How to Play Earth: Actions, Tableau Triggers & Growth
Earth is a simultaneous engine builder. On every turn, one player chooses one of four actions; that player receives the stronger action benefit, but everyone performs the corresponding secondary action and then triggers matching-color abilities in their tableau.
Build a 4×4 tableau
Plant cards into a personal grid of up to 16 cards. Placement matters because adjacency, rows, columns and card order can affect abilities and ecosystem scoring.
Choose one of four colored actions
The actions generate combinations of planting, card draw, soil, compost, sprouts and growth. The active player receives a stronger version; all opponents receive the secondary version.
Then trigger matching-color abilities
After the main action, players activate relevant colored abilities on their tableau in the order specified by the rules. Efficient engines chain resources from early cards into later cards.
Sprouts and growth pieces are both engine resources and points
Flora can hold sprouts and growth pieces up to printed limits. These tokens can interact with card abilities during play and also contribute to final scoring.
Goals create public and private scoring directions
Fauna and ecosystem objectives reward particular tableau patterns, card traits or resource states. Because public goals are shared, opponents’ progress can affect how valuable a goal remains.
Completing the 4×4 tableau triggers the end
When a player places their sixteenth card, the endgame is triggered and the completion bonus is awarded according to the rules. Finish the required sequence and score all categories.
Publisher reference: Inside Up Games. Checked September 21, 2026.