Our Verdict
RECOMMENDED
For strategy lovers who want to learn biology without it feeling like a lecture!
Highlights
- Deep biological strategy
- Excellent standalone sequel
- Fluid worker placement
- Highly thematic art
Keep in mind
- May require translation/sheets
- Technical theme might intimidate
Rules manual not indexed yet
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About the game
What you do in a play session
If you think biology is just memorizing organelle names for an exam, get ready to change your mind! Cellulose: A Plant Cell Biology Game throws you straight into a plant cell, where the goal is much more than just survival. You take on the role of a plant cell master, competing with other players to manage scarce resources and perform vital processes like photosynthesis, carbohydrate production, and building the cell wall. It's a pure strategy game where timing is everything: you must decide the exact moment to use your proteins, hormones, and cellular components to ensure your cell is the most efficient of the round.
This is a standalone title, meaning you can play it without needing Cytosis (2017) on your shelf, though it shares some of its DNA. If you enjoyed Cytosis, you'll feel right at home, but prepare for an expanded experience. Cellulose brings much more control over available resources and varied strategic paths, allowing each player to craft a unique strategy to dominate the cell. Additionally, it offers flexibility in game length, adapting better to the time you have available at the table. It's the perfect balance between an educational game and a robust strategy game, where science dictates the rules, but your intelligence decides who wins the biological race.
This is a standalone title, meaning you can play it without needing Cytosis (2017) on your shelf, though it shares some of its DNA. If you enjoyed Cytosis, you'll feel right at home, but prepare for an expanded experience. Cellulose brings much more control over available resources and varied strategic paths, allowing each player to craft a unique strategy to dominate the cell. Additionally, it offers flexibility in game length, adapting better to the time you have available at the table. It's the perfect balance between an educational game and a robust strategy game, where science dictates the rules, but your intelligence decides who wins the biological race.
Gallery
Box and component photos
Tap any photo to open fullscreen. Photos submitted by the community or publisher.
Rules videos
Learn by watching before you open the box
In English
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Rahdo Rules Runthrough►►► Cellulose: A Plant Biology Game
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Cellulose | How to Play | Table Top Board Game | Solo Board Game | Family Board Game | Genius Games
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Learn to Play Cellulose (+variants and SOLO)
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Box of Delights Presents ... CELLULOSE
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Cellulose : A Plant Cell Biology Game - How to play playing and learning about plants
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Cellulose: A Plant Cell Biology Game - Play Through & How to Play
Best player count
BGG community vote
1
REC
2
REC
3
BEST
4
REC
5
REC
Soundtrack
Ambience suggested by Melodice
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Where to Buy
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Mechanics, categories, families and credits
Mechanics
Categories
Families
Publisher
Genius Games, Ediciones MasQueOca, Lanlalen, Schwerkraft-Verlag
Designer
John Coveyou, Steve Schlepphorst
Artist
Tomasz Bogusz
Community
Data from BoardGameGeek
2,144owners
626wishlist
76want to play
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers before you buy
Do I need to own Cytosis to play Cellulose?
Nope! Cellulose is a standalone game, so you can jump right in without it.
Is the game too hard?
It requires focus and planning (mid-to-expert level), but the biological logic helps guide your strategy.
What is the best player count?
It works great for 1-5 players, but the resource competition is most intense with 3 or 4 players.
How long does a game take?
Typically between 45 to 90 minutes, depending on your strategic complexity.
Is it actually educational?
Yes! It uses real cellular biology processes, but focuses on fun and strategic gameplay.
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