Ecologies: A Nature Inspired Card Game
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One of our favorite science-based games is Ecologies by Montrose Biology. It is a card game designed by a biology teacher where the goal is to “create balanced ecologies while trying to unbalance opponents.”
We love it so much, we featured it on our Coop Faves Podcast!
What is Ecologies?
Ecologies is designed for 1-6 players ages 12 and up. However, simplified rules make the game more comfortable for players as young as 8 years old. My daughter first learned to play at 8 and really enjoyed it. Expected gameplay is 60-90 minutes, and keeps you thinking and strategizing the whole time. Ecologies includes 77 unique organisms, 7 biomes, and beautiful vintage Victorian art.
Photos directly from the Montrose Biology Website
How to Play Ecologies
We think Montrose Biology says it best:
“In ECOLOGIES, you build and maintain food webs in diverse biomes around the world. Each biome has a different ecology, and gives unique rewards when it is healthy and balanced. But watch out, your opponents may decide it's easier to disturb and degrade your ecosystems than nurture their own. In this hectic environment, you must choose how best to protect and care for your ecologies.”
Ecologies is fun to play again and again as you learn from your mistakes and successes. It is fun to try out new strategies and play with different levels of competitiveness.
3 Reasons Ecologies is a Favorite
HUGELY educational! Just to begin the game, players must become familiar with biology vocabulary and concepts. During the game, this knowledge can’t help but grow in order to play.
Strategic Thinking It takes strategy and thought to not only smartly build your own ecology but to think ahead to unbalance your opponent or keep yourself from taking damage
Expansions/Stand-Alones Montrose Biology came out with two expansion packs to be used alone or along with the original: Bizarre Biomes and Hidden Habitats. With so many biomes, it feels like playing an entirely different game each time.
Support a Small Business
When we bought the original Ecologies card game in 2020, the only way to buy was through the Montrose Biology Etsy Shop. It is so exciting that they now sell on Amazon and their own Montrose Biology Website.
We personally own the original Ecologies, Bizarre Biomes, Hidden Habitats, the Ecologies Faux Book Box Organizer, and just purchased Ecologies, Jr. for my 5 year old! We love playing together, admiring the beautiful art, and learning about habitats all around the world.
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