Cellulose is a worker placement game with an educational twist. In general I think most games have educational value, but this takes it a step farther. The entire time I played I wished I had something like this back when I was taking science classes. It is definitely a game I am recommending to teachers to bring into the classroom.

On top of the science aspect, it’s also a good introduction to worker placement games. There is a lot of choice, and lots of spaces to choose from so I didn’t feel confined. With that being said you still need to come up with a balanced plan to get what you want at the right time. It not just about picking up cards, you are also trying to get water, get health points, add to the Central Vacuole and build the cell wall.

The game quality is great, it has good components, wooden pieces and plastic cubes. Worker placement games tend to have good replay ability, if you like the theme, this is no different.

The real focus for the game is the theme. Plant biology isn’t my thing but I love to learn and this is something I didn’t know a lot about. The game came with a booklet that explains the science and then tells you how it works in the game. It’s a small added touch that make a big difference. I took the knowledge with me after the game was over. Genius Games has found a really cool and interesting way to deliver information. I recommend this if you are into plant biology or if have teenagers that want a new way to learn.

Cellulose: A Plant Biology Game was designed by John Coveyou and Steve Schlepphorst and was published by Genius Games. It is for 1 to 5 players ages 14 and up and takes about 45 to 90 minutes to play. There is a solo mode available.

Components

• 1 Double Sided Game Board
• 1 Double Sided Plant Board
• 46 Cell Component Cards
• 1 Water Level Marker
• 1 First Player Marker
• 45 Water Resources
• 30 Co2 Resources
• 25 Proteins
• 8 6x Water
• 6 6x Co2
• 15 Plant Growth Hormones
• 25 Carbohydrates
• 25 ATP
• 8 Extra Resource Tokens
• 5 sets of Player Pieces including:
• 3 Action Markers
• 1 Health Point Marker
• 1 Central Vacuole Marker
• 2 Plant Growth Markers
• 3 Gray Action Markers
• 2 Scenario Cards
• 4 Evening Phase Reminder Tokens
• 5 Player Aids
• 1 Double Sided Solo Mat
• 16 Solo Cards
• 1 Solo Aid
• 1 Rulebook
• 1 Science Behind Cellulose Booklet

Set Up

To Set up the game, place the board with the right amount of players face up then place the plant board next to it. Based on player count place 1 or 2 grey flasks on the Central Vacuole. Have players choose their colour, place their coloured discs on the Plant board. Based on turn order give out water resources. Place the Water Level Marker on the starting space of the Water Level Track. Each player places their Health Point and Central Vacuole Markers on the starting spaces of their tracks.

Shuffle the Cell Component Cards and place the deck face down near the board. Place 4 Cards face up on the card spaces on the board.

How to Play

Cellulose is set inside a plant cell. The game is played over rounds. Rounds have three phases; Sunrise, Daytime, and Evening. Players will compete for resources, carry out photosynthesis to produce carbohydrates and release plan growth hormones. They will build carbohydrates into the cell wall, contribute water to the central vacuole, and construct cell components. The game ends when the cell wall is complete, the player with the most points wins.

Sunrise Phase

In the sunrise phase players will collect water and carbon dioxide resources depending on where their tokens are on the Plant board. Players can also use cards with sunrise bonuses.

Daytime Phase

During the Daytime Phase, players will place their markers on spaces to take actions. There are a lot of different things the action spaces will let you do. You can to collect and convert resources, move on the plant board, contribute to building the Cell Wall and gain cards.

There’s a limited amount of spaces so you could be blocked from what you need. Small action spaces can only have one person on it, large action spaces can have 1 of each colour. You will need the resources required to do the action.

After placing an Action Marker, you can play a card from your hand by paying the cost.

The Water Level track marks the water available for players to collect each round. The level is lowered every time players collect water or CO2. Once the water level is at the bottom, water will not be available for the rest of the round.

Some players may run out of action markers before others but play will continue until all players have used all the action markers.

Evening Phase

After players have placed their action markers it is time to clean up and reset the board for the next round. Players take back their action Markers, return the Central Vacuole Gray Action Marker, add a carbohydrate to the cell wall and reset the water track.

Central Vacuole: During the game, players can add water to the Central Vacuole. During the evening phase, the player who contributed the most water gets rewarded. They will get to move their Central Vacuole marker forward on the track and score health points. They will remove water from only their region and take a grey action marker to use during the next round.

Cell Wall: Add 1 Carbohydrate to the next space on the cell wall. No one gains the points for this. If the final space is covered it is the end of the game.

Water Level: reset the water level marker based on the last completed section of the cell wall.

Component Cards: Discard the two cards from the spaces on the left. Slide the other cards over and draw cards to fill the empty spaces.

If the cell wall isn’t complete, go to the sunrise phase. If the wall is finished go to end game scoring.

End of Game

Calculate the scores based on health points gained during the game, 4 health points for each unused carbohydrate, and cards with endgame health points. Player with the most health points wins.

There aren’t a lot of science based games like this, it’s definitely a nice change of pace. Perfect for anyone into biology.

Skillfulmeeple received a copy of Cellulose: A Plant Cell Biology game from Genius Games to provide this review.

If you like Cellulose try:

Everdell

Honey Buzz

Parks