for casual gamers but highly rewarding for those willing to invest the time and effort to master it.

    We are supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, at no extra cost for you. Learn more. 

    • Michail, a seasoned tabletop enthusiast, dives headfirst into worlds of fantasy and strategy. Whether commanding a party of adventurers through perilous dungeons or engaging in tactical showdowns on the board, Michail is the maestro of the tabletop realm. Michail's gaming table is a realm where the clatter of dice and the shuffle of cards create a symphony of strategic chaos.

    Hobby: Miniature painting guru, turning pewter into masterpieces
    Preferred Game: Dungeons & Dragons, but always up for a board game brawl