Bios: Megafauna (Second Edition)
- Players
- 1-4
- Best withThe player count this game plays best at.
- 3 players
- Play timeHow long a full game runs once everyone knows the rules.
- 180 min
- AgeThe minimum age printed by the publisher.
- 12+
- ComplexityHow demanding the rules are, from 1 (very light) to 5 (very heavy).
- 4.5 / 5
- Year
- 2017
About the game
Bios: Megafauna picks up where Bios: Genesis leaves off, casting players as evolving life forms battling for terrestrial dominance from the Cambrian explosion through the rise of complex ecosystems. Starting as a plant, mollusk, insect, or vertebrate lineage, players guide their species' adaptation across drifting continents toward greater complexity, potentially even language-based consciousness. As a spiritual successor to American Megafauna, it links thematically and mechanically to the Bios series, with optional integration with Bios: Genesis. It's a heavy, simulation-driven strategy game for serious students of evolutionary history.
Hobbli's Notes
Hobbli's editors respect Phil Eklund's ambitious attempt to simulate the sweep of evolutionary history in a genuinely playable board game. It's an intensely cerebral, long design that rewards patience and a real interest in paleobiology. Not a casual pick, but a fascinating one for the right group of dedicated strategy gamers.
What we like
- Deeply thematic simulation of evolutionary history and biology.
- Rich strategic depth from area majority and drafting mechanics.
- Can be linked with Bios: Genesis for an extended campaign experience.
- High replayability given its variable starting conditions.
Keep in mind
- Very long 3-hour playtime and steep complexity limit its audience.
- Dense rules and terminology require significant upfront learning.
- Niche scientific theme may not appeal to casual players.
Who it's for
Best for serious strategy gamers, ages 14+, in groups of 2-4 who enjoy heavy simulation games with scientific and evolutionary themes.
