{"title":"Designer: Matt Simpson","description":"\u003cp\u003eMatt Simpson's \u003cstrong\u003eEcosystem\u003c\/strong\u003e stands as a brilliant example of streamlined card drafting merged with spatial puzzle mechanics. Players pass cards and arrange them into evolving habitats where each species scores based on its relationship to neighboring cards—dragonflies thrive near water, bears hunt fish, and hawks prefer open meadows. The result is an elegant system where every placement creates cascading consequences, rewarding players who can visualize how their tableau will score at game's end.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis design appeals particularly to \u003cstrong\u003ethoughtful groups seeking quick, replayable strategy\u003c\/strong\u003e without heavy rules overhead. At 2-6 players and roughly 20 minutes, it works beautifully as a gateway to more complex drafters or as a satisfying filler for experienced gamers. Fans of \u003cem\u003eSushi Go!\u003c\/em\u003e looking for deeper spatial reasoning or \u003cem\u003e7 Wonders\u003c\/em\u003e players wanting something faster will find Simpson's ecological puzzle remarkably engaging.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"ecosystem","title":"Ecosystem","description":"\u003cp\u003eBuild a thriving natural habitat in this beautifully illustrated card-drafting game. In \u003cstrong\u003eEcosystem\u003c\/strong\u003e, players draft cards representing animals, plants and environments, arranging them into a personal 5x4 grid to create the most balanced and biodiverse habitat possible.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eEach card type scores differently depending on how you position it – bees want to be near meadows, wolves prefer to hunt in packs, and streams flow best in long connected chains. With simple rules and quick play, it's an ideal gateway game that rewards clever placement and forward planning.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePerfect for families and casual gamers alike, Ecosystem plays in around 30 minutes and packs a surprising amount of strategy into its small box. A lovely, accessible tile-and-card puzzle for 2 to 6 players.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c!--print-origin--\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGot a printer?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe files for this design are free on the \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.vrdist.co.uk\/item\/6050\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\"\u003eoriginal listing\u003c\/a\u003e. If you've got a printer and the time, print it yourself — we're just here for everyone who'd rather not tie up their machine for two days.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c!--\/print-origin--\u003e","brand":"Genius Games","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":59931275723136,"sku":"653341737403","price":12.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1003\/9505\/7536\/files\/01a0bb76-6eff-702f-a3ad-4cbb2cf8cb90.jpg?v=1789851502"}],"url":"https:\/\/mpgames.io\/collections\/designer-matt-simpson.oembed","provider":"MPGames","version":"1.0","type":"link"}