Skip to content

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!

Plus, 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 comes in the box with Diatoms

Diatoms - Gorgeous Box Cover in Front of Windowsill cropped

Diatoms successfully crowdfunded in Fall 2023 and is currently arriving for backers this fall (2024. ) A very limited list of retailers will have the game as well this fall while a wider retail release is planned for 2025 in partnership with 25th Century Games.

Special for North American Diatom Symposium Attendees

Pre-order Diatoms now and receive the game this fall along with Kickstarter backers. Expected Delivery to US address in November 2024.

This is a special limited offer for the NADS community, available until October 30th. Diatoms will not be available for retail purchase by the general public until 2025.

🧠🧩

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!

Diatoms Pieces

Winner of the 2023 Cardboard Edison Award

#Diatomsthegame

  • 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

Quotes

Previous slide
Next slide

2024 © ludoliminal, llc

Join Now!

Sign-up for Ludoliminal Post