- BGG rating
- 7.3
Evolution: Flight
- 2–6 players
- 60 min
- Complexity 2.6/5
- 2015
- BGG rank
- BGG #802
- BGG rating
- 7.0
Evolution
2014
Rules assistance for Evolution
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–6 players
- 60 min
- 12+
- Complexity 2.4/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Evolution
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Evolution is a board game released in 2014 for 2–6 players, 60 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Sergey Machin, Dmitry Knorre, and Dominic Crapuchettes and its main mechanics are Hand Management, Take That, and Push Your Luck.
Expansions
- BGG rating
- 7.5
Evolution: Scenario Cards
- 2–6 players
- 45–75 min
- Complexity 1.3/5
- 2016
- BGG rating
- 7.0
Evolution: Last Stand
- 2–6 players
- 60 min
- 2017
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- BGG #557
- BGG rating
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- Complexity 2.7/5
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- BGG #4,692
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Evolution: The Origin of Species
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- 30 min
- Complexity 1.8/5
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- BGG rank
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- BGG rating
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- 30–45 min
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- 30–90 min
- Complexity 3.5/5
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- 25–60 min
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- 30–60 min
- Complexity 1.7/5
- 2020
- BGG rank
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Wingspan
- 1–5 players
- 40–70 min
- Complexity 2.5/5
- 2019
- BGG rank
- BGG #3,582
- BGG rating
- 7.5
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- 60–90 min
- Complexity 2.6/5
- 2024
- BGG rank
- BGG #69
- BGG rating
- 7.9
Blood Rage
- 2–4 players
- 60–90 min
- Complexity 2.9/5
- 2015
- BGG rank
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- BGG rating
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Daybreak
- 1–4 players
- 60–120 min
- Complexity 2.9/5
- 2023
About the game
In Evolution, players adapt their species in a dynamic ecosystem where food is scarce and predators lurk. Traits like Hard Shell and Horns will protect your species from Carnivores, while a Long Neck will help them get food that others cannot reach. With over 4,000 ways to evolve your species, every game becomes a different adventure. Evolution is played in a variable number of rounds. Each round, players draw 3 Trait cards to enhance their species, create new species or feed their existing animals. Play continues until the Trait deck has been finished and needs to be reshuffled. Reshuffling the Trait cards signals the final round of the game. At the end of the game the player with the most food, traits, and population wins. Evolution packs a surprising amount of variety for a game with simple rules. The variety comes from the synergies between the trait cards and from the different personalities at the table. Some players thrive on creating Carnivores to wreak havoc on their fellow players. Others prefer to stay protected and mind their own business. Evolution encourages both play styles by giving each of them multiple paths to victory. And it is the mix of play styles at the table that ultimately determines the ecosystem in which the players are adapting. So gather your friends and see who can best adapt to the changing world around them.
Mechanics
Publishers
- Arclight Games
- Gémklub
- Siam Board Games
- Schmidt Spiele
- (Web published)
- Gameland 游戏大陆
- Egmont Polska
- Funforge
- Pendragon Game Studio
- Rightgames RBG SIA
- North Star Games, LLC
Questions and answers
Evolution 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 Evolution is 60 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 Evolution for ages 12 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.
Evolution has a complexity rating of 2.4 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.
Evolution belongs to these categories: Card Game, Animals, and Print & Play. Its main mechanics are Hand Management, Take That, and Push Your Luck. 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 Evolution are: Sergey Machin, Dmitry Knorre, and Dominic Crapuchettes. 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 Evolution 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.