Playing the Game
Evolution is played in rounds and turns with no set number of rounds per game. Each round is broken down into phases where each player will take a turn starting with the First Player. A typical game round is summarized here.
Phase 1: Species Boards and Deal Trait Cards
First, give any player who does not currently have any species in front of them a Species board. When the game first starts, every player will need a Species board. When handing over the Species board, pass 2 wooden markers and place the markers on the “1” spaces found on the Population and Body Size tracks. All new Species boards begin as herbivores (plant eaters) until they evolve into carnivores (meat eaters) through a Trait card.