DNA: The New Origin of Species 2026

It is a strategic board game about crafting DNA sequences to evolve creatures and populate a new world.

In DNA: The New Origin of Species, you take on the role of a scientist tasked with populating a distant planet with Earth’s diverse creatures. Using multi-colored gene tokens, you’ll complete DNA sequences to bring new species to life, strategically placing them on modular regions to maximize points. As you create new lifeforms, you’ll unlock powerful effects and score bonus points by matching genes to their ideal habitats. Prove your strategic mastery and populate the most successful species to claim victory!

On their turn, players can choose between two main actions: Prepare Projects or Populate Creatures. When preparing projects, players draw gene tokens from the gene bag, buy new DNA project cards, or place gene tokens onto their projects. Once a project card is completed with gene tokens, players can take the Populate action, placing their creatures onto the modular game board. Creatures earn points by matching gene colors with region colors or favored habitats, and some creatures even have instant or permanent abilities that provide additional benefits during or after population.

The game ends when a player completes their final project—7, 8, or 9 projects, depending on the number of players. Victory points are scored throughout the game based on population, creature abilities, and endgame effects, but the final tally includes bonuses for creature sets and gene tokens in your supply. The player with the most victory points at the end of the game is the winner, claiming the title of the ultimate creator in this new world!

—description from the publisher