- BGG rank
- BGG #16,471
- BGG rating
- 7.5
InterSpace
- 2–4 players
- 360 min
- Complexity 3.2/5
- 2004
- BGG rank
- BGG #25,981
- BGG rating
- 5.6
GRO: Battle for the Petri Dish
1999
Rules assistance for GRO: Battle for the Petri Dish
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2 players
- 90 min
- 10+
- Complexity 2.0/5
Rules assistant for GRO: Battle for the Petri Dish
For 2 players
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
GRO: Battle for the Petri Dish is a board game released in 1999 for 2 players, 90 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. It was designed by Greg Turner.
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About the game
Each player controls the growth and expansion of a strain of bacterium within the confines of a petri dish. The goal is to become the dominant strain. Each player starts with a single germ. Germs may grow and divide to produce more germs, which may grow and divide to produce more germs, etc. Germs may also move, and they may attempt to surround opposing germs. When a germ is surrounded, it dies. The petri dish contains 4 goal areas. The first player to gain exclusive control of 3 of the 4 areas, wins. The game consists of a board (representing the petri dish), 16 red and 16 blue 7/8" poker chips (the germs), 2 pages of rules, and 2 reference/illustration cards.
Questions and answers
GRO: Battle for the Petri Dish supports 2 players according to the catalogue. This is the publisher’s listed player count, so the game is designed for exactly that number of participants. Variants for other group sizes, if any, are described in the rulebook of your edition, so check it before setting up a different configuration.
The listed playing time for GRO: Battle for the Petri Dish is 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 GRO: Battle for the Petri Dish for ages 10 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.
GRO: Battle for the Petri Dish 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.
GRO: Battle for the Petri Dish belongs to these categories: Abstract Strategy. Categories describe the theme, setting and style of a game rather than its rules. Filter the catalogue by the same category to find similar games when you enjoyed GRO: Battle for the Petri Dish and want something comparable for your next game night.
The credited designers of GRO: Battle for the Petri Dish are: Greg Turner. 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 GRO: Battle for the Petri Dish 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.