Doomlings Card Game Review

By: Doomlings LLC    Players: 2-6     Ages: 10+     Time: 20-45 mins

Somewhere on a doomed and distant planet, life has emerged and is competing for supremacy whilst waiting for the worlds inevitable destruction. 

Played over several ages with new rules being revealed all the time, players score points by playing traits and making their Doomlings more adaptable and resilient. 

Be wary of catastrophes that will introduce adverse effects and force players to change their strategy. Three catastrophes lead to the end of the world, and the game. 

What is Doomlings Game?

Doomlings is a strategic card game that was created by brothers Justus and Andrew Meyer and was published by Doomlings LLC in 2022. The game was conceived during the pandemic in 2020 when Justus found himself unemployed and decided to throw himself into developing all aspects of the game. With Andrew helping to analyse the mechanics, when it was ready the game eventually found itself on Kickstarter and went on to have an incredibly successful campaign. After just one day the game exceeded its goal by 340% and it had over ten thousand backers by the end of the campaign. To this day, Doomlings Card Game has sold over 250,000 copies and seen many expansions released to expand its gameplay.

At its core, players vie to make their doomlings species the most dominant on the planet by playing cards to make them more resilient and adaptable. With countless combinations of Trait cards, players can explore a variety of strategic possibilities. The third catastrophe marks the end of the game immediately upon its drawing. Boosting a species with various traits will lead to different kinds of bonuses to the player, but catastrophes will likewise have adverse effects everyone will have to navigate around. Once three catastrophes have occurred, it signals the end of the game and the player with the most points is the winner, concluding with the world’s inevitable destruction.

Overview of Doomlings Card Game

Doomlings is a lightweight card game designed for 2-6 players, set on a doomed and distant planet where life competes for supremacy until the world’s inevitable destruction. The objective is to score the most points by the time the world ends. Players draw trait cards from a community pile and play them for points, building winning combinations and adapting to the ever-changing environment. Each game is a race against time, as players strive to make their species the most resilient and adaptable before the final catastrophe strikes.

Doomlings Card Game Set-Up

Doomlings Card Game Setup is refreshingly quick and simple. Firstly the Birth of Life and Catastrophe cards are separated from the Age cards. Then the Age cards are dealt into three different piles with three different ages face down with the others being set aside. A Catastrophe card is then randomly added to each pile, creating three piles of four cards. The three piles are then stacked on top of each other with the Birth of Life card going on the top.

Each player then selects a Gene Pool card which is used to keep track of how many cards a player can have in their Gene Pool (hand). Finally, the Traits are shuffled and each player is dealt five for their opening hand with the remainder of Traits forming a deck that goes face down next to the Age cards. The discard pile is placed next to the Trait deck, where players can interact with it during gameplay.

Components and Packaging

Doomlings Card Game includes over 100 unique trait cards in five vibrant colors: Red, Blue, Green, Purple, and Colorless. Additionally, there are 12 age cards that introduce new rules and challenges each round, and 6 Gene Pool counter cards to help players keep track of their hand size. The compact box is thoughtfully designed with little dividers for separating the cards, making it easy to store and transport. The artwork is both creative and fun, perfectly complementing the game’s whimsical and strategic nature.

How To Play: Players Draw Trait Cards

Doomlings Card Game starts by flipping the Birth of Life card over and play goes in a clockwise direction. On a players turn they play a trait card from their hand face up in front of them. Trait cards come in a variety of colours, have a point value at the bottom of the card, and some have effects that are bonuses or special instructions. After a card is played, the player then ‘stabilizes’, which means they draw Trait cards or discard cards from their hand, until the size of it equals the number at the top of their Gene Pool card. This number will increase and decrease throughout the game depending on what Age and Trait cards are played, so expect hand sizes to grow and shrink frequently! After that, each subsequent player takes their turn. Once all players have taken their turn a new Age card is flipped over signalling the start of a new round. Simple, right?

With each new age comes new potential obstacles. Each card has an effect that can either significantly help or hinder a player, forcing them to think fast and change tactics on the fly. Some will force players to discard a random card from their hand or only play a specific colour trait, but others will allow players to play extra traits of a specific colour or draw an extra card. How players react to the luck of the draw will play a big part in how likely they are to win the game, so they need to think on their feet and react accordingly. 

Trait cards also have their own set of abilities and come in one of five colours (red, blue, green, purple, and grey, or colourless…which we’ll say is a colour for now). What each of these cards do varies greatly but there aren’t really any that will have a negative impact on the active player. Instead, they’ll either provide general bonuses like increasing the size of the Gene Pool, or grant extra points for having the most of a colour or increasing point total as a whole. As the game goes one players will need to identify patterns and may find leaning towards favouring one particular colour beneficial based on the luck of the draw. To add an element of strategy to the mix, these effects can occur at different times: when the card is played from the player’s hand, at any time at all, or at the end of the game. Not only that but there are a handful of ‘Dominant’ Trait cards which, once played, cannot be moved or swapped, so players must choose which they’d like to play wisely.

Periodically as the game goes on, when flipping the Age deck, players will uncover a Catastrophe card. This card is similar to the others but has a more impactful effect on all players and can be quite devastating. The ‘Mega Tsunami’ for example forces all players not only to reduce their Gene Pool by one, but they must also discard a red Trait from their pile at random, and pass their hand to the player on their right. This can have massive implications on how the rest of the game plays out and players plans can truly be shattered. This catastrophe occurring always signifies the End of an Era, and once three catastrophe cards have been pulled, this signifies the end of the game. 

Whoever has the most points by the end of the game is declared the winner.   

Gameplay Mechanics for Doomlings Card Game

Players draw trait cards from a community pile and play them for points, using special abilities and bonuses to build winning combinations. Doomlings Card Game is played in rounds, with each round starting by flipping over a new age card. These age cards introduce different rules that players must follow, adding variety and unpredictability to the game. Hidden among the age cards are catastrophes, which cause adverse effects and force players to adapt their strategy on the fly. The Gene Pool mechanic allows players to increase or decrease their hand size through special traits or catastrophes, adding another layer of strategy to the game.

Objective and Strategy

The objective of the Doomlings Card Game is to score the most points by the time the world ends. Players must strategically play trait cards to build winning combinations, while adapting to the ever-changing environment and managing their hand size. The game requires a mix of strategy and luck, as players can’t predict the effects of unturned age cards. Powerful dominant traits can generate a lot of points, but players are limited to playing only two of them. Balancing the use of these dominant traits with other strategic plays is key to winning the game.

Theme and Tone

Doomlings Card Game has a unique theme and tone, blending humor and strategy in a fun and lighthearted way. The game’s artwork and design add to its comedic elements, making it a great addition to any gaming enthusiast family’s collection. The game can be played casually, making it perfect for game nights or as a quick filler between bigger games. With its typical game time of 20-45 minutes, Doomlings is an excellent choice for players looking for a fun and engaging experience.

Summary: Most Points

Who Should Buy This Game?

We think you should buy this game if:

You like a good card game: Doomlings is a fairly new game but as far as card games go, it’s simplicity, short play time, and depth of strategy make this a must-own game for all card and board game lovers out there, including any gaming enthusiast family.

You don’t like complicated games: One of the least complicated games of this level out there, it takes players seconds to understand how to play. Mastering the game is another thing entirely however.

You don’t like long games: Each game is quick and snappy and shouldn’t take long to play, even with a maximum of six players. A typical game takes between 20 to 45 minutes, depending on the number of players and the sequence of events.

You enjoy strategy games: Doomlings Card Game is all about strategy; using the Trait cards in conjunction with one another and the Age cards is easier said than done, but if a player is lucky and skilful enough it’s what will win them the game.

You might not like this game if:

You want a game with a long playtime: Although you can easily play several games of Doomlings at once, each game will last a little over half an hour or so, so can finish just as players are really getting into the swing of things.

If you like a game with lots of mechanics:  Although the game is very satisfying and fun to play, each turn consists of the same two or three moves, so for player who want more variety in their gameplay this might not be a game for them.

Also Read: Fabulous Fun Lies Ahead with These Popular Card Games

Final Verdict

Doomlings Card Game is an interesting and enjoyable game which on the surface looks simple, but in fact offers more depth than anyone would expect. It does a great job of taking the limited rules and mechanics it employs and making the most out of them by creating a surprisingly strategic card game. The variety of cards and luck of the draw factor not only make this a game where every session is different and memorable, but encourages players to keep trying to find an effective and dominant strategy with the cards they’re given. The base game offers a lot of options, but there are a lot of expansions packed with more humorous cards to offer even more of a replay value. 

FAQ: Typical Game Takes