- BGG rank
- BGG #655
- BGG rating
- 7.1
Jamaica
- 2–6 players
- 30–60 min
- Complexity 1.7/5
- 2007
- BGG rank
- BGG #7,817
- BGG rating
- 6.2
Animalia
2006
Rules assistance for Animalia
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–6 players
- 10–20 min
- 7+
- Complexity 1.2/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Animalia
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Animalia is a board game released in 2006 for 2–6 players, 10–20 minutes per game, and ages 7 and up. It was designed by Bruno Cathala, Sébastien Pauchon, and Malcolm Braff and its main mechanics are Set Collection and Open Drafting.
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About the game
This game was designed and then published as a contract order from a Swiss insurance company ASSURA SA. It is intended to promote one of their product, ANIMALIA, an insurance for pets and animals. One of the goals set early in the process was to design a "real game", not a mere advertising product, playable with the whole family. That's how the game ended up being playable for 2 to 6 players, age 7 and up. It's a light card game, which is enjoyable among adults and children alike, the latter ones having a chance of winning thanks to the luck factor induced by card-drawing. "You're determined to be awarded the title of Best Breeder and you have three season to win as many medals as you can with your show animals. But beware, your opponents are all trying to do the same thing and they certainly won't hesitate to use their animals' special powers to spoil your plans. Stay alert, keep an eye on your opponents' animals as well as your own - and see who gets to the top of the medal table!" The players are animal-breeders who compete to present the finest collection of show-animals over the course of 3 seasons and each season is split into 3 phases. In the first phase, players take turns drafting 5 animals into their collection. In the second phase, players compare the elegance of their animals by counting the stars at the top of their cards. Bonuses are awarded to the 2 players with the most elegant animal collections. Medals are awarded in phase 3 at the end of each season. Players earn animal medals for having multiple animals of the same family, or 5 different animals. The breeder with the highest number of medals at the end of the third season is declared the winner!
Mechanics
Publishers
- GameWorks SàRL
Questions and answers
Animalia supports 2–6 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 Animalia is 10–20 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 Animalia for ages 7 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.
Animalia has a complexity rating of 1.2 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a light 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.
Animalia belongs to these categories: Card Game, Humor, and Animals. Its main mechanics are Set Collection and Open Drafting. 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 Animalia are: Bruno Cathala, Sébastien Pauchon, and Malcolm Braff. 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 Animalia 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.