Players: 2 Time: 10-15 minutes Difficulty: 2 (of 10)

The Components

Gene Pool contains a small deck of cards in a tuck box.

Cards: There are 28 cards total: 12 base pair cards (which are simply labeled G/C or A/T), 14 gene research cards (which shows different DNA sequences that players are trying to create) and 2 player-reference cards.

The cards are all die-cut from medium-weight cardstock. The cards don't have any special coating, and thus they're clearer and brighter than your standard playing card, an advantage that I've seen in other casual productions in the past.

Though they're die cut, the publisher smoothed out the edges as recounted at BGDF. The result looks entirely professional, minus slight ridges on the back--though I do have some concerns about wear over time.

Overall, the cards are attractive and easy to use.

Rulebook: A full color rulesheet that explains genetics and the game, and has plenty of exemplar illustrations.

Box: A small tuckbox.

Overall I was surprised and impressed with the components for Gene Pool. It's one of the best looking self-published games that I've ever seen, with good graphic design, nice (simple) art, and bright, colorful cards.

The theming of Gene Pool is also endearing. It's all about moving around chemicals in DNA sequences to match certain DNA sequences you're researching. The four types of moves (insertion, deletion, mutation, and inversion) are the exact ways in which DNA changes, and got a thumbs up from the biologist that I played my first game of Gene Pool with. (Don't think the game is dry and scientific, though; though the theming is dead on, and maybe even educational, it just illustrates the gameplay).

Between good components (especially for self-publication) and great theming I've given Gene Pool a full "5" out of "5" for Style.

The Gameplay

The object of Gene Pool is to organize a set of 6 shared DNA base pairs into specific sequences necessary for your research (to cure rare genetic disorders, which are thematically described on the gene research cards).

Setup: Each player is given two base pair cards, one that says "T/A" (on the top and bottom of the card) and another which says "C/G".

Six additional base pair cards, three of each type, are shuffled then placed in a row in the middle of the table. Note that the orientation of each card (e.g., the facing of the T, A, C, and G) is relevent. These cards will thus form two DNA sequences, one on the tops and one of the bottoms of the cards.

Finally, the last two base pair cards are put to the side as draw/discard piles.

Next the gene research cards are divided into two stacks of "1 year" and "2 year" cards. Each card lists a DNA sequence which the player is trying to match. The sequence for the 1-year cards is 4 units long (e.g., GACC) while the sequence for the 2-year cards is 5 units long (e.g., TAGGA).

Each player then draws one card from the gene research pile of his choice.

Play begins.

Order of Play: On his turn a player may take one of several different actions:

• Modify Gene Sequence
• Draw Base Pair
• Draw Gene Research

Modify Gene Sequence: If a player decides to modify the gene sequence he's adjusting the set of 6 cards which sit between the players. There are four different ways to do this.

Insertion. The player places a base pair card from his hand into the sequence (anywhere between the edges), then removes a card from one edge or the other and discards it.

Deletion. The player removes a base pair card from the sequence, discarding it, then plays a card from his hand to one of the two edges.

Mutation. The player changes a base pair card in the sequence (discarding it) for one in his hand.

(For all three of these maneuvers the player may place the card from his hand into the sequence in either orientation.)

Inversion. The player rotates one or more cards in the sequence. If he rotates multiple cards they must rotate as a group, not individually.

If a player wish to make a rotation that's the exact opposite of his opponent's last rotation, he must discard a base pair card to do so.

Draw Base Pair: The player takes one of either base pair card type from the draw/discard piles.

Draw Gene Research: The player draws a gene research card of his choice, to two maximum.

Completing Gene Research: When a player successfully matches a sequence shown on one of his gene research cards, he displays the card at the end of his turn and sets it to the side as victory points. (Note that this sequence can be matched in two ways: rightside up, facing you, or upside down, facing your opponent.)

If he now has no Gene Research cards left, he may now draw one, from either pile.

Winning the Game: A player wins the game when he has a total of 9 years of Gene Research completed.

Relationships to Other games

Gene Pool feels like certain other 2-player card games where the players have a set of cards that lie between them and where they're in some way both dealing with that common pool. Examples of the genre include Lost Cities and Balloon Cup. However, with its interesting and varied methods for manipulating its central card pool, Gene Pool is really an entirely unique and original game.

Gene Pool features card management and also quite a bit of pattern matching as you try and suss out what sequences will look like when cards are inverted or otherwise moved around.

The Game Design

As I said above, Gene Pool has some unique gameplay, and that's a great first point for me. I've got quite a few two-player card games, but this one covers entirely new ground.

The various ways in which the cards can be moved around are clever and allow for some interesting tactics. I had some troubles seeing the patterns sometimes (more often early in a game than late), but when they clicked and I was able to do something neat, I was very pleased. The fact that both players are trying to create patterns in the same central pool creates a great dynamic that can be both fun and frustrating at the same time.

There's also some good resource management. You have to decide when to get base pair cards, which can sometimes allow for a quick fix, and also whether to hold two gene research cards at a time (which costs turn) or to just maintain your one which is always replenished.

Gene Pool isn't a super deep game, but that's to be expected with the very short play time. I also have some concerns about the ultimate power of inversions, which can be very helpful without the need to expend cards. However, overall Gene Pool is a fun, well-designed game that I've given a "4" out of "5" for Style.

The designer originally just printed 200 copies of this game; you can get one directly from him.

Hopefully Gene Pool will be picked up by a publisher when it sells out, because it's well deserving.

Conclusion

Gene Pool is a short, clever 2-player card game that fits into the same niche as Balloon Cup and other light head-to-head card games, but its gameplay is largely original. If you regularly play two player games, I suggest picking this up while the designer's limited edition is still available.