Every so often a game comes along from an unheralded publisher that makes you stop and look. It might be incredible table presence, it might be gorgeous artwork, it could be two people bouncing between intense focus and laughter that you can’t help but ask what’s going on.
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Especially given its small size and ease of portability, I think we’ll be taking Verdant Arizona out for a spin fairly frequently. Just look out for those spines! Ouch!
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In Leaf, players become the wind, strategically placing leaf tiles to grow mushrooms, help animals, and advance the season.
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At the end of every game of HUTAN, I have a miniature rainforest model right on my table, full of trees and a few animals.
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After a cold dreary winter, we are ready for green, growing things. Let’s talk about games with flowers and plants that make us think spring.
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It took a game or two to get our heads around all of the different mechanics and scoring strategies in Flower Fields but once we did it tasted sweeter than honey. Don’t let these little issues affect your run through the wildflowers though, because Flower Fields comes up smelling like roses.
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Farming might not be the most exciting theme for young kids, but it went over well with my teenager. The art style drew her in, and the simple turn actions kept her engaged.
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Genotype did a great job incorporating many of the aspects of the science of Mendelian genetics. By modifying the Punnett squares you affect the available Phenotypes, which can help you validate your Pea Plants for points.
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One of the calmest games I’ve ever played is A Gentle Rain, which I discovered in 2022, and is now back in print with a new publisher.
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It’s rare that a game can move as quickly as Redwood does while allowing players to interact in a non-destructive way. It combines point-of-view with a photography theme in a way that’s fresh and easy to understand.
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Bonsai – The ancient Japanese art of cultivating miniature trees in pots becomes a captivating tile-placement board game!
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Wonder Woods is a very good introduction to deduction. We think if you give it a try, it will grow on you.
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Gift of Tulips celebrates the promise of spring, with a competitive game that’s all about giving flowers away.
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For kids studying food webs and ecosystems, this new marine biology card game from Genius could really help to reinforce concepts. But will parents actually enjoy playing it?
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Play Canopy to learn more about rainforests while enjoying lush tropical art from Vincent Dutrait. Technically a 2 player game, but we enjoy it better at 3 players!
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haven’t encountered another 30-minute game that we’ve put on the table as often as Bloom Town. Easy to play and surprisingly deep in strategy, it’s a great game with unique mechanics and a variety of paths to victory.
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Be your own world builder as you grow the first continent of the Earth! Shape the First Continent the way you want to!
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Get the artichokes out of your hand of cards! That’s the concept behind this unique “deck-wrecking” game.
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Construct a terraced garden out of tiles in Miyabi. Maximize the decorative elements that can be seen, but don’t forget to keep a variety of objects all over the garden! Dave really DIGS this tile-laying game.
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