- BGG rank
- BGG #15,055
- BGG rating
- 7.1
Ecologies: Bizarre Biomes
- 1–6 players
- 60–90 min
- Complexity 2.0/5
- 2020
- BGG rank
- BGG #16,197
- BGG rating
- 7.5
Ecologies: Hidden Habitats
2021
Rules assistance for Ecologies: Hidden Habitats
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 1–6 players
- 60–90 min
- 8+
- Complexity 2.0/5
For 1 player
Rules assistant for Ecologies: Hidden Habitats
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Ecologies: Hidden Habitats is a board game released in 2021 for 1–6 players, 60–90 minutes per game, and ages 8 and up. It was designed by Matt Montrose and its main mechanics are Hand Management, Set Collection, and Trading.
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About the game
Ecologies: Hidden Habitats is the third game in the series, it is playable as a stand alone game or used in combination with the previous two ECOLOGIES card games. Players build and maintain food webs in diverse environments. Healthy ecologies reward you with bonus powers and perks. Watch out though, as others may decide it’s easier to disturb and degrade your ecosystem than nurture their own. Designed by a biology teacher, the game includes 76 unique organisms, 7 biomes, and beautiful vintage Victorian art. (108 cards total) Cards are arranged with plants/algae on the bottom and predators on top. Players negotiate trades and use biotic and abiotic factor cards to affect their webs and the webs of players around them. It is a race to get to 12 victory points, with players using different strategies such as focusing on one biome, going for perks and bonuses, or disrupting other ecologies. Gameplay is rooted in authentic science, as it is used in the classroom to teach real concepts to biology students. While it is scientific enough for the classroom, it is also strategic enough for any game night. The points system is based on ecological trophic levels. The producers (plants) are worth less and as you make your way up the pyramid organisms are worth more, as it takes a lot of energy to sustain them. In real life only roughly 10% of the energy makes it from one level to the next, meaning you have to have acres of land and hundreds of animals just to sustain one apex predator. This game is a sequel AND an expansion. When using the game as an expansion, you can customize the deck to include cards from all three games, including cards you love and excluding ones you don’t. Some players love aggressive “take that” mechanics, while others find them stressful. Some players love particular healthy ecology bonuses, while others feel they are overpowered. With multiple decks, you can create a customized experience to fit your group. If you’d like to maintain the same game length and feel, we recommend choosing 10 factor cards and 7 different biomes. Note: more cards = a longer game -description from publisher's website
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Montrose Biology
Questions and answers
Ecologies: Hidden Habitats supports 1–6 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 Ecologies: Hidden Habitats is 60–90 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 Ecologies: Hidden Habitats for ages 8 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.
Ecologies: Hidden Habitats has a complexity rating of 2.0 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-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.
Ecologies: Hidden Habitats belongs to these categories: Card Game, Animals, and Negotiation. Its main mechanics are Hand Management, Set Collection, and Trading. 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 Ecologies: Hidden Habitats are: Matt Montrose. 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 Ecologies: Hidden Habitats 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.