In a nutshell
Ant Colony (Ages 5+, 2–6 players, c.20 mins) is a cooperative tile‑laying board game. Players work together to build an underground ant colony while avoiding rocks, beetles and hungry anteaters. They take turns to add tiles, creating a network of tunnels that must have at least two clear entrances and four rooms. The game is straightforward to learn and requires no reading, but obstacles and potential setbacks encourage players to make careful decisions and plan ahead.
What I love about it
An ant colony is a natural fit for a cooperative game. I like the game designer’s choice to have tiles placed on a clearly defined (and stable) grid. Players can easily see the progress they are making as the network unfolds in front of them. They can also work out the possible implications of problem tiles (rocks, insects and anteaters) they anticipate turning over. We love the artwork (especially the quirky anteaters).
I sought out cooperative games initially to help lower stakes for players who find competition very intense. Games like A Gentle Rain are designed that way. But I’ve also discovered that some cooperative games deliberately build tension over the course of the game. They manage the increased pressure because it is shared collectively rather than absorbed by individual players. Games could have a finite number of turns, obstacles that reduce prospects of achieving the goal, or threat pieces that are activated at unexpected moments. Ant Colony begins to introduce some of these characteristics (obstacles closing off parts of the board, restrictions on future placement linked to anteaters) but builds in wiggle room to keep tension levels moderate. At most we have a couple of very nervous turns when we are hoping for (or keen to avoid) a specific tile.
Ant Colony has a reasonably challenging goal. Luck softens the blow of occasional defeat but players can also improve their prospects with more careful decision-making. My son frequently stops to count how many tunnel ends we have still open. He’s learnt the hard way that we need spares for when we lose a few in quick succession to rocks or insects. He hasn’t yet realised that an anteater could take away one of the entrances we need so he doesn’t build spare entrances in as carefully. As an adult I hold back on providing tactical advice to let my children work things out at their own pace but in general the cooperative dynamic allows players to learn from each other easily. I expect that if he played the game with other children one would quickly point this out to him.
Here’s the Zatu Games link: Ant Colony
When I use it
Cooperative games aren’t everyone’s cup of tea and it’s fine for children to enjoy competitive games and the prospect of victory. They can be useful, though, where children struggle to manage the social dynamics of competitive play, and for mixed experience/ability groups. Ant Colony avoids more experienced players taking over because each move is simple enough for less experienced players to complete with confidence. There is only rarely a “right move” to make. I have found that its simplicity can actually give less experienced players the chance to take the lead for a change.
Why Ant Colony fits the way we play
- Everyone stays involved: The game is cooperative so players discuss options and contribute ideas even when it isn’t their turn.
- You can see what is happening as you play: The growing colony is visible and players can easily understand how each new tile affects the overall structure. As they gain experience they can also start to see how it might affect future options.
- Mistakes are manageable: A placement might make the colony harder to complete but it rarely ruins the game. Players can usually adapt and find another solution.
- Results make sense: Either the colony is completed or it isn’t. Players can clearly see how their decisions contributed to the outcome.
- Focused and calm: The game encourages discussion and planning without creating high pressure. Players can take their time and work through options together.
What Ant Colony helps us practise
I will always prioritise having fun over “learning” experiences but in this blog series I look briefly at the skills these games are helping players develop. They matter to me because they can help players access more complex (and hopefully even more fun) games in future. For Ant Colony I’ve identified:
- Planning ahead: Players think about how current placements will affect future building opportunities or how they might affect handling of future obstacles.
- Evaluating options: Players compare different possible locations for a tile and discuss which creates the most flexibility.
- Adapting to change: New obstacles and emerging tunnel layouts often require players to rethink their approach.
- Working towards a shared goal: Players learn to discuss ideas, listen to suggestions and reach decisions together.
- Understanding constraints: Players gradually learn to work within placement rules and recognise how restrictions affect future choices.
Alternatives
Ant Colony is a natural progression from the first cooperative game we played as a family, Race to the Treasure. I’d highly recommend Race to the Treasure as a gentle introduction to both cooperative play and route building. Like Ant Colony, players use tiles to create paths across a grid. The simple objective is to collect three keys from different locations and reach the final treasure chest. The mechanism for losing is simple too, with the game ending if the team turns over too many ogres. [Here’s the link: Race to the Treasure]
Another game I’ve written about that encourages planning for anticipated risks (and rewards) is Sleeping Queens. It’s a card game where players compete to wake queens and add them to their kingdom. New players focus on gaining queens while more experienced players start preparing to defend their own queens against opposition moves.
Two games that need similar planning skills that I’ll cover later in this series are:
Zombie Kidz Evolution is a cooperative game where players defend their school from invading zombies by closing gates before they are overwhelmed. As easy to learn as Ant Colony but harder to master, Zombie Kidz Evolution combines simple moves with difficult decisions about priorities and approaches. It places a strong emphasis on teamwork as players need to agree plans in advance before they execute them. The game also gradually introduces additional rules and challenges that bring in added planning and teamwork demands. [Here’s the link: Zombie Kidz Evolution]
Forbidden Island is cooperative adventure game where players work together to collect treasures and escape before the island sinks. Part of a series of similar games, Forbidden Island requires more complex thinking and teamwork than Ant Colony, strongly rewarding players who can balance planning ahead with adapting when the board changes unexpectedly. [Here’s the Zatu Games link: Forbidden Island]
Some links in this post may be affiliate links. I only link to games I already use.
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