DIATOMS
Limited Availability for 2024
Full Release in 2025
Diatoms successfully crowdfunded in Fall 2023 and will be arriving for backers in Fall 2024.
A very limited list of retailers will have the game in Fall 2024 while a wider retail release is planned for 2025 in partnership with 25th Century Games.
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 a microscopic mosaic out of single-cell algae. Take turns placing tiles representing algae colonies, earning diatoms of different colors and shapes. Then thoughtfully 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!
Plus: 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!
Winner of the 2023 Cardboard Edison Award
- Ages 8+
- 1-4 Players
- 30-40 minutes (10-15 solo)
🔍What makes Diatoms the board game so unique?
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Thinky, puzzly gameplay that’s cozy, not cutthroat
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Gorgeous lux game pieces:
shimmery diatom tiles, gold-foil details, dual-layer boards, petri-dish containers
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Rich, relaxing solo variant with 36 mosaic patterns to complete
🦠🎨
An astonishing sci-art theme about making art from algae!
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#DiatomsTheGame http://diatomsthegame.com
(Are you press or a content creator? Diatoms Press Kit here.)
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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.
Piqued your interest? Follow along as we bring Diatoms out of the curio cabinet and into your parlor:
Join our mailing list to receive playtest invitations, latest news on Diatoms and our other games, amazing game recommendations, and an invite to our discord.
Game Credits & Special Thanks
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 ≼
Special Thanks to Diatoms Commissioner Carolyn Haskell and all our Kickstarter backers.
Kickstarter Solo Commission Playtesters:
Adam Sequoyah ● Beth Finn ● Birgit 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
Development of Diatoms had foundational support from Astra Logical from Carina Initiatives.