Ecos: The First Continent Board Game, Build Nature and Animals, Unique Mechanics, Challenging Strategy, Ages 14+, 2-6 Players, 45-75 Min, Alderac Entertainment Group (AEG)

The instructions may seem a little complicated, but read them all the way through once before playing and you'll quickly grasp the mechanics of the game. Once you understand the mechanics, it is simple and straight forward game play. While the game is simultaneous play, there is a turn-based component in resolution. So be prepared for that. This is also not a fast-paced game, so there is plenty of room for conversation and banter. I really enjoyed the game, but my kids got bored easily.

Pretty game, with land/ map building (modular board) and simultaneous game play.Each player has an animal type and their own strategy based on their "energy cubes" and resource tiles.Easy to learn and play. For all ages. Can be as competitive as you want. The book gives examples of card paring. Easy to play with 2 player.

What a pleasant surprise - this game was really good and very fun to play. Fairly easy to learn, while still being engaging and interesting. Since everyone has something to do no matter whose turn it is, you don't ever really feel bored, waiting for your turn. There is just enough interaction between players to make it interesting, but not feel too punishing, pitting one player against another. The family really liked this one a huge amount - highly recommend!

Fantastic game. Both strategy and luck are required to win. Great game design and artwork. Since purchasing this game the family and I have played it many times and will continue to do so! We play lots of board games and have over 200 in our collection. This one fits in perfectly and was a fantastic addition! Highly recommend!!

Great concept, great gameplay, high production value, and the replayability is through the roof. Highly recommended!

Ecos: First Continent is a two to six player engine building game. Players are trying to be the first player to reach, or pass, 80 victory points.For Setup, each player receives 7 energy cubes and a color with matching dial token. The Score board should be placed near players with their color cube, and an initial landscape of two water, one desert, and one grassland (based on 4 different initial landscape setup). All additional landscape tiles are placed next to the playing area with the two token containers, energy cube container, and the element bag (forty element tokens). Players will randomly choose one hand set for their first game which will have twelve cards each (8 brown and 4 blue cards). Three of the twelve cards have a symbol that means they will be played face up to be starting active cards. Advance game will have players card draft their starting hand of twelve cards. Then three of the twelve cards will be chosen to be starting active cards. The remaining brown and blue cards will each be shuffled separately to form two decks players can draw from.GameplayHarbinger player will have the element bag, and they will draw one element token. Players will place one energy cube onto an active card’s symbol that matches the element token. If players do not have an energy cube available, they may move one energy cube from one card to another. Also, instead of placing an energy cube a player may rotate their dial token.The Harbinger player will repeat this process of drawing one element token until they draw the Wild element token. The Wild token allows players to place an energy symbol on any active card, then check if anyone has passed 80 victory points (end of game condition),and if the game has not ended the element bag is passed to the next player to be a new Harbinger.Completing a cardWhen the last spot on an active card gets filled a player will announce “eco”. If multiple players announce “eco” than activation of the active card will be done in player order starting with the Harbinger player. A player will remove all energy cubes from the activated card, then carry out the card effect starting from the top and going down, and finally rotate the card 90 degrees if there is more than one leaf on the active card.Using player dial tokenWhen players choose to rotate their dial, it is 90 degrees in one direction. After two rotations a player my reset their dial to gain a card. Gaining card means to draw two brown, two blue, or one from each pile before choosing one and discarding the other. The player may also take a card from a pile of previously discarded cards during a gain card effect. If a player waits three rotations they may gain another energy cube, or play a card from their hand.Game endsWhen a player has passed 80 victory points, and the round ends, than the player with the most VP has won the game. If there is a tie than sudden death begins where the new harbinger player will draw a new element token until a player takes the lead from a card activation.Ecos First Continent is a fun fast game of trying to build the best engine to get the most victory points. The fact that everyone plays at the same time makes for a good build up of wanting a particular element to be drawn to announce “eco”. The game can slow down a little when a player is able to combo cards together to get multiple card activations, but it never felt like an issue. The game has depth as a lot of cards are about setting up other cards, which also means that one player doing something may setup another for victory points. Those victory points can be placing certain map tiles together, mountain/tree tokens, or animal tokens. It is a game that asks for multiple playthroughs so players can be aware of what cards are out there for scoring victory points. The starting sets recommended for the first few games are great for teaching the game. The reason being is they combo off of themselves, so it allows a player to really focus on what they need to accomplish to get the most out of their activation. When players start drafting their starting hand is when the game really opens up as players will be aware of what cards are available, from multiple playthroughs, but unaware if they are in the game yet or not. Also, the large hand size of twelve cards means that having to draw more cards is not really needed. Players are able to focus on what they have without thinking they need to gain more cards. The only negative thing that can really be said is the clarification that is needed to understand what the game means by “adjacent”, “community”, “habitat” and “landmass”. As long as players are given a visual example (rule book has some), and they do it themselves, it becomes very clear eventually. Ecos First Continent is a great game that reminds players of playing Bingo with drawing a token and announcing if they have “eco” or not. But it is also a very deep game as players will quickly look at how they can combo their cards to get the most victory points while making a visually enticing board.Teaching the Game: Remember that if an arrow placement effect cannot be done, then effects on the card cannot be activated. Tokens may run out, but players are allowed to remove a token to place a token, still following token placement rules. Players are unable to place additional element symbols obtained from a card on the same card. Also, players may spend their additional element symbols on rotating their dial token.

Ecos is a simple game to learn, and really enjoyable. Have played with 2 and 4 players and is a challenging game for both setups. The rules are straight forward and the strategy is easy to pick up on, but can constantly be needing adjusting add the board changes. The pieces are very well but, and the production value is excellent. Be careful with the boxes though, as you punch them or it can be ready to accidentally damage their tiny tabs and make their assembly or functionality difficult. It's on par with Cosmic Encounter, TerraMystica, Caverna, Wingspan and Settlers of Catan on our favorite games list.

Overall, ecos is a fun bingo style family and gamer's game. Unfortunately, the box was damaged. This is the 3rd damaged box I've received out of the last 6 games I've purchased on Amazon. All 3 were fulfilled (2 shipped and sold by Amazon, 1 fulfilled by Amazon). Been buying games on Amazon for over 2 years now and never had a problem until 2021. The 3 stars is for the damaged box. Otherwise, it would be 5 stars.