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Retailers! Order now to get Diatoms in your shop in fall 2024. This is a limited release exclusive to retailers who late-pledge for the game. 
Free demo copy with first case (6 games total) and discounted shipping – only available until April 30, 2024.

A tile-placement, pattern-making game about making microscopic mosaics out of single-cell algae.

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Hidden in the water all around us are tiny lifeforms known as “diatoms.” These microscopic algae cells come in a variety of exquisite geometric shapes and patterns. Their outer layer is made with silica, giving them a glass-like quality. Here at the Society for the Microscopic Arts, we collect these diatoms and delicately arrange them on slides into beautiful, tiny mosaics. As part of your induction into the Society, you will each create your own entry for today’s Exhibition of Microscopic Mosaics.

Diatoms is a puzzly tile-placement, pattern-making game where you create a microscopic mosaic out of single-cell algae. Vie with your fellow players to collect and place diatom tiles to create mosaics. Take turns placing tiles representing algae colonies, earning diatoms of different colors and shapes. Then strategically place these diatoms on your own mosaic, taking care to consider how your arrangement will be scored by the judges at the end of the game. Everyone will create a unique mosaic, but only one player will win first place for their microscopic art.

Diatom mosaics are a real thing, though this artform has only ever been practiced by a vanishingly small number of people. Diatoms themselves are also a pretty big deal as they produce up to 50% of the oxygen we breathe.


Celebrate both obscure art and the ubiquitous wonder of science with this beautiful, cozy, thinky game!

(Are you press or a content creator? Diatoms Press Kit here.)

Includes Solo Variant: Diatoms “Commissions”
Commissions is a single-player option for Diatoms, where you collect diatom tiles as in the main game, while trying to create a mosaic that fulfills specific requirements.

 

Piqued your interest? Follow along as we bring Diatoms out of the curio cabinet and into your parlor:

Diatoms successfully funded on Kickstarter last fall and is available for late-pledge pre-order through April 2024.

Join our tiny but growing footprint on BoardGameGeek.com: Fan, Wishlist, Subscribe to Diatoms. If you’ve playtested the game with us, log your play or give it a rating!

We regularly post behind-the-scenes photos and video here of Diatoms and our other games. Give us a follow!

Share about Diatoms with your followers, friends, family, etc. who like games, science, art, Victorian themes, algae, or all-of-the above.  
#DiatomsTheGame    http://diatomsthegame.com

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Special Thanks to Carina Initiatives who provided foundational support for the development of Diatoms.

Thank You Playtesters! Dave C., Hazel C., Linda, Micah, Penelope, Andrew, Micah, Isabella, Andy, Abby, Patrick, Joe, Alyse, Ian, Ace, Averie, Eric, Betsy, Shawn P., April C. Rob G., Kate G., Melanie H., Jason P., Mary P., Micah, Andrew, Isabella, Jack, June, Sarah, Mike, Eliza, Adam H., Jodie, Ben, Maggie, Sarah, Ruth, Nora, Ben, Kate, Ross, David, Jessica, Mark D., Pernell V., Nikki W., Sam M., Shanti P., David K., Ramon G., Philip E., Roger M., Chris B., Joe S., Stefan A, Boza, Mo, Justins, Caylie, Fabricio, Ryan C.…and others whose names we didn’t catch. 🙏 Also thanks to the communities at @ Unpub and Cardboard Edison

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