Formosa Flowers (2018) Board Game

Formosa Flowers is a card game released in 2018, designed by Kuo Li Chi and illustrated by Soso Studio. The game is set in Taiwan, formerly known as Formosa, and features beautiful artwork of various flowers found on the island. With a runtime of 15–30 minutes and recommended for players aged 8 and above, Formosa Flowers is a light and engaging set collection game.

Game Components of Formosa Flowers

54 cards, including 12 sets for the 12 months with 4 cards each, and 6 wild cards that can represent two different months.

Point tokens.

Stay or Keep Playing tokens.

Player aids.

How To Setup Formosa Flowers

To set up the game, shuffle the deck and deal a starting hand to each player (6 cards for a 4-player game). Place a tableau of face-up cards in the center of the table and the remainder of the deck as a face-down deck. The Keep Playing tokens are placed in a pile on the table[5″).

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Mechanics

Card Matching: Players match cards from their hand and the deck to cards in the center tableau.

Press-Your-Luck: Deciding when to score and when to keep playing to accumulate multipliers.

Set Collection: Collecting sets of cards to score points.

Game Objective

Collect sets of cards to earn points by matching cards from the hand and deck to those in the center tableau.

Score points by forming sets such as pairs of weather cards, animal cards, or flower cards.

The game ends when a player reaches 60 or more points, with the player having the most points declared the winner.

Player Experience

Formosa Flowers offers a delightful and quick gaming experience, ideal for 2-4 players aged 8 and above. The game is easy to learn, with a playing time of 15-30 minutes, making it perfect for short gaming sessions. The game’s visual appeal, with its traditional Japanese artwork, adds to its charm. Players must balance the risk of continuing to play to accumulate higher multipliers against the risk of scoring nothing if they fail to complete a set.

Pros

Easy to Learn: Simple and straightforward rules make it accessible to new and experienced players alike.

Portable: The game is compact and easy to carry, making it a great travel game.

Beautiful Artwork: The cards feature traditional Japanese art, enhancing the game’s aesthetic appeal.

Quick Gameplay: Games are typically short, lasting between 15-30 minutes.

Cons

Luck-Dependent: The game relies heavily on luck, which can be frustrating if draws are not favorable.

Penalty for Misjudging: Players who misjudge when to score can end up with no points for the round, which can be a significant penalty.

Personal Thoughts on Formosa Flowers

Formosa Flowers is ideal for those looking for a light, engaging, and visually appealing game. It is suitable for families and casual gamers who enjoy quick, easy-to-learn games with a touch of strategy. While it may not satisfy players seeking complex, deep strategic games, it excels at providing a peaceful and enjoyable gaming experience. The press-your-luck element and the need to time scoring correctly add a layer of excitement and challenge, making it a great addition to any game collection.

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