Encyclopedia

About this board game

Encyclopedia is a dice-based worker placement game for 1–4 players, released in 2022, with an approximate play time of 120 minutes. Set in 1739, it places you in the role of an aspiring naturalist working for the Comte de Buffon, Darwin’s predecessor, to help create the first encyclopedia of natural history.

At the beginning of each round, players draw and roll dice before placing them on their player boards. Dice can then be used each turn to perform actions based on their color and value, while different tokens offer ways to change a die’s color or value and reduce the impact of random rolls.

• Visit the Embassy to prepare your expeditions.
• Go to the Bank to raise funds.
• Hire a research team at the University.
• Choose Animal cards, organize expeditions, and observe creatures in their natural habitats.
• Publish completed studies to earn Victory points.

Your options extend beyond your own dice. You may also use a die from another player’s board at no cost, although the targeted player receives a bonus. This creates additional tactical choices while preserving several ways to manage the dice available to you.

As your research develops, publications award Victory points, and further points come from collections of Animals and research amassed during the game. With multiple paths to victory, the naturalist with the most points becomes the biggest contributor to Buffon’s Encyclopedia.

Designed by Olivier Melison and Eric Dubus, the authors of Dominations: Road to Civilization and Museum, Encyclopedia combines an engaging historical theme with gorgeously illustrated animal cards and expert-level worker placement decisions.