The core elements of Darwin’s Choice are the vegetation zones and the animal cards. All vegetation zones have an individual food supply and different requirements to fulfill.

The objective for each player is to create animal species that are as optimally adapted as possible. Only these can obtain enough food for themselves in the biomes, which is crucial for their survival.

Between the eras played, biome changes and effects of Event Cards transform the prevailing conditions. Using sophisticated mutations, players can improve already established animal species or save endangered species from extinction.

Next to mutations, players may also move their animal species to other biomes to ensure their survival or even establish the species at the top of the food chain.

Throughout the game, players try to collect as many Darwin Points as possible with their most adaptable and strongest animal species. But it is important to stay focused until the very end. If a species dies out, then all but one of all obtained Darwin Points are lost.