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Linkage: A DNA Card Game
2014
Rules assistance for Linkage: A DNA Card Game
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–4 players
- 10–20 min
- 10+
- Complexity 1.5/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Linkage: A DNA Card Game
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Linkage: A DNA Card Game is a board game released in 2014 for 2–4 players, 10–20 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. It was designed by John Coveyou and its main mechanics are Hand Management, Take That, and Pattern Building.
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About the game
Linkage is competitive card game that is simple to learn, yet offers lots of depth, forward thinking and replay-ability for 2 to 4 players. But best of all, Linkage was designed and themed around a process normally taught in high school biology, DNA Transcription, (when an RNA copy is made from DNA for protein synthesis or other in a cell) and in this way offers a unique, engaging and tactile experience for someone to familiarize themselves with this fundamental concept of biology. In Linkage, DNA cards are randomly aligned side-by-side creating a DNA template strand. Players compete to build the most accurate RNA copy of this DNA Template by connecting their own RNA Cards side-by-side to match the DNA Template. During a turn, players choose between one of four actions: Building onto their RNA Strand, Fixing their RNA strand, Mutating an opposing players RNA Strand, or Mutating the actual DNA Strand. Players can also pay (discard) cards from their hand to take extra actions during their turn. Players are awarded points based upon the number of RNA Cards in their strand that correctly pair with the DNA template. The game can be played in as little 10 to 20 minutes but additional rounds can be added for a longer, more in-depth game. Multiple decks can also be added together for a game with more than 4 people, or a longer overall game.
Categories
Designers
Publishers
- Genius Games
Questions and answers
Linkage: A DNA Card Game supports 2–4 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 Linkage: A DNA Card Game 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 Linkage: A DNA Card Game 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.
Linkage: A DNA Card Game has a complexity rating of 1.5 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.
Linkage: A DNA Card Game belongs to these categories: Card Game, Educational, and Medical. Its main mechanics are Hand Management, Take That, and Pattern Building. 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 Linkage: A DNA Card Game are: John Coveyou. 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 Linkage: A DNA Card Game 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.