How To Play: Planet of the Apes

Overview

Planet of the Apes is not just about flinging bananas (though that would be fun). If you ever wanted to outsmart your friends while saving the world from disaster, this game is for you! In this guide, I’ll share a short outline of the rules and my best strategies for how to win. If you’ve wondered How To Play planet of the apes, you’re in the right place.

What’s in the box

• 1 Game Board
• 4 Different Ape Standee Figures
• 4 Plastic Stands
• 1 Rulebook
• 5 Dice
• 120 Cards
• 60 Tokens
• 4 Character Boards
• 1 Crisis Marker
• 12 Mission Tiles

How To Play Planet of the Apes: Rules Summary

Setup

1. First, lay out the game board in the center of the table.
2. Next, separate the cards by type and shuffle each deck.
3. Then, give each player their ape role and matching tokens.
4. Distribute the crisis markers and place them on the board as shown in the rulebook.
5. Finally, make sure everyone has their starting hand of resource cards.

Gameplay

1. Each round, players take turns in order, starting with the player who looks most like an ape (house rule: my friend Steve wins this every time).
2. On your turn, draw a card, resolve any current crisis, and play resource cards to overcome threats.
3. Work together to make decisions—debate, laugh, and occasionally accuse each other of sabotage (all in good fun).
4. When a mission is completed, move the story marker forward and prepare for the next challenge.
5. Continue playing until you resolve all missions or all apes face extinction.

Winning

1. The apes win the game if they survive until the final mission and complete it successfully.
2. However, if the crisis track reaches the end or all apes are wiped out, the humans win (boo!).

Special Rules & Conditions

1. Some cards have unique effects—read them aloud, and act surprised even if you’ve seen them before.
2. Whenever a “Betrayal” event appears, players argue for three minutes before resolving it (this step is optional, but highly recommended for drama).
3. If a player ever forgets to draw a card, everyone must make their best ape noise as punishment.

That’s the gist of it! With these steps, you’ll know how to play Planet of the Apes and, with luck, lead your hairy friends to victory. For tips on strategy and a bit of chaos, stay tuned for my next guide!

Best Planet of the Apes Strategies

The Secret Sauce: Picking the Best Team Roles in Planet of the Apes

When you play Planet of the Apes, picking the right team roles can make or break your game. Here’s how to make smart choices, based on my own (many, hilarious) attempts.

Understand Each Role’s Strengths

1. Study what each character does best.
2. Choose a leader-heavy ape for tough decision rounds.
3. Prioritize flexibility; you never know what’s next!

Match Roles With Your Friends

1. Give communicative friends the social ape roles.
2. Ask who likes handling risk—assign them the wild-card ape.

Adapt to the Scenario’s Demands

1. Shift team composition based on the current crisis.
2. Don’t cling to one role all game; change as needed!

Remember, when you’re learning how to play planet of the apes, smart team choices up your odds—and reduce table-flipping moments!

Panic or Planet: Managing Crisis and Threat in Planet of the Apes

Always Watch the Crisis Track

1. Track the crisis level every turn. If you ignore it, you’ll get eaten by angry apes or worse, lose to your cousin again.

2. Assign a player to be the “Crisis Hawk.” This person should warn everyone if danger rises like my neighbor’s cat when I start vacuuming.

Plan for Threat Surges

1. Save a few cards or actions to deal with unexpected threats. Someone always draws a big bad event when you least expect it.

2. Make trades or sacrifices early, so you aren’t scrambling when the real trouble hits. Scrambling is only good for eggs, not for apes.

Don’t Panic—Act Fast

1. Stay calm and coordinate. If you panic, you make mistakes. Learn to laugh even when the outlook is grim—trust me, it helps.

2. Always have two backup plans, just like I do when I try to barbeque in windy weather.

Following these steps, you’ll manage crises better than I manage Monday mornings. Remember, if you want to know How To Play planet of the apes, keeping cool under pressure is a secret weapon.

Mastering Card and Resource Use in Planet of the Apes

Getting the Most Out of Your Cards

1. Always check each card’s ability before playing it. Some cards work better together, so plan smart combos.
2. Save powerful cards for bigger threats rather than wasting them on easy events.
3. Share information with your team. Make sure everyone knows which cards are in play.

Smart Resource Spending

1. Spend resources where failure would hurt the team most, not just for easy wins.
2. Save a little for emergencies. You never know when the apes will mess up your plans!

Keeping Your Team Flexible

1. Don’t lock resources into just one goal. Stay ready to move and react fast.
2. Switch up strategies if one path starts to look bad. Don’t be stubborn!

When I played with my friends, we argued over the last resource token. In the end, the one who shouted loudest got it. But if you want to win, you have to talk and plan, not just shout. Smart use of cards and resources will always beat lucky guesses. If you need detailed steps for How To Play planet of the apes, always remember these tricks.

Why the Apes Will Remember You

So there you have it, my fellow banana-lovers! You now know how to play Planet of the Apes like a true leader of the wild. From picking the best team roles (trust me, don’t let Dave be Cornelius again), to saving your ape-fur in a crisis, to squeezing every drop of use out of those cards—this guide’s given you all the tools. Remember, the key to victory isn’t just luck, it’s planning, teamwork, and knowing when to argue loudly with your friends over a single die roll. May your next game end with your apes ruling the planet, not just flinging poo at each other. Good luck out there!

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