- BGG rank
- BGG #4,949
- BGG rating
- 6.6
Micro Mutants: Evolution
- 2–4 players
- 30 min
- Complexity 1.4/5
- 2007
- BGG rank
- BGG #7,700
- BGG rating
- 6.4
X-Bugs
2001
Rules assistance for X-Bugs
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2 players
- 30 min
- 10+
- Complexity 1.3/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for X-Bugs
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
X-Bugs is a board game released in 2001 for 2 players, 30 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. It was designed by Marco Maggi and Francesco Nepitello and its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers and Dice Rolling.
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About the game
The History: In the famous Roswell crash, the alien crew died, but some alien insects survived... and at the moment they're ready to conquer the world! But during the cold war, US and Soviet scientists studied a solution: genetically modified earth insects, strong enough to deal with the menace! The battle is going to begin! The Game: the game is based on the classic tiddlywinks: every army has three "bases" which have to be defended, and various "soldier insects" (winks) with various shapes, dimensions, and special abilities. An "insect" is captured when an opponent "insect" stop over it. A "base" is captured the second time an opponent "insect" stop over it. Three 6-sided creature dice for every army are rolled every turn, and dictates which kinds of insects can move. When you lose a base, you lose a die and therefore some mobility. When you lose the second base, you're out of the game. There are six armies, but only four were published in the United States. The game is sold in boxes containing two armies, and each army is separately available in two colors so identical forces can face each other: - USArthropods Vs. Flyborgs - Sovietoptera Vs. Chitinians - Samurachnids Vs. Bifids (not published in the US as of 8/2007) Each set has enough pieces for two players; by combining sets up to 12 can play. About special abilities: some insects can mimetize, some can move twice, other can shoot some weapons like missiles or acid spits (represented by winks, too)... BTW, the Italian name for "Tiddlywinks" is "il gioco della pulce", which means "the game of the flea". Reimplemented as Micro Mutants: Evolution
Categories
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Steve Jackson Games
- Dal Negro
- Nexus Editrice
- Darwin Project
- Origames
- Fanpro
Questions and answers
X-Bugs 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 X-Bugs is 30 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 X-Bugs 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.
X-Bugs has a complexity rating of 1.3 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.
X-Bugs belongs to these categories: Fighting and Action / Dexterity. Its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers and Dice Rolling. 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 X-Bugs are: Marco Maggi and Francesco Nepitello. 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 X-Bugs 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.