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DIATOMS

Limited Availability for 2024, Full Release in 2025

A stunningly beautiful game about making art from algae

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. Here at the Society for the Microscopic Arts, we collect these diatoms and delicately arrange them on slides into beautiful, tiny mosaics.

Diatoms is a puzzly tile-placement, pattern-making game where you create beautiful mosaics out of microscopic algae. Take turns placing tiles representing algae colonies, earning diatom algae tiles of different colors and shapes. Then thoughtfully place these diatoms on your 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!

Limited availability in 2024. Currently only shipping to US and Canada.

Diatoms - Gorgeous Box Cover in Front of Windowsill cropped

Diatoms copies will also be available at the 25th Century Games Booth at Pax Unplugged, Dec. 6-8, 2024 in Philadelphia.


Limited quantities are also available at these shops, who were among our Retail Backers for the Diatoms’ Kickstarter:

Plus, included free in the box: Play solo or collaboratively with Diatoms Commissions
In Commissions,  you’ll be creating beautiful mosaic designs to order based commissioned requests. This is a single-player game that can also be played together as a collaborative game.  Commissions is a unique, meditative game experience with 36 different mosaics to try, and it comes in the box with the main Diatoms game.

🧠🧩

Thinky, puzzly gameplay that’s cozy, not cutthroat

⚜️✨

Shimmery diatoms, gold-foiled lens, dual-layer player boards

🖼️🍵

Rich, relaxing solo variant with 36 mosaic patterns to complete

🦠🎨

An astonishing sci-art theme about making art from algae!

Winner of the 2023 Cardboard Edison Award

Diatoms successfully crowdfunded in Fall 2023 and just completed fulfillment to backers. A very limited list of retailers have the game this fall. A wider retail release is planned for 2025 in partnership with 25th Century Games.

  • 150 Diatom Tiles
  • 34 Water Tiles
  • 4 Player Boards
  • 16 Judges
  • 36 Solo Commissions
  • Lens token
  • Ribbon token
  • 4 Reference Notebooks
  • Scorepad
  • 5 Petri Dishes

Printables

Translations
Made possible by the generous efforts of volunteer translators.

Published by: Ludoliminal

Design, Development, & Production: Sabrina Culyba
Development Support: Dave Culyba
Visual Design: Sabrina Culyba and Nim Ben-Reuven
Illustration: Nim Ben-Reuven
Insert Design: Matt Healey

Manufacturing: Whatz Games

Sales Partner: 25th Century Games

Additional Acknowledgements

Development of Diatoms had foundational support from Astra Logical from Carina Initiatives.

Special Thanks to Diatoms Commissioner Carolyn Haskell and all our Kickstarter backers.

Kickstarter Solo Commission Playtesters: 
Adam Sequoyah ● Beth FinnBirgit Gaiser ● Dave C. ● G. ● Jessica S. ● Kieran Waterson  ● LegoBuildBoyz ● Luke L, M. ● Maria Sivaire ● Megan D. ● Nat Jay Bee ● Ryan S. Davis ● Scott M. ● Steve Cacciola ● T. ● Z. ● Zerbique

Additional 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

Dimensions: 24.5cm x 24.5cm x 8cm

Weight: 1.5kg

>> Diatoms Press Kit

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