In the Footsteps of Darwin – Award-Winning Tile-Laying Strategy Game

Step aboard the HMS Beagle and help Charles Darwin gather evidence for his groundbreaking work in In the Footsteps of Darwin by Sorry We Are French. Discover fascinating animals, develop scientific theories, publish your findings and build the most impressive research notebook.

Beautifully illustrated and easy to learn, In the Footsteps of Darwin is a clever family strategy game that combines tile placement, set collection and pattern building in a quick 20–30 minute experience.

What Is In the Footsteps of Darwin?

In the Footsteps of Darwin is a tile-laying strategy board game for 2–5 players aged 8+, designed by Grégory Grard and Matthieu Verdier, with artwork by Maud Briand and David Sitbon. Players become young naturalists helping Darwin collect information about animal life around the world.

The game is inspired by Darwin's voyage aboard the Beagle and his research for On the Origin of Species. Players select Animal and Character tiles from a shared Journey board and add them to their personal notebook.

How to Play

The Beagle moves around the shared Journey board, determining which tiles are available to choose. On your turn, select an Animal or Character tile and add it to your research notebook.

Your choices can help you collect animals from the same species or continent, complete rows and columns, develop scientific Theories and discover valuable specimens.

The clever Overlap mechanism lets you develop theories by covering an existing animal with another animal sharing the required characteristics. You can also complete Publications by filling rows or columns in your notebook.

At the end of the game, players score their Theories, Publications, discoveries and cartographic achievements. The naturalist with the most Victory Points becomes the game's top contributor to Darwin's research.

Why You'll Love In the Footsteps of Darwin

• Beautiful Darwin theme: Travel the world and study fascinating species.
• Simple rules: Easy to learn while offering meaningful choices.
• Clever tile selection: Your choice also affects where the Beagle moves next.
• Multiple scoring routes: Develop theories, publish research and discover specimens.
• Family friendly: Accessible for players aged 8+.
• Quick to play: Around 20–30 minutes makes it easy to fit into a game night.
• Educational without feeling like a lesson: An included appendix provides information about the animals and historical figures featured in the game.

The game was also nominated for the 2024 Spiel des Jahres, with the jury highlighting its accessible rules, short turns and thematic presentation.

Who Is In the Footsteps of Darwin For?

This is an excellent choice for families, casual gamers and anyone interested in nature, science or history. The straightforward gameplay makes it approachable for newer players, while the different scoring opportunities give experienced players plenty to consider.

If you enjoy Cascadia, Kingdomino, Akropolis, Wingspan or In the Footsteps of Marie Curie, this is a great addition to a collection of family-friendly strategy games.

Main Mechanics

• Tile placement
• Tile drafting
• Set collection
• Pattern building
• Variable scoring
• Spatial planning
• Route selection
• Resource management
• Objective tiles
• Tableau building

Games Like In the Footsteps of Darwin

Looking for similar games? Try Cascadia, Kingdomino, Akropolis, Wingspan or In the Footsteps of Marie Curie for more nature, science, tile-laying and family strategy.

Game Information

What's Included?

• 1 Journey Board
• 5 Naturalist Notebooks
• 69 Animal & Character Tiles
• 28 Theory Tiles
• 1 Beagle Figure
• 1 Darwin Token
• 41 Various Tokens
• 1 Cloth Bag
• 1 Score Pad
• 1 Rulebook
• 1 Appendix Booklet

In the Footsteps of Darwin FAQ

How many players can play In the Footsteps of Darwin?
The game supports 2–5 players.

What age is In the Footsteps of Darwin for?
It is recommended for players aged 8 and over.

How long does In the Footsteps of Darwin take to play?
Games take approximately 20–30 minutes.

Is In the Footsteps of Darwin a family game?
Yes. Sorry We Are French describes it as a family game, combining accessible rules with strategic tile selection and multiple ways to score.

Is In the Footsteps of Darwin educational?
The game is based around Darwin's scientific work and includes an appendix with information about the animals and historical figures featured in the game.

Is there an expansion for In the Footsteps of Darwin?
Yes. In the Footsteps of Darwin: Correspondence is a separate expansion that adds an England board, new animals and characters, classification, correspondence and Advanced Publications. It is not a standalone game.

Buy In the Footsteps of Darwin from Roll The Dice Cornwall

Set sail aboard the Beagle and follow in the footsteps of one of history's most famous naturalists. In the Footsteps of Darwin by Sorry We Are French combines beautiful artwork, accessible rules and satisfying strategic choices in a family-friendly game that's easy to bring to the table.