Ecosystem Review

Ecosystem is a quick, well-crafted card drafting game with particularly pleasant artwork for players to enjoy. Players draft cards into a 20-card grid in order to grow their own ecosystem of interacting animals, critters and environments. Different interactions between cards yield varying point values, and so the most efficient ecosystems win. Its minimal setup time allows several games to be played in one sitting. The low general complexity of the rules also means that it can be quickly taught to new players.

How Does The Game Play Out?

Ecosystem is a beautiful and beautifully simple game to play, and can be enjoyed by 2 to 6 players. Play is divided up into two rounds, each with 10 cards played. Players begin with 10 cards each and place their first card down to form the root of their ecosystem. From here they will grow their ecosystem into a 20-card grid, focussing on the interaction between the different types of cards. Each card type builds the players point score through itself or by its interaction with other types. For example Eagles hunt Rabbits and Trout within two places of them in the grid, for two points each. Meanwhile Dragonflies benefit from their proximity to long Rivers. Some cards work by themselves, such as Rabbits which earn 1 point each, but they also have a bonus power allowing players to swap any two cards in their ecosystem. And finally, some cards benefit from a lack of interaction, such as the Foxes which earn 3 points so long as they are not adjacent to Bears of Wolves.

The level of player interaction in Ecosystem is generally minimal, with the exception of the hand-passing element of the rules. Hands are passed between players, either to the left or right (alternating between rounds), each time a card is played. This gives access to more cards throughout rounds in order to help increase the biodiversity of their ecosystems. Challenge is built up through the players’ ability to analyse the game and use their memory skills. Doing so will enable the building of complex relationships between the animals, critters and environments within their ecosystems. Each player must plan their moves ahead and hope that others do not play the cards that they seek to. Substantial bonus points can be acquired by ensuring that your ecosystem is diverse; having as few card types missing from your ecosystem as possible. It also requires good planning and forethought as the least popular cards for everyone’s individual ecosystems get left in dwindling hands at the end of the game. Getting stuck having to play Foxes next to your carefully placed Bears and Wolves at the end of the game should be keenly avoided!

In general Ecosystem balances relatively well between learnability and re-playability. However, the game can feel very one-dimensional at times, and the added complexity is really down to the player as to how much thought they put into their tactics. The game does not openly make its complexity obvious, especially to new players. Additionally, the card passing element of the game adds player interaction in a way that doesn’t necessarily add a lot of value to the game as a group experience. At times it feels like a compromise between ensuring that there is some level of player interaction, while ensuring that one of the key facets of the game (diversity of your ecosystem) is available to players throughout game rounds.

But What About The Design & Artwork?

The artwork produced for the cards is truly lovely, as is the box artwork. The illustrations are beautifully detailed and feature a combination of vibrant and evocative colour schemes matched to the theme of each card. The Wolves are cold and muted in their winter landscape whilst the Bees leap off their vivid flowers. As the playing cards are the only component to the game (aside from the point guide cards) it definitely leaves us wanting more from the artist, Lindsay Falsone.

If I have one criticism it is the gloss texture to the cards. Due to their small size it can at times make the cards a bit fiddly to handle, as they slide across each other too easily. Picking them up from smooth services also has its challenges at times, and it is easy to bend the cards in the process. A neoprene or similar game mat would not go amiss! It may have been better for the cards to have a matt finish to them or to have been made from canvas-type material. That said, the finish on the game cards and all the components is good and I have no general issue with the overall quality.

So Who’s It Best For?

This was one of the first board games my partner and I bought while getting started in board games, and for that reason I can wholeheartedly recommend it to new players to the board game scene. As a starting investment it really cannot be beaten on price versus re-playability. It is easy to learn and easy to re-learn, and one that we come back to now and again when we don’t want to spend time setting up anything more complicated. While visiting family last Christmas we even taught my family how to play, who quickly picked up the rules and much enjoyed playing this. For the avid gamer it probably won’t add value to an expansive collection that cannot be sought elsewhere. That said, it does offer good value for money and because of the speed at which it can be learned by new and novice players it could be a good, quick game, especially for the environmentally conscious!

Anything Else

For those who need it, this one has been field tested as a game to take with you camping. The small size of the cards and limited number of components means it is quick to set up and pack away, and works on relatively small surface sizes like a camping table. The small box size also makes it easy to slip into rucksacks to bring along on lighter trips for some screen-free entertainment. Playing inside the tent or with a good wind break is definitely recommended to avoid chasing your ecosystem across a field!

Related Games

For those looking for something very similar is Ecosystem’s standalone sequel. Ecosystem: Coral Reef takes players to the bottom of the ocean building diversity with fish, whales, crustaceans and octopi! Octopuses? Octopodes!?