Overview

Strategically stack tiles to conquer islands and their biomes in this board expanding, resource control game for 2-5 players. Tactically unleash volcanoes to disrupt your opponents and unlock powers, causing molten lava to cascade downhill, destroying everything in its path. When the lava reaches the ocean, rich volcanic soils emerge inviting new opportunities for expansion across these evershifting lands.

60-75 mins

2-5 players

Aim of the game

Strategically stack tiles to conquer islands and their biomes in this board expanding, resource control game for 2-5 players over approximately 60mins of game time. Tactically unleash volcanoes to disrupt your opponents and unlock powers, causing molten lava to cascade downhill, destroying everything in its path. When the lava reaches the ocean, rich volcanic soils emerge inviting new opportunities for expansion across these evershifting lands.

The game ends when all your critters have inhabited the land, the biome tiles run out, or a super volcanic eruption is triggered. Points are scored from a combination of critters, connecting biomes, sacrifices, bonus objectives and total activated volcanoes - the player with the most, wins!

Example play area

Game pieces key

All game pieces

Set-up

Each player selects a critter colour and adds all critters of that colour and a sacrificial critter crater tile to their hand.

Repeat with other colours for additional players

Place all remaining tiles and all resources in stacks at the top of the playing area - this is the supply.

The supply set-up suggested configuration

Connect 2 volcanic soil tiles in the middle of the play area

2 x smog tiles

Create your starting islands with an uno tile, then a connecting duo, then a final connecting trio tile. They can be whichever tiles you prefer, as long as they can connect.

Set-up variation 1

Starting islands must be spaced 2 tiles apart.

Set-up variation example 2

Set-up variation 2

3-4 Player set-up examples

Set-up 3 Player

Set-up 4 Player

Place one critter on the uno tile, then on the opposite biome on the duo tile, then on either unconnected biome on the trio tile.

Place your critters

Shuffle and deal the Volcanic Power cards to the volcanic power grid until all power slots are filled, ensuring each power matches its corresponding level. Discard any additional powers if their level slots are already filled.

Volcanic power grid

Remove the two volcanic soil tiles and determine who goes first by whoever has visited a volcano most recently (active volcanoes win). A dice roll or a flip of a coin will also suffice.
Collect your first resources - collect 1 resource of each individual biome your critters are on.

Collect your first resources

Players collect the following bonus resources as the final step of preparation:
- Player one: 0
- Player two - five: 2

The bonus resources can be of any chosen type.

Gameplay summary

Move up to 1 critter anywhere within a connected biome or into an unclaimed biome on the current tile.
Buy and stack a tile. Spend your resources to buy a tile from the supply. If the purchased tile was a volcano, select a new volcanic power.
Claim all empty tiles by placing a critter on the unclaimed biome of your choice.
Sacrifice a critter
Collect resources
Progress all lava flows. If there is no active lava, skip this step.

Turn summary

Critter movement

You may move 1 critter per turn. It may move to any other tile as long as it stays within its connected biome.

Movement within connecting biome

A critter may be moved onto a new biome, providing that it is on the same tile and an uncontrolled biome.

Rulebook

In-depth instructions for gameplay