One of the greatest aspects of most card games is the endless variety of strategies you can employ. With expansion packs and extra card sets, you can explore new methods of gameplay and tactics that keep the game feeling fresh every time. Evolution embraces this to the max by taking on genetic evolution, perhaps the most diverse process of all.
In this engaging and multi-faceted card game, you’ll develop your species to be tough, wily, and resourceful as you try and survive against the bloodthirsty predators. Will your strategy focus on defending against the Carnivores or will you become the hungry hunter yourself? Anything is possible in the fun and primal world of Evolution.
The Process of Evolution
Evolution is more than just a card game with a simple theme as a gimmick. This challenging and multi-layered card game is driven by the process of evolution the very same way that life on Earth is. Players have to build their species to adapt in a dynamic ecosystem with scarce food supplies and dangerous predators. In the game of Evolution, it’s adapt or die.
Each player begins the game with a basic species, establishing a set body size and population for your species. Throughout each turn, players will try to grow their species by adding new species, increasing its body size, and evolving it into something that can survive more easily. Will you evolve your species to have a Hard Shell and Horns to protect it from Carnivores or a Long Neck to help them get food that’s out of reach?
Players will have to decide which step they’ll want to take to manage their species in order to gain enough food to survive. At the end of each round, each species must have enough food to eat for their population or their population will be reduced. The winner of the game is the player with the most food eaten and the highest total population of all their species.
Predator vs. Prey
In addition to the over 4,000 different ways you can evolve your species, Evolution offers players the ability to turn their species into predators. Predators can eat the other species, but they must have larger body sizes than their prey and they have to be able to catch them. For example, if your species is capable of climbing, then only a larger predator who can also climb can potentially eat you.
When players get dealt cards each round, one card per person is donated to the central feeding pool. After each player spends their cards, the feeding pool is revealed and players grab them one at a time to feed their species. However, predators are not allowed to feed from the feeding pool, instead of being forced to attack their opponents.
Evolution Sequels Expansions
Evolution comes with a sequel and an expansion card game that each introduces new elements into the game. Evolution: Climate is a standalone game that adds climate to the mix, giving you scorching hot and icy cold climates that can threaten your species. This will force you to take on new evolutionary traits such as Heavy Fur and Migratory that will protect you from the cold.
Evolution: Flight is an expansion that introduces species that can fly into your ecosystem. This adds a new ability to get hard-to-reach food as well as attack unsuspecting prey. If players decide to create a flying species, they must discard 2 cards instead of 1. However, they have an additional source of food from the Cliff and they can’t be attacked by predators who can’t fly.
It’s Survival of the Fittest with Evolution
Evolution is playable by 2-6 players, so it’s a great game for families or one-on-one games. It’s suitable for ages 12 and up, as the mechanics are relatively simple despite the infinite variety of strategies that the game offers. Playing time lasts around an hour, so it’s a good game to use as the centerpiece for family game night.
This card game stands out not only for its fun and fast-paced gameplay, but also for the beautiful art on the cards. Enjoy the primal fun of Evolution and buy this card game today!
