- BGG rating
- 7.2
American Megafauna (Second Edition): Expansion Set
- 1–5 players
- Complexity 3.4/5
- 2006
- BGG rank
- BGG #7,095
- BGG rating
- 6.8
American Megafauna
1997
Rules assistance for American Megafauna
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 1–4 players
- 90–360 min
- 9+
- Complexity 3.8/5
For 1 player
Rules assistant for American Megafauna
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
American Megafauna is a board game released in 1997 for 1–4 players, 90–360 minutes per game, and ages 9 and up. It was designed by Phil Eklund and its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Auction / Bidding, and Simulation.
Expansions
- BGG rating
- 6.0
Animal Farm
- 2–5 players
- Complexity 2.0/5
- 2008
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Bios: Origins (Second Edition)
- 1–4 players
- 120–240 min
- Complexity 4.2/5
- 2019
- BGG rank
- BGG #2,153
- BGG rating
- 7.6
Bios: Megafauna (Second Edition)
- 1–4 players
- 90–180 min
- Complexity 4.5/5
- 2017
About the game
From the designer/publisher: A quarter of a billion years ago, an unknown catastrophe engulfs the Earth. The swamps and ice caps of the Permian are replaced by the blistering deserts of the Triassic. On both land and sea, 96% of the animal species die. In the corner of Pangea that will be known as America, small survivors cautiously sniff the post-holocaust air at the dawn of the Mesozoic Era. Some of these unspecialized quadrupeds have sloppy ever-replacing reptile teeth, these will be the dinosaurs. Others have sculpted "one-shot" teeth, these will be the mammals. The victor in this titanic ecological struggle will determine the masters of the planet. Clearly, the ruling reptiles triumphed since that day, 248 million years ago, and dominated for 170 million years. Only to be overthrown, in what must be the upset of the eon, by the mammals. Yet the contest is not over. American Megafauna pits dinosaurs against mammals in ancient America. The game is designed for two to four players, from ages 9 to adult, or can be played solitaire. It recreates the titanic contest of these two types of prehistoric beasts from the Triassic to the present. This is a game of ecology, evolution, and DNA. Players start as one of four nondescript archetypes, but can branch out to new species from this basic type by bidding on genotype and DNA cards as they are revealed. For auction "currency," players use gene coins from a "gene pool." DNA cards allow players to create strange animals, from cud-chewing crocodiles with antlers, to saber-tooth meat-eating camels. In the advanced version, the continent of Laurentia is occasionally flooded or glaciated; greenhouse levels change; and the three Milankovich cycles are handled by cards that occur with historical probabilities. Biome cards, including cicada prairies, mountains, ice sheets, and mangrove swamps, appear on the map in succession according to "climax" ratings. Expanded by: American Megafauna (Second Edition): Expansion Set Re-implemented by: Bios: Megafauna
Categories
Designers
Publishers
- Sierra Madre Games
Questions and answers
American Megafauna supports 1–4 players according to the catalogue. This range comes from the publisher’s listed player count, so the game can be set up for any group size within it. Some setups, rules and scoring details may still vary by player count, so check your edition’s rulebook for the exact configuration.
The listed playing time for American Megafauna is 90–360 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists American Megafauna for ages 9 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
American Megafauna has a complexity rating of 3.8 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a heavy game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
American Megafauna belongs to these categories: Animals, Prehistoric, and Environmental. Its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Auction / Bidding, and Simulation. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The credited designers of American Megafauna are: Phil Eklund. These credits come from the published game data and name the people responsible for the game’s design, not its illustrators or publishers. Designer pages on MeepleRules collect other titles by the same designers, which helps when you enjoy a game and want to find similar ones.
The catalogue lists American Megafauna as a base game. It can be played on its own with the components in the box and does not require any other title. Expansions, if any exist, add new content or rules on top of it and are listed separately in the catalogue with a link back to this base game.