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Game Info
Year
2020
Collection
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Description
An incredible new dinosaur graveyard has been discovered, and if the early findings are any indication, it could be a treasure trove of fossils and bones like the world has never seen! In Fossilis, 2 to 5 players become paleontologists working the dig site with shovels, whisk brooms, and chisels looking for a find that could make their career.
Each round, players get two actions to dig at the site or make an extraction. As they remove the top layers of sand, clay, and stone, they'll discover trace fossils, which can be exchanged for tools, the plaster necessary to extract bones, and discovery points. As they delve deeper, precious bones will be exposed. They can make a careful extraction if they have the right amount of plaster, but sometimes shifting the earth to cover up a find and slow down the competition is the right move. Bones on their own can be valuable, but museums are really interested in more complete specimens. Sets of bones can be exchanged for museum cards worth big points!
Fossilis features a unique 3D dig site board, with recessed pockets filled with dinosaur bones, and thick, chunky terrain tiles that cover the dig site. Players have to use strategy, timing, and a little bit of luck if they want to make the best discoveries, get their name in all the paleontology journals, and of course, win the game.
—description from the publisher
Note: The Kickstarter edition supports solo play and includes other game related content. It may be found here Fossilis: Kickstarter Edition.
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All mentions
Browse transcript mentions, sentiments, pros/cons, mechanics, topics, quotes, and references.
Total mentions: 13
This page: 13
Sentiment:
pos 12 ·
mix 1 ·
neu 0 ·
neg 0
Showing 1–13 of 13
Video MdCx7m_dLy8
Brains On Games Top 10 List at 33:20 sentiment: positive
video_pk 90364 · mention_pk 241390
Click to watch at 33:20 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- strong family appeal
- co-publishing support from a respected Canadian publisher
Cons
- information in transcript is limited; details uncertain
Thematic elements
- exploration with dinosaur-themed components
- dinosaur archeology-themed family game
- educational yet playful
Comparison games
- Town Builder
- Chai
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Set Collection — collect bones or dinosaur parts to score
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- Walled City is criminally underrepresented in the gaming sphere.
- It's a real gem, it's a nice small box.
- Lanterns Harvest Festival is a standout for its tile-laying and color-mantling mechanisms.
- If you like real-time games, Jab Real-Time Boxing is the best of the best.
- Star Trek Alliance Dominion War Campaign is by far my personal favorite campaign-style game.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video WLPUbo3za6s
Where There's A Wilz, There's a Play Discussion at 2:45 sentiment: positive
video_pk 87092 · mention_pk 227082
Click to watch at 2:45 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- thematic and accessible
Cons
- unknown year/weight
Thematic elements
- fossil excavation and collection
- Archaeology/paleontology theme
- educational with light humor
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Set Collection — Collect fossil tiles for scoring.
- Tile Placement — Place fossil tiles to activate patterns.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- International dinosaur month
- the wall for October is dinosaur month
- draftosaurus you see it's still in shrink
- one of my favorite roll and right games
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video G4OaNpY-Eig
Where There's A Wilz, There's a Play Discussion at 0:18 sentiment: mixed
video_pk 87055 · mention_pk 226896
Click to watch at 0:18 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
mixed
Pros
- Excellent component quality and a robust, tactile 3D board design
- High-quality artwork across dinosaur cards, tool cards, and event cards
- Rulebook described as well laid out, with clear components pages and an at-a-glance summary
- Educational value and encouragement to learn about dinosaurs and paleontology
Cons
- Rulebook can be dense and confusing when fatigued or tired; initial confusion noted
- Setup is fairly elaborate for a two-player game and can feel slow at first
- Turn-tracking (energy per turn) can be fiddly for new players and requires a learning curve
Thematic elements
- Array
- Paleontological dig site
- Educational, exploratory
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Action Points — Each turn uses a fixed number of energy tokens to perform actions such as gaining plaster, moving tiles, excavating, or buying cards.
- End-of-Game Scoring and Set Collection — Scoring occurs through multiple avenues: completing dinosaurs with bones, empty skill slots for point bonuses, set completions across taxa categories, and end-game bonuses for leftover resources and skulls.
- Energy-based Action Economy — Each turn uses a fixed number of energy tokens to perform actions such as gaining plaster, moving tiles, excavating, or buying cards.
- Excavation with Plaster and Energy — Excavating a bone requires spending plaster plus energy; each bone has a plaster cost that must be paid to uncover it with tweezers.
- Market Card Purchasing and Lab Assembly — After excavating, players buy cards from a market comprising supplies and tools, then claim dinosaur cards into their lab, progressing toward assembling a complete specimen.
- tile laying — Tiles are placed on a 3D, layered board; tiles can be slid to reveal bones and dictate fossil placement. The game emphasizes layered setup and progressive reveal, with the board designed so bones become accessible as the layer structure changes.
- Tile Placement — Tiles are placed on a 3D, layered board; tiles can be slid to reveal bones and dictate fossil placement. The game emphasizes layered setup and progressive reveal, with the board designed so bones become accessible as the layer structure changes.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- This one is quite in-depth.
- Very well laid out.
- It's a really clever board.
- Artwork is really good.
- I think I'll enjoy it more once I get used to it.
- The setup of this one is a little more elaborate than some games.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video xoGEgo-dIeA
Board Gaymes James Top 10 List at 7:48 sentiment: positive
video_pk 86498 · mention_pk 223893
Click to watch at 7:48 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Dinosaurs theme with a geometric pattern/tiles mechanic
- Blends patterning with worker placement
Cons
none
Thematic elements
- pattern sets and tile/worker placement
- dinosaurs
Comparison games
- Coimbra
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Pattern Building — pattern sets with tile placement and worker placement
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- I love I love their stuff I love getting learning about all the games from Asia
- I’m excited for that
- these are top 10 Euro games to watch out for this year
- there's a lot of really cool Unique Mechanics in here and that's what I'm really excited for
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video wQWZwu8N0ts
Where There's A Wilz, There's a Play Top 10 List at 16:30 sentiment: positive
video_pk 85644 · mention_pk 220019
Click to watch at 16:30 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Unique sliding/pushing mechanic
- Engaging fossil-dig theme
- Appeals to families and hobbyists alike
Cons
- Setup and rules can be a bit fiddly
- Requires some patience to learn the mechanisms
Thematic elements
- Dinosaurs and fossils
- Archaeology dig
- Educational yet whimsical
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Compound Scoring — Score based on fossil types and discovered bonuses
- Dinosaur bone collection — Extract bones with tweezers and assemble fossils for scoring.
- Pattern/bonus scoring — Score based on fossil types and discovered bonuses
- Tile Placement — Place/shift layers of tiles to reveal fossils.
- Tile placement / pushing — Place/shift layers of tiles to reveal fossils.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- This is a really fun lighter game.
- Calico fun game.
- This is a really fun one. It makes you think.
- We really like that one.
- It's a lot of fun. I like Honeybuzz.
- Lost Ruins of Arnack is a really good one.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video 9RSuKqiWB8Y
Where There's A Wilz, There's a Play Top 10 List at 3:36 sentiment: positive
video_pk 84832 · mention_pk 216225
Click to watch at 3:36 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- nice physical components (dinosaur bones)
- tactile and thematic flavor for paleo fans
Cons
- experienced fatigue can dampen early impressions
- needs awake play for best experience
Thematic elements
- dinosaur bone recovery and display
- paleontologists digging bones at a dig site to assemble dinosaurs
- hands-on, tactile, slightly thematic
Comparison games
- Maki Master
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Hand Management — use cards to assemble dinosaur sets
- hand management and set collection — use cards to assemble dinosaur sets
- tactical scoring via top cards — points awarded for completing dinosaur sets
- tiled digging with stones and tools — stones moved to access dig sites; chisels and tweezers used to extract bones
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- Creature Comforts is my number one KTBG game.
- This is one of our top companies for sure.
- I love the use of dual-use cards in Cafe Baris.
- The Wasabi wasabi mechanism is really your points.
- Maple Valley has a really unique path-based worker movement.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video RdnddhAGxJ8
Board Gaymes James Top 10 List at 0:57 sentiment: positive
video_pk 84670 · mention_pk 215347
Click to watch at 0:57 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Exciting dinosaur/museum theme
- Highlight of diverse voices in design
Cons
none
Thematic elements
- Dinosaurs, museums
- Dinosaur-themed museum with tile placement
- explanatory
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Tile Placement — Place tiles to build a dinosaur-themed museum
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- Diversity in gaming at Spiel.
- Unfortunately, there is not a lot of queer representation here this year.
- I'm very excited for Fossilium.
- I'm so excited for this because this is a nice, big, heavy Euro designed by Stefania Niccolini
- Cascadia Alpine Lakes is a new standalone Cascadia game designed by Randy Flynn, but still with amazing artwork by Beth Sobel.
- The pattern work that she did in this game is so beautiful.
- It is a brand new standalone game. It is not like a duel version of White Castle. It's just set in the same universe.
- Alice, de l'autre côté du miroir.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video fnZQzHTJN3E
Ryan and Bethany Board Game Reviews Top List at 4:40 sentiment: positive
video_pk 84124 · mention_pk 213399
Click to watch at 4:40 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Out of this world components
- Satisfying digging mechanic
- Fulfilling dinosaur orders is cool
- Very cool production
- Absolutely memorable
Cons
none
Thematic elements
- Excavating dinosaur bones from sediment layers
- Digging for fossils
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Component Management — Plaster is one of the main resources in the game because you need plaster in order to to kind of get the fossils.
- physical manipulation — You are sliding things around, pushing them, and that by itself is a cool little mini game.
- Set Collection — you're trying to fulfill these orders. These orders have different dinosaurs on them that might need Okay, I need two femurs or two two long bones. I need three teeth and I need one claw or whatever it is in order to fulfill this dinosaur card.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- But that doesn't mean that board games didn't come out. So, what we're going to be talking about is the top 10 games that came out that year in 2020.
- So, my number two is uh Vic Counts of the West Kingdom.
- So, my number two, this is Sorcerer City. What a wild game.
- All right, so, we're finally here. We're at our number ones of 2020, and this has been such a great list.
- my number one is Pandemic Legacy Season Zero.
- All right, so my number one game of 2020. Uh this is Conbon EV.
- If you want us to continue these series as the years go on, so in 2026, we can do 2021 and all of that and even compare our lists from top 10 list in the past, let us know in the comments below.
- And be sure to let us know what your favorite games are from 2020. What What was your board gaming experience like in 2020?
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video 5s8K2e57gEs
Top List at 6:39 sentiment: positive
video_pk 67563 · mention_pk 163696
Click to watch at 6:39 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Fantastic game for families.
- Kids love the tactile fun of sliding terrain tiles.
- Can easily customize difficulty based on age.
- List of changes and reasons included in the rule book.
Cons
none
Thematic elements
- Dinosaur bone excavation
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- modular difficulty — Suggestions for adjustments to accommodate different levels of difficulty, customizing based on age.
- modular terrain — Sliding chunky terrain tiles to find dinosaur bones.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- I'm referring to games where the core experience involves plugging in one or more modules that are part of the core game that have a significant impact on gameplay.
- I'm not just talking about variable setups where maybe you have a few tokens or tiles that are slightly different than in a previous game.
- I'm also not talking about player asymmetry where each player is a different character or different faction, things like that.
- I'm also not including expansion modules.
- I'm talking about the where the core game is designed around the idea where modules shape the core game experience.
- This game is essentially infinitely modular.
- this is perhaps the the best example that I'll have on this entire list of a truly modular game where the core experience of Shackleton base depends on you plugging in these three modules that have a significant impact on the game.
- To say this is a large game is an understatement, but with these different region modules comes a ton of variety.
- you are plugging in different elements to create a new unique experience rather than a scenario where it says like this is the scenario that you're playing.
- all modular setup that all that all modular setup does take some work to put together and reset.
- I think the takedown is almost worse because you're like, "Oh, we finished playing the game. Now we get and you have to sort out all of these different components."
- I think that is a great space for modularity in a game like this.
- You can really play the same temple track over and over again in Lost Arms Vernac and get plenty of replayability out of it.
- I think Clank I think is my favorite modular game where just with the map modularity uh just flipping over which side of the board you're going to play on um can add can really make each game feel quite different every time you play.
- We are talking about big modules that you are plugging into the game in from that are built into the core experience and they are making the game feel different or unique or harder or easier um or shorter or longer.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video j9zMe_IIFE0
Ryan and Bethany Board Game Reviews Review at 1:09 sentiment: positive
video_pk 62324 · mention_pk 154829
Click to watch at 1:09 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Strong integration of theme and mechanics (digging, pushing, tile manipulation)
- Dual-purpose components (board + micro-board) that are more than gimmicks
- Engaging decision-making with resource management (plaster) and timing
- Very satisfying tile- and card-driven synergies (hammers and ability tiles)
- Exciting end-game choices between completing big dinosaurs vs. chasing set-collection bonuses
Cons
- Plaster economy can feel punishing; it runs out quickly over the course of a game
- Well-depth and opaque wells can make bones hard to see, affecting tactile play
- Initial learning curve around costs, actions, and when to push for effects
- Some fiddliness with pushing off tiles; requires care to avoid accidental misplays
Thematic elements
- paleontology and dinosaur reconstruction
- a fossil dig site with bones hidden under layers of earth; a lab to assemble dinosaurs
- explanatory and enthusiastic
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- card market and purchases — cards (tools and supplies) are bought using resources from the dig site and grant various bonuses
- digging for bones — players spend plaster and actions to extract bones from dig sites and assemble skeletons for scoring
- End Game Bonuses — game ends when plaster piles run out and event cards are resolved; scoring includes set collection, dinosaurs, and cards
- end-game and event cards — game ends when plaster piles run out and event cards are resolved; scoring includes set collection, dinosaurs, and cards
- hammers and ability tiles — digging yields hammers that can be traded for special ability tiles with powerful, rule-bending effects
- lab claiming of dinosaurs — complete dinosaurs can be claimed into your lab for victory points; end-game scoring tallies these and other bonuses
- pushing and sliding on the board — players move and shift sand, clay, and stone tiles; heavier items push lighter ones and can reveal holes
- Resource Management — plaster is a key resource with a limited supply; actions and digging costs hinge on plaster availability
- resource management with plaster — plaster is a key resource with a limited supply; actions and digging costs hinge on plaster availability
- Set Collection — collect bone components to complete dinosaur cards for victory points; partial sets yield smaller points
- set collection and dinosaur cards — collect bone components to complete dinosaur cards for victory points; partial sets yield smaller points
- Tile/Map Shifting — players move and shift sand, clay, and stone tiles; heavier items push lighter ones and can reveal holes
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- it's all about dinosaurs
- you need to become a paleontologist
- it's always better to complete an entire card rather than just a partial card
- i loved the fact that the two components that you use to set up the game, that board and a tiny board to pull everything off, i love that that's just not a gimmick
- there's this tug and pull of how you're going to use your resources
- i wish that there was more plaster just you can play more of the game
- this is a really interesting game
- we don't have a single game like this
- fossilus was something different that earned a place in our collection
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video 8n6bGtiwmxc
Board Gaming Ramblings Discussion at 16:48 sentiment: positive
video_pk 37956 · mention_pk 114093
Click to watch at 16:48 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- gorgeous components
- tactile and engaging experience
- great weight for families
- expansions on the horizon
Cons
- some downtime between turns
- not a long-playing experience
Thematic elements
- Discovery, collection, and display of fossils
- Fossil excavation and paleontology
- Tactile, family-friendly exploration
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Set Collection — players collect fossil tiles to score points
- tactile components — use tweezers and large plastic tiles to retrieve fossils
- tile drafting / placement — select and place fossils to optimize scoring opportunities
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- oh it was so hard on my brain
- we love suburbia
- we have the superb deluxe edition
- it's a fantastic game
- the game looks fun but we will not back it
- there's just no time to play these
- we want to do more videos
- please subscribe it's free
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video 8NM2Shp8YHw
The Board Game Garden Top 10 List at 18:07 sentiment: positive
video_pk 37068 · mention_pk 228526
Click to watch at 18:07 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Gimmick with the bone board and extraction feel
- Accessible and family-friendly while still engaging
Cons
none
Thematic elements
- Bones, tools, and dinosaur cards
- Dinosaur fossil excavation
- Accessible Euro with a tactile gimmick
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Resource Management — Use plaster/resources to gain bones and fulfill objectives
- Tile Placement — Tiles representing bones are dug up and placed to fulfill dinosaur cards
- Tile/bone extraction and placement — Tiles representing bones are dug up and placed to fulfill dinosaur cards
- Variable game-end and scoring from bone fulfillment — Points come from completing dinosaur cards via bone requirements
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- it's basically like a cottage board game relaxation weekend
- I love bumping tracks it's a good time
- I love multi-use cards
- Evenfall is my number one
- I cannot wait to play this one again
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video 1WM9qMtE_BU
Our Family Plays Games Top List at 16:08 sentiment: positive
video_pk 3912 · mention_pk 11449
Click to watch at 16:08 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- 3D board
- Unique looking
- First KTBG game for hosts
- Truly underrated
- Moving 3D tiles
- Tweezers component
Cons
- Does not get enough love
Thematic elements
- Digging for dinosaur bones
- Dinosaur excavation
- Archaeological discovery
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- contract fulfillment — Construct dinosaurs from bones
- dexterity — Use tweezers to extract bones
- Resource Management — Dig through sand and stone for bones
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- Once we discovered how to really play Azul we started playing 8 times
- If someone ask me to give a favorite I have to give you a list
- It all depends on if you're learning the game the right way
- Fossilis is truly underrated
- This is Phil Walker-Harding y'all you know one of the 3,000 games he made in like one day
- We want the whole family we want them all
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
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