Strain

Published 2011

Strain is a game of competitive bioengineering. 3 to 7 players race to create microorganisms by placing Organelles and Cytoplasm around their Organism tiles. Players battle each other by deploying Toxin attacks and placing Virus tiles on opponents. Game Play: A players turn consists of three phases: (1) Activate Dormant tiles & Draw 3 tiles into hand (2) Build up your Organisms by playing tiles & Attacking others (3) Score Organisms & Discard all but 4 tiles Strategic tension and timing come from the need to use your Organisms tiles to make ATP (the currency of the game) or Toxin (the ability to attack) causing your organism to lose resistance and become more vulnerable. Dealing with this delicate balance of weakening to become stronger is key to the game. Game play is quick and easy-to-learn. Object of the Game The first player to complete 12 victory points by completing and scoring their microorganisms wins the game.

On this page

Mechanics

Hand Management Tile Placement

Categories

Educational Fighting Medical

Designers

Avrom Tobias

Publishers

HungryRobot
Strain

Game Info

Players
3-7 Players
Time
1 hours
Weight
Light-Medium — 2.19/5
Year
2011
BGG Rating
5.50
BGG Rank
#26319
Min Age
10+

Frequently Asked Questions

Strain supports 3 to 7 players.
A typical game of Strain takes about 60 minutes.
Strain has a complexity rating of 2.19/5.00 on BoardGameGeek, placing it in the 'Medium Light' category. It offers a good balance of depth and accessibility.
The recommended minimum age for Strain is 10+. Younger children may enjoy it with guidance from experienced players.
Strain has a rating of 5.50/10 on BoardGameGeek, based on 180 ratings. It is ranked #26319 overall.
Strain was designed by Avrom Tobias. It was published in 2011.