Entomologists

In Entomologists, you and a friend embark on an exciting race to catalog new insect species, taking on the roles of historical entomologists. This two-player card game challenges you to be the most efficient in your research and capture. Each turn, you choose a single crucial action: buy a card from 'the forest' (a row of ten cards where those further away cost more), take 'overstepped' cards for free, play a cage, release insects for resources, upgrade your hand size, or, most importantly, capture a set of matching insects in an empty cage. Each insect species you capture not only scores points but also activates a unique power, which can grant you extra turns, allow you to steal resources from your opponent, or even reduce the cost of future purchases. Beyond the basic rules, each player chooses a famous naturalist from history, such as Maria Sibylla Merian or Charles Darwin, each with a special ability inspired by their actual work, adding a strategic and asymmetric layer to the game. Keep an eye out for predators – birds, reptiles, rodents – which allow you to sacrifice insects from your hand to steal resources from your rival, but remember that hand space is tight, so timing is everything! Is it better to capture now to free up space, or hold out for a bigger set and a stronger effect later? The game ends when the insect deck runs dry. Points come from captured insects, bonus cage cards (flowers, fruits, fungi), end-game character powers, the largest single cage, and even a small bonus for uncaptured species still in your hand. Each of the eleven species is illustrated based on a real insect, from the common seven-spot ladybird to the critically rare Lord Howe Island stick insect, making the experience educational and immersive.