# Dominant Species: Marine

## General Info
- **Year Published**: 2021
- **BGG Rating**: 7.9
- **BGG Rank**: #771
- **Players**: 2-4 (Best with: 4)
- **Duration**: 90-150 min
- **Weight**: 3.69 / 5
- **Designers**: Chad Jensen
- **Artists**: Chad Jensen, Chechu Nieto
- **Publishers**: GMT Games, Banana Games, Board Game Rookie, Fox in the Box, GaGa Games, PHALANX, Udo Grebe Gamedesign, 狗吠火車
- **Categories**: Animals, Environmental, Prehistoric
- **Mechanics**: Area Majority / Influence, Grid Movement, Hexagon Grid, Map Addition, Open Drafting, Tile Placement, Variable Phase Order, Variable Player Powers, Worker Placement

## Verdict
Perfect for those who love heavy strategy games with a biological theme and want to feel the tension of evolution.Faster game flow than the originalDirect and competitive interactionEvolution theme very well implementedInteresting asymmetric powersQuite a steep learning curveLanguage dependency for cardsFOR GENRE FANS

## Description
Imagine the Ice Age has ended and the world is warming up rapidly. What follows? A titanic struggle for survival! In Dominant Species: Marine, you take control of an aquatic animal class — fish, cephalopods, crustaceans, or reptiles — and your goal is simple: avoid extinction and, if possible, dominate everything before that famous asteroid arrives to end the party.

The game is an abstract simulation where you use pawn placement to perform essential actions such as speciation, migration, and adaptation. The board is modular, featuring hexagons that expand the ocean as the game progresses, creating a dynamic map. You need to spread your species across various habitats to activate powerful card effects and accumulate victory points.

For veterans of the original Dominant Species, the Marine version introduces some very interesting changes. Now, actions are immediate: place a pawn, and the action happens. This removes the mental burden of having to plan the entire round in advance and makes the flow much smoother. Additionally, dominance is now calculated globally by element type, rather than on a per-tile basis.

One of the biggest game-changers is the 'special pawns.' They aren't just cosmetic; they allow you to 'bump' an opponent's pawn to steal an action or access exclusive spaces on the action display. With the addition of Trait cards, each species starts with a unique ability, adding extra layers of strategy. In the end, the player with the most victory points will be crowned the Dominant Species, proving they were indeed the fittest to survive.

## FAQ
### Is the game very complex?
Yes, it has a BGG weight of 3.69, recommended for experienced gamers who enjoy denser 'euro' games.

### How long does a game last?
Expect to spend between 90 and 150 minutes, depending on the group's experience.

### Do I need to have played the first Dominant Species?
No, it works perfectly as a standalone game, although the system changes are more appreciated by veterans.

### What language is the game in?
The game has moderate language dependency (cards), so you might need a translation to play comfortably.

### How many people can play?
From 2 to 4 players, with the territory dispute becoming very intense with 4.

## Price Comparison
### Best Offers in Brazil
- **Amazon**: R$ 736,79 (https://www.amazon.com.br/dp/B08QGX6N5Y?tag=bgbot26b-20&linkCode=as2)
- **Frodos BG**: R$ 949,81 (https://loja.frodosbg.com.br/dominant-species-marinee?utm_source=boardgamesbot.com)
  - See all on Compara Jogos: https://www.comparajogos.com.br/item/dominant-species-marine

### Best International Offers
- **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 74.12 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=5399136&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com)
  - See all on BoardGamePrices: https://boardgameprices.com/item/show/29300/dominant-species-marine?utm_source=boardgamesbot.com