How To Play: Planet of the Apes

Overview

Are you ready to cross bananas with brains? My friends and I just finished a wild ride learning How To Play planet of the apes, and wow, my pulse is still racing. In this guide, I’ll outline the basics of the game rules and then break down the best strategies for winning. Trust me, after our last session, I know what works—and what just gets you taken down by gorillas.

What’s in the box

• 1 Game Board
• 4 Ape Character Sheets
• 16 Ape Standees
• 4 Plastic Stands
• 120 Action Cards
• 36 Event Cards
• 40 Resource Tokens
• 30 Wound Tokens
• 12 Fate Tokens
• 1 Rulebook
• 1 Scenario Book

How To Play Planet of the Apes: Rules Summary

Setup

1. Shuffle the scenario decks and place them in the center of the table.
2. Each player picks a character board and takes matching tokens.
3. Put all resource markers, like food and morale, on their starting spots.
4. Deal out starting items as shown in the rulebook.
5. Pick a player to go first. (We always fight over this. The winner gets the first banana, too.)

Gameplay

1. On your turn, draw an event card and read it out loud. Prepare for weird monkey business!
2. Follow the steps on the card, which might mean moving, spending resources, or facing a challenge.
3. Work together! You and your friends can talk and help each other with abilities.
4. When you complete a challenge, move on to the next scenario card.
5. Keep one eye on your morale and resources; let them hit zero and you’re toast.

Winning

1. Complete all the scenario cards without running out of morale or resources.
2. If your group survives until the final card and wins the last challenge, you win. Simple as that!
3. If morale or a key resource (like bananas—trust me, they matter) drops to zero, everyone loses. Sadly, no monkey victory dance for you.

Special Rules & Conditions

1. Certain cards might tell you to do odd things—like flip over a board or remove a player’s ability, so pay close attention.
2. Some rounds, you can only use teamwork once, so plan ahead!
3. Wild events sometimes pop up. Always read every card and follow its rules, even if you think it’s bananas (which it usually is).

If you ever get stuck, check out “How To Play Planet of the Apes” videos or guides. My group once spent 10 minutes arguing about a rule only to learn we all had it wrong. Just don’t ask Dave—he’s always wrong about these things.

Best Planet of the Apes Strategies

Apes Together Strong: Teamwork Tips for Planet of the Apes

If you want to win Planet of the Apes, you must stick with your fellow players. After many games with my friends, I learned that teamwork makes or breaks the story. Below, you’ll find the best ways to work together.

Share Info Fast

1. Tell everyone what cards you have each turn.
2. Warn teammates about risky event cards.

Divide the Tasks

1. Assign who handles tough challenges.
2. Pick the best ape for each mission.

Support Struggling Players

1. Give resources to those in trouble.
2. Swap roles if someone gets stuck.

Now, the question ‘How To Play planet of the apes’ is easier: stick together! If you all go solo, you might as well hand the win to the humans.

Go Bananas for Resource Management: Winning at Planet of the Apes

Always Track Your Supplies

The best thing I learned while playing Planet of the Apes is to watch your resources like a hawk. Or, you know, an ape. Failing to do so once ended with my group eating imaginary leaves. Instead, try this:

1. Count your supplies at the start of every turn.
2. Never let any player hoard too much.
3. Remind everyone about food, tools, and hope tokens before critical moments.

Share, Don’t Hoard

When you’re greedy in Planet of the Apes, the planet bites back. Every time I shared, things went smoother. So, share those resources!

1. Distribute useful items to those who need them most.
2. Plan together before making a big spend.
3. Check in on everyone’s stash, so no ape is left behind.

Prepare for the Unexpected

Event cards love to mess things up. Last game, a surprise mishap nearly ended us. Thus, remember:

1. Keep a cushion of extra supplies for emergencies.
2. Resist the urge to spend everything at once.
3. Regularly review what’s coming up next.

If you focus on managing resources, you won’t just survive—you’ll thrive. How To Play planet of the apes well always comes down to good planning and being generous. Trust me, I learned it the hard way.

Monkey See, Monkey Adapt: Surviving Event Cards in Planet of the Apes

Stay Alert and Read Carefully

Every event card brings chaos. But if you pay attention, you can spot tricks! Read every word. Often, the apes that skim end up regretting it. For example, last week I missed a tiny rule and lost my bananas. Never again!

Plan Ahead

Don’t get caught off guard. Always keep a backup plan in your furry pocket. Here are a few tips:

1. Save an extra resource for emergencies.
2. Remember which cards trigger big disasters.
3. Use teamwork to shield teammates if possible.

Stay Flexible

Sometimes, you must change your whole plan after seeing an event card. React fast—you’re a clever ape, after all! As I learned with my friends last weekend, the game always changes. That’s what makes learning How To Play planet of the apes so fun—and so wild!

Go Ape or Go Home!

If you’ve stuck with me through all these monkey tricks, congrats! You now know how to play Planet of the Apes, and maybe—just maybe—you’ll outsmart my cousin Gary, who still thinks the dice are out to get him. Remember, teamwork makes the dream work, and a clever use of resources beats monkey business every time. Stay flexible, wear your thinking cap, and don’t let those wild event cards knock you off your perch. So gather your friends, grab some snacks, and show those apes who’s boss!

Want to know what we think of Planet of the Apes? Read our detailed review of Planet of the Apes here