Played along the lines of other popular collectible card games such as Yu-Gi-Oh! and Magic The Gathering, this two-player trading-card game's objective is to create the strongest, most balanced environment, or Xeko-system, in the environmentally endangered island of Madagascar. Players link “species cards” with other species cards, and battle other players in turf wars to win cards. When one of the decks is depleted, each player counts the eco points on his cards and the one with the most wins.

Besides learning about the complex nature of threatened environments, what's nicely educational about this game is that each species card illustrates an actual endangered creature from Madagascar, from pigmy leaf chameleons to the nearly extinct hairy-eared dwarf lemur. The more endangered the animal, the rarer that card and the higher its point value.

The game includes two card decks, a game mat, a rule book and a play guide for easy start-ups. Players can buy $4 booster packs separately for trading with Xeko-hooked friends and to build their deck's power to gain an advantage over opponents.

The caveat is that trading card games aren't for everyone. But for kids who enjoy them, the bonus here is the educational factor focusing on endangered flora and fauna. Plus, true to its mission, Xeko cards are made from 100-percent recycled materials and a portion of its sales are donated to conservation programs.