In the Footsteps of Darwin

SPIEL DES JAHRES NOMINEE 2024. Twenty years after his global expedition, Charles Darwin is penning On the Origins of Species. He needs fresh insights on animal life, especially from continents he scarcely explored. Enter young, eager - to - discover naturalists to assist this famous scholar finish his masterpiece. In this game, you step into the shoes of junior naturalists on the Beagle, helping Darwin complete his book. On this journey, study animals, conduct cartographic surveys, publish findings, and form theories. Naturalists take turns clockwise, starting with the one controlling the Darwin token. First, study an animal or get inspired by a character: pick one of three tiles in front of the Beagle and put it in your notebook. It could be an animal to study or a past - journey character that sparks ideas. Grab the bonuses shown or any extra scoring ones from tile placement. Then, for the Voyage of the Beagle: after placing a tile, move the Beagle forward as many spaces as the distance between it and the selected tile (1 - 3 spaces), then draw a new tile. The aim? Score more than opponents to see who contributed most to On the Origin of Species.

Hey there! Here's how to play this awesome game. First, you and other players become junior naturalists on the Beagle to help Darwin. When it's your turn, you've got two main steps. First, decide whether to study an animal or get inspired by a character. Look at the three tiles in front of the Beagle and pick one to put in your notebook. Just make sure to check for any bonuses that come with it. After that, move the Beagle forward according to the distance between it and the tile you picked. Then draw a new tile to fill the empty spot on the journey board. Your goal is to score more points than your friends. As for maintenance, keep the tiles in a dry place and don't bend them. If you're playing with younger kids, make sure they don't lose the small pieces. Have fun playing and helping Darwin finish his great work!