Bios: Origins (Second Edition)
- Players
- 1-4
- Best withThe player count this game plays best at.
- 4 players
- Play timeHow long a full game runs once everyone knows the rules.
- 240 min
- AgeThe minimum age printed by the publisher.
- 14+
- ComplexityHow demanding the rules are, from 1 (very light) to 5 (very heavy).
- 4.2 / 5
- Year
- 2019
About the game
Bios: Origins is the third installment in Phil Eklund's ambitious Bios Trilogy, starting the story of humanity as far back as 200,000 years ago. One to four players guide early human subspecies, Sapiens, Neanderthal, Denisovans, and Hobbits, through enlarging brains, acquiring language, discovering religion, and eventually building civilizations. Players have only limited control over their ruling class, and poor leadership can see priests, merchants, or warlords usurped in turn. Victory comes through specializing as a cultural, political, or industrial civilization, with solitaire and cooperative variants available, and compatibility with Bios: Genesis and Bios: Megafauna for an even longer campaign.
Hobbli's Notes
Classic Eklund density: thematically fascinating and mechanically rich, but it demands real investment to learn and appreciate. A rewarding pick for hardcore strategy gamers who enjoy simulation-style history games, less so for anyone wanting a lighter evening.
What we like
- Extraordinary thematic depth spanning prehistory to civilization.
- Innovative ruling-class mechanic makes leadership choices genuinely risky.
- Compatible with Bios: Genesis and Bios: Megafauna for an even grander campaign.
- Solitaire and cooperative variants add flexibility.
Keep in mind
- Very high complexity and long four-hour playtime limit its audience.
- Steep learning curve that can overwhelm newcomers.
- Dense rulebook and terminology require real dedication to master.
Who it's for
Hardcore strategy gamers who enjoy deep simulation and civilization games, 1 to 4 players, comfortable with long, complex sessions.
