How To Play: Planet of the Apes

In Planet of the Apes, teamwork is key, from sharing roles to handling crisis cards. Managing resources smartly keeps the group moving. Play your cards at the right moment for the best effects. Learn the rules, chat with your team, and brace yourself—those apes aren’t going to save themselves!

Planet of the Apes - Planet of the Apes, IDW Games, 2017 — front cover (image provided by the publisher) - Credit: W Eric Martin

Overview

Let me tell you, the first time I played Planet of the Apes with my friends, we barely made it out alive—Caesar would not have been proud. If you’re tired of getting outsmarted by talking monkeys, look no further! This guide covers an easy outline of the game rules and the best strategies for winning. Trust me, after reading, you’ll be swinging from the trees in victory.

What’s in the box

  • 1 Game board
  • 4 Hero boards
  • 5 Crisis decks (30 cards each)
  • 1 Lawgiver die
  • 4 Willpower trackers
  • 12 Fate tokens
  • 1 Timeline tracker
  • 40 Encounter cards
  • 35 Skill cards
  • 4 Player aids
  • 1 Rulebook

How To Play Planet of the Apes: Rules Summary

Setup

  1. Spread out the game board in the center of your table. If your table is tiny, clear off those snack bowls first.
  2. Give each player a unique character board, matching standee, and starting hand of cards. Don’t worry, you’ll get the hang of who’s who.
  3. Shuffle all the main decks – Crisis, Encounter, and Journey. Place them near the board. Try not to spill your drink on them.
  4. Sort tokens and special items. Place them within easy reach. If you can’t reach, ask the lanky friend.
  5. Set the threat tracker and morale marker at their starting spaces. You’re almost ready to be the best (or worst) apes ever.

Gameplay

  1. Each round, flip a Journey card. This kicks off the round and sets your goals. Cue the dramatic music!
  2. Reveal a Crisis card and read aloud the challenge. Be ready for groans and laughter.
  3. Players discuss, then play cards face down to tackle the problem. No peeking!
  4. Reveal the cards, resolve skills and bad stuff, and move game pieces as needed. High-fives for success, dramatic sighs for failure.
  5. Draw and resolve an Encounter card to throw in more surprises. Because nothing ever goes to plan in ape land.
  6. Repeat rounds, working as a team until you either win, lose, or someone flips the table in frustration (not official, but it happens).

Winning

  1. Keep your morale up and threats down while completing all Journey objectives. Not easy, but who said being an ape was simple?
  2. If you finish the last objective with morale still above zero – congratulations! You’ve played a perfect round of Planet of the Apes.

Special Rules & Conditions

  1. If morale hits zero or threats reach the max, game over. Don’t worry, you can try again (and again…).
  2. Certain cards add twists, like betraying teammates or hidden objectives. Always pay attention to special card text – it can flip the game.
  3. If a player’s hand runs out, reshuffle the discard pile to create a new draw pile. Even apes need a little recycling.

So that’s how to play Planet of the Apes! Follow these rules, keep your bananas handy, and you’ll be an expert in no time. If you ever forget a rule, just yell “How To Play planet of the apes?” and someone at the table will (probably) help you out.

Best Planet of the Apes Strategies

Unleash Your Inner Ape: Mastering Teamwork and Roles

Why Teamwork Matters

If you want to escape the Planet of the Apes board game alive, you can’t go solo. In my group, we learned this the hard way (let’s just say we ended up as banana snacks!).

Role Coordination Strategies

  1. Always discuss who can tackle each crisis best. Certain characters rock at specific skills, so assign the right ape to the right job.
  2. Share resources! Hoarding cards only leads to disaster. We lost a game because my buddy Dave wanted all the shiny cards for himself.
  3. Communicate threats early. If you spot trouble, announce it. We made it much further when everyone spoke up instead of grunting mysteriously.

How To Play planet of the apes with Strong Roles

Every session, remind your team to stick to their ape’s strengths. It keeps chaos at bay and keeps the humans from catching you by surprise.

Mastering Chaos: Crisis & Resources in Planet of the Apes

Spot Trouble Early

If you ignore a crisis, it will bite you faster than a chimp with a banana shortage. Keep an eye on those crisis cards before things get wild.

  1. Check crisis cards every round.
  2. Alert your team about new threats.

Spend Wisely

Don’t blow all your resources at once. But also, don’t sit on them like you’re saving for retirement. Find that sweet spot.

  1. Use resources on the biggest fires first.
  2. Save a little in case of surprises.

Work Together on Solutions

One ape alone can’t win the jungle. Coordinate actions to squash problems quickly. “How To Play planet of the apes” keeps reminding me—teamwork crushes chaos every time.

  1. Assign crises based on each ape’s strengths.
  2. Share information to avoid overlap.

Master the Art of Card Timing in Planet of the Apes

Know When to Hold or Play

In Planet of the Apes, I learned that playing a card too soon is almost as bad as forgetting it’s in your hand (which, yes, I’ve done). Instead, watch the board and time your moves. Use these strategies:

  1. Play powerful cards only when you face the worst crises.
  2. Keep backup cards in reserve for late-game chaos.
  3. Time support cards when a teammate plans a big move.
Avoid Card Waste

When you toss out your only save-the-day card early, you’ll regret it later. Instead, always ask: do I need this now?

  1. Check the crisis deck before each card play.
  2. Consult your team before clutch moves.
Adapt to Each Round

Every round feels different in Planet of the Apes. Sudden surprises pop up. Stay flexible and ready to use cards in new ways.

  1. Change your plan if the crisis gets worse.
  2. Save special cards if the next round is key.

If you ever need help on How To Play planet of the apes, remember, card timing is your secret weapon. Don’t let the apes outsmart you!

Go Forth and Conquer the Apes (and the Board!)

So, that’s it! Now you know How To Play planet of the apes and, more importantly, how not to lose in the first five minutes like I did my first game. Trust me, teamwork and smart card timing are your secret weapons. Keep an eye on those crisis cards or you’ll find yourself quoting Charlton Heston in rage. Good luck, and may your dice rolls be ever in your favor. Go make Caesar proud!

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

Jamie in his proper element: With all of his board games
Jamie Hopkins

With years of dice-rolling, card-flipping, and strategic planning under my belt, I've transformed my passion into expertise. I thrive on dissecting the mechanics and social dynamics of board games, sharing insights from countless game nights with friends. I dive deep into gameplay mechanics, while emphasizing the social joys of gaming. While I appreciate themes and visuals, it's the strategy and camaraderie that truly capture my heart.