Backyard Biome: Ecosystem Sim

Update guide

Version 2.0 (build 4)

This guide covers version 2.0. The current website catalog lists version 2.0. Check the App Store for availability on your device; the features below require version 2.0 or later.

Build a small yard and explore the food web it supports. Backyard Biome is an offline ecology-inspired strategy game for iPhone and iPad.

SHAPE YOUR YARD Place meadow, nectar patches, shrubs, trees, ponds, deadwood, compost, rain gardens and predator shelters across 70 tiles. Balance a restoration budget as simulated weather, soil conditions and invasive growth change the yard.

PLAN AT YOUR OWN PACE Start paused, inspect any tile, then run the clock or advance one or seven simulated days. Leaving the Yard pauses time. Your active study saves on this device and reopens paused, preserving its habitats, weather sequence and progress.

LEARN FROM YOUR STUDIES Inspect moisture, nutrients, shade and disease pressure. Follow daily stability, diversity, soil and water-quality indices in survey charts. Export observations as CSV through Files. Completed studies retain their daily survey history in the field journal; older journal entries retain their original summaries.

FOUR WAYS TO PLAY Campaign chapters offer repeatable starting yards. Daily and Weekly modes use shared UTC-based seeds. Practice offers a slower automatic clock. Optional Game Center leaderboards accept Daily and Weekly results completed within the same seed period; achievements are available when Game Center is connected. Existing leaderboards keep best scores and do not reset with each seed.

EXPLORE THE FOOD WEB Read a 32-entry guide to organisms and ecological roles, with source links and clear model notes. Listen to 20 included soundtrack pieces. Use labeled tile controls, Dynamic Type, reduced-motion options and haptic controls.

EVERYTHING INCLUDED One purchase. No ads, subscription, in-app purchases or developer account required. Play works offline. Active studies and the journal remain local. Optional manual private iCloud snapshots transfer campaign progress only; they do not transfer yards or journals.

This is a simplified game model. Its indices are not wildlife counts, scientific measurements, calibrated predictions or professional environmental advice.

Guide updated 2026-10-31.