Game Info
Year
2019
Players
1-6
Age
8+
Playtime
20 min
Collection
Ratings
Creator Score
Mechanic profile
Percentile rank vs. all games
Vibe profile
Not enough video data yet
Description
Ecosystem is a card-drafting game in which players choose cards and place them into their play area turn by turn. The cards in a player's grid make up their own personal ecosystem, and at game's end, a player will have twenty cards in their ecosystem, with the game including eleven types of cards. Bears score by being placed next to bees and trout; trout score by being placed next to streams and dragonflies; and streams are compared at the end of the game, with the player who has the largest stream earning points. These are just a few examples of how scoring works in Ecosystem. Don't forget to diversify!
—description from the designer
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Images
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All mentions
Browse transcript mentions, sentiments, pros/cons, mechanics, topics, quotes, and references.
Total mentions: 8
This page: 8
Sentiment:
pos 6 ·
mix 1 ·
neu 0 ·
neg 1
Showing 1–8 of 8
Video xXFjgH3vX2U
Board Game Dad Top List at 4:40 sentiment: positive
video_pk 105439 · mention_pk 303904
Click to watch at 4:40 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Excited about the production company (Genius Games).
Cons
none
Thematic elements
- Ecosystems
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Card Drafting — You are placing or you're drafting cards to place them in a grid.
- Pattern Building — The river scores points if it's alongside more rivers and the bear scores points based on what it's next to inside the grid.
- Tile Placement — You are placing or you're drafting cards to place them in a grid.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- So today i'm going to share with you the best viewer recommended family board games and a few of my thoughts as i piece together my top 10 for 2022.
- The first category is games that just aren't worth mentioning.
- The next category are games that i think are worth taking a look at but not necessarily games that i've bought yet.
- And then finally there's the category of games that as soon as i looked at them i knew for sure that i was going to buy them.
- The game is juicy fruits which is a very colorful and very fun looking game.
- It's basically bs you know where you're playing a card and you're saying I'm playing three queens and someone says you know that's bs and you flip it over and it's three queens and they were wrong.
- It plays a lot like the trading card game android netrunner.
- It kind of reminds me a little of zombie kids although you're not attacking any zombies.
- It kind of has a retro 80s video game feel to it.
- It seems to be based out of england i guess but the game is called astronauts.
- Boomerang is a lot like sushi go a card drafting game where players are passing the cards to each other.
- One key fixes that flaw.
- The game looks like it's independently published.
- It's really really fun objective for a dice rolling game.
- Santorini is an abstract strategic game that would be way too hard for my young kids to be able to compete with the older kids or adults in the family so I can't play Santorini with my children but this game I can play.
- Explorers is a game where all players are playing at the same time.
- Which of the ones that i've mentioned are your favorite family board game or i'll change the question is there something new that's recently come out that i don't know about yet?
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video SK_09TcPjB4
Ryan and Bethany Board Game Reviews Top 100 List at 15:06 sentiment: positive
video_pk 86191 · mention_pk 222307
Click to watch at 15:06 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Two-player variant works well
- Strategic depth with light accessibility
Cons
- Can be heavy for new players
Thematic elements
- Array
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Card Drafting — Draft cards to build a personal tableau representing an ecosystem; adjacency and placement matter.
- card drafting / tableau — Draft cards to build a tableau with ecosystem-themed placements and adjacency scoring.
- card drafting / tableau building — Draft cards to build a personal tableau representing an ecosystem; adjacency and placement matter.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- it is insanely clever
- this is a full Cooperative game by Matt Leacock
- it's a sandbox game you can do whatever you want
- this has replaced Code Names for me
- it's elegant design
- it's so silly and so funny
- two stages in this game you're placing trees everywhere
- you will not win it by chance
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video G5A7SG0f5V4
Meeple University Review at 4:20 sentiment: mixed
video_pk 69950 · mention_pk 235559
Click to watch at 4:20 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
mixed
Pros
- familiar drafting core for players of Coral Reef
- original concept with its own scoring tension
Cons
none
Thematic elements
- diversity-based scoring in the original ecosystem
- marine ecosystem with various animals
- drafting with grid-like placement and diverse scoring
Comparison games
- Coral Reef
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Compound Scoring — Original scoring includes a diversity bonus that penalizes scoring nothing from any animal type.
- diversity_bonus — Original scoring includes a diversity bonus that penalizes scoring nothing from any animal type.
- Drafting — Similar drafting mechanic to Coral Reef, forming a familiar core.
- grid_placement — Drafted cards contribute to a grid-like player area with scoring rules tied to species.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- "It's a stand-alone sequel. They're not combinable. It is a separate game."
- "The game itself is very simple and the game itself plays the same way as the original Ecosystem. It's a draft."
- "This one has an easier entry point... it has these categorizations that make it easier to organize your thoughts"
- "I like the Coral Reef newer version better while Tarrant like the older version better."
- "It's an easy one to get to the table with really simple rules."
- "Quite um quite a good getaway game."
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video eE0Glmd2N0o
Meeple University Review at 0:04 sentiment: positive
video_pk 64701 · mention_pk 158194
Click to watch at 0:04 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Light and approachable design that remains engaging
- Rules are thematic to the game
- Includes helpful player reference cards
- Balanced ecosystem scoring with a diversity penalty encourages strategic play
Cons
none
Thematic elements
- Balancing biodiversity and proximity-based scoring within an ecosystem
- A natural ecosystem with landscapes and animals depicted on a 4x5 grid
- Rules are thematic to the game
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Card Drafting — Players draft from 10 cards each round.
- Compound Scoring — Different animals/landscape types score points with specific proximity rules (e.g., fox near none of wolves/bears; eagles near trout/rabbit within two spaces).
- diversity penalty — Negative points if you lack certain numbers of animals or landscapes.
- grid placement on a 4x5 grid — Cards placed orthogonally adjacent to at least one previously placed card.
- round-based play — Game goes for two rounds.
- scoring by proximity and type — Different animals/landscape types score points with specific proximity rules (e.g., fox near none of wolves/bears; eagles near trout/rabbit within two spaces).
- Set Collection — Gathers landscapes and animals to create a scoring setup.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- The game is a nice light draft game that gets you think a little bit, but not too much.
- There's also a diversity penalty.
- The rules are also thematic to the game.
- The game comes with some player reference cards.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video BvKKM9EUWvI
The Dice Tower Discussion at 4:23 sentiment: positive
video_pk 13508 · mention_pk 39510
Click to watch at 4:23 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- accessible, educational
Cons
- rushed tension at times
Thematic elements
- biology / ecology
- drafting and ecosystem building
- educational yet competitive
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Drafting — players draft cards to build ecosystems
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- One of the greatest experiences I've ever had playing a board game ever.
- It's all about board games, but especially the people who play them.
- This is Look Back, a series that I do where I talk about games that I reviewed one year ago, 5 years ago, 10 years ago, and 20 years ago during this time frame.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video yjl88nV7sts
3 Minute Board Games Top List at 3:19 sentiment: negative
video_pk 12012 · mention_pk 35177
Click to watch at 3:19 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
negative
Pros
- family-friendly and quick to teach
- easy to pick up for non-gamers
Cons
- looks uninspired; feels like a tableau of unrelated pictures
- scoring system is complex to learn
Thematic elements
- ecology and interdependence
- a grid-based drafting where ecosystem relations matter
- educational yet lighthearted
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Card Drafting — hand of 10 cards is drafted and placed into a tableau
- grid adjacency scoring — points come from spatial relationships like salmon by rivers and bears by salmon
- Tile Placement — place cards to form a 4x5 grid with adjacency scoring
- tile/area placement — place cards to form a 4x5 grid with adjacency scoring
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- it's just a simple nine card puzzle game
- it's fine for what it is
- it's not going to be a deep game that holds Brass's attention
- it's actually surprisingly fun
- oh hanami is a great game
- small box games can be great games
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video VKZo5c2Wx-g
Box of Delights Playthrough at 0:07 sentiment: positive
video_pk 8110 · mention_pk 23859
Click to watch at 0:07 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Easy to learn and teach
- Fast, tidy rounds
- Beautiful, compact components
- Encourages strategic planning around biodiversity
- Solid solo puzzle with dedicated rules
Cons
- Scoring can be dense and requires tracking many conditions
- Complexity may intimidate some players
Thematic elements
- Ecology and biodiversity
- A grid-based ecosystem-building game where players draft animal and habitat cards to form a diverse 5x4 ecosystem.
- Instructional, demonstrative
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Card Drafting — Players draft cards from a hand and pass unused cards to the next player; rounds rotate until the board is filled.
- Compound Scoring — Scoring is based on the diversity of card types, habitats, and proximity-based bonuses (streams, meadows, etc.).
- diversity/adjacency scoring — Scoring is based on the diversity of card types, habitats, and proximity-based bonuses (streams, meadows, etc.).
- Tile Placement — Drafted cards are placed on a 5x4 grid to form an ecosystem; placement interacts with adjacency and habitat rules to score points.
- tile/card placement — Drafted cards are placed on a 5x4 grid to form an ecosystem; placement interacts with adjacency and habitat rules to score points.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- ecosystem combines card drafting with kind of like tile laying you're creating an ecosystem
- the aim of the game is to create a diverse ecosystem score points
- solo rules
- it's a really pretty game and nice little box
- can you beat 60 points
- solo puzzle
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video gbBZEs9EDtg
Board to Death TV - Board Game Reviews Review at 0:21 sentiment: positive
video_pk 2051 · mention_pk 5889
Click to watch at 0:21 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Accessible light drafting experience
- Clear, elegant scoring cards and good artwork
- Interesting ecosystem-gap mechanic that rewards diversity
- Fast-paced and fits well as a filler between heavier games
Cons
- Some may prefer more thematic depth or variability
- Direct comparison to Sushi Go may set a high bar
- Drafting skill heavily influences scoring, which can be punishing for new players
Thematic elements
- Ecology, biodiversity, competition for resources
- Players draft ecosystem cards and place them on a 4x5 grid to build a balanced ecosystem.
- analytical/educational
Comparison games
- Sushi Go
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Adjacency and type-based scoring — Points are earned based on the types adjacent to a card and how they sit within the grid's rows and columns, including end-of-round effects.
- Card Drafting — Players select one card from their hand and pass the remaining cards to the next player, repeating over rounds.
- Compound Scoring — Gauges diversity by counting ecosystem gaps and variety of card types to award bonus points.
- End-game diversity scoring — Gauges diversity by counting ecosystem gaps and variety of card types to award bonus points.
- grid placement — Selected cards are placed on a 4x5 grid, with placement affecting future scoring via adjacency and rows/columns.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- the less of these you have the more diversity bonus points you'll make
- this one scores a 7.5 out of 10
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
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