Ecosystem – Nature Themed Board Game

Ecosystem - the card game

Designed by: Matt Simpson

Illustrated by: Lindsay Falsone and Martyna Szpil

Published by: Genius Games (2019)

Players: 1–6

Ages: 8+

Playing Time: 10–20 minutes

I have been a board game player ever since I was young. I recall fondly playing cards with my grandma and learning all the different variations of card games. Later I learned how to play draughts and chess with dad, not that I was any good at them. Then there were the family holidays on the east coast where on a rainy day we would play monopoly, dominos and other such traditional games. But it was at the start of lockdown when I was looking for other things that me and my beloved could do to get us through the crisis, that we discovered nature themed board games. Now I have a small collection filling a couple of shelves of my bookcase.

Ecosystem is a card-drafting and tableau-building game in which players create a balanced natural environment by strategically placing cards representing animals, plants, and habitats. It is light, quick to play, and ideal for families and casual gamers.

Does it teach anything about biodiversity or ecosystems?

The game comes in a very compact box measuring just 16cm by 11cm, making it perfect for taking away on summer holidays or weekend trips. It's easy to learn simply shuffle the 130 cards and deal 10 cards to each player.

Players look at their hand, choose one card to keep, and places it face down in front of them. Once everyone has selected a card, all chosen cards are revealed simultaneously and added to their ecosystems. The remaining cards are then passed to the left, and the process repeats.

Once all the cards from the first hand have been drafted, round one ends. Players are then dealt another 10 cards for round two. This time, the cards are passed to the right. By the end of the game, each player will have built an ecosystem consisting of 20 cards arranged in a grid four cards high and five cards wide.

Scoring 

Is based heavily on card placement and adjacency:

• Bears score points when placed next to bees and trout.

• Trout score when near streams and dragonflies.

• Meadows and streams reward grouping and continuity.

Diversity Bonus

Players earn bonus points for creating biodiverse ecosystems and lose points for gaps or missing elements within their habitats.

The included player aid explains all scoring conditions, although I must admit that the first couple of games felt a little daunting. Remembering which combinations worked best took some time, so early games may move a little slower. Once I became familiar with the scoring system, however, everything started to click, and strategic placement became much more intuitive.

Things I Learned While Playing

• Balance is important. Don't focus solely on one species; diversification helps avoid penalties.

• Streams and meadows are valuable. Long streams can generate significant points, and connected meadows score well if you leave enough space for them.

• Pay attention to adjacency. Some animals lose points when placed near predators such as bears or wolves.

It also pays to watch the cards other players pass. Anticipating what might come back around the table can be a useful strategy. Personally, I don't spend too much effort doing that—my head might explode if I tried! However, over time you naturally become more observant. Much like studying a real habitat, paying attention to what's happening around you can reveal opportunities that others miss.

For two players, there is a slightly different setup. There is also an enjoyable solo variant but I've never managed to beat the automa *, Nikita, by more than 50 points (the challenge target is 70), so I assume I'm performing somewhere around average!

*Automa - a simulated opponent designed for solo board games play. Often it does not follow the same rules and procedures as a human player – its purpose is to give the feel and effect of multiplayer interaction, a simulated bot – popularized by Morten Monrad Pedersen.

The Educational Value

I love the concept of building an efficient ecosystem. 

I like the fact that you are not overwhelmed with options: there are only nine species and two habitat types, any more and the game could become unnecessarily complex.

The game introduces ecological concepts without explicitly teaching them. A bee needs a meadow to collect pollen. A dragonfly benefits from being near a stream. Building on these relationships creates connections that resemble real-world food chains and food webs. The trout's scoring conditions, for example, encourage players to think about how species interact within an ecosystem.

I also appreciate the penalty for leaving gaps in your ecosystem, as it subtly reflects the importance of environmental balance.

That said, I would have liked Genius Games to include more information about the science behind the mechanics. The ecological ideas are certainly present, but they feel more like a backdrop than an educational focus. Another Genius Games title on my shelf, Genotype, includes a separate booklet explaining Mendelian genetics and Punnett squares. Something similar here would have strengthened the educational aspect considerably.

Who Would Enjoy It?

• Anyone who enjoys card games and wants a nature-themed experience.

• Players who prefer quick games with minimal downtime.

• Those who dislike lengthy setup; there is no board and only a single deck of cards.

• Newbies to modern board games, as the rules are straightforward and easy to learn.

Downsides

• Large bonuses for having the most wolves or the longest stream can make those strategies feel like races rather than organic decisions.

• Success relies partly on a player's ability to remember which cards are likely circulating around the table.

Final Thoughts

Ecosystem is a neat little game that incorporates genuine ecological ideas into its gameplay. The scientific concepts are there, but they may not be obvious to players with no background in biology or environmental science. It's an excellent travel game, a quick filler or even an aperitif before a longer evening of gaming.

A clever, accessible design that successfully captures the feel of building a living ecosystem—while leaving a little educational potential unexplored.

If you like this or prefer a slightly different theme, then good news the same publishers released two more similar games Coral Reef (2022) and Savanna (2023). Same drafting gameplay, different scientific concepts introduced and subsequent scoring.

Have you played any of these games? I would love to hear your thoughts and which game you prefer to play?

Board games can be an expensive hobby so I often go to board game cafes these days. If you would like to support this content please consider buying me a coffee, 😏 it would be very much appreciated.

Video reviews:

Ecosystem vs Savanna

https://youtu.be/yQcCUlI1n3E?is=KmC7qvPV0NRqoU_7

Ecosystem vs Coral Reef

Ecosystem: Coral Reef🌊🐚 - Card drafting/placement, like Ecosystem?