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Fossilis box art
2020 Ranked #2,515

Fossilis

Paleontology excavation game where researchers dig through layers, extract bones, and assemble important finds. Tools and material choices shape what can be recovered, so every dig must uncover value without blocking the fossils needed for a breakthrough.

Family Games Animals Exploration Action Points Grid Movement

Players

2-5

Play time

45-60 min

Age

8+

Complexity

2.28/5

Rating

7.05

Harder to teach Highly interactive Deep strategy

Overview

At a glance

Is this game right for my group?

ABG editorial scores on a 1–5 scale.

Teachability 2.3/5

Harder to teach

Replay value 3.9/5

High replayability

Interaction 3.7/5

Highly interactive

Player scaling 4.0/5

Scales well

Strategic depth 4.5/5

Deep strategy

See all 5 specifications

How it plays

How does it play?

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!

Core mechanisms

Key systems that shape the decisions players make.

Read the full game 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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Editions

Language and publisher variants currently recorded in the catalog.

Edition Year Language Publisher / Region
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Player resources

Rulebooks, player aids, FAQs, and solo resources.

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Game and edition data

All specifications (5)

Play and group

Players
2–5
Best with
2–5
Play time
45–60 min
Age
8+
Complexity
2.3/5
Credits and catalog connections

Credits

Designers

1
David Alberto Diaz

Artists

1
Apolline Etienne

Publishers

1
Kids Table BG

Linked items

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