Octopus’s Garden (2022) Board Game

Octopus’s Garden is a board game released in 2022 by Maple Games. Designed by Roberta Taylor and illustrated by Kerri Aitken, this game falls under the category of Animals and features set collection and tile placement as its main mechanisms. With a runtime of 30-45 minutes and suitable for players aged 10 and above, Octopus’s Garden is a family-friendly game that promises a fun and engaging experience for 2-4 players.

Game Components of Octopus’s Garden

4 player gardens with 2 oysters already printed on them and 24 empty garden spaces

1 central market board with a scoreboard on the back

16 oyster tiles

5 clownfish and 5 seahorse tiles with varying values

40 pearls

106 garden tiles with costs in pearls and beauty points

4 wooden octopuses

1 draw bag for garden tiles

Additional tiles for modules.

How To Setup Octopus’s Garden

To set up the game, place the central market board in the middle of the table and give each player a garden board and 2 pearls for each oyster on their board. Each player starts with 2 oysters printed on their garden board, which provides them with 4 pearls at the beginning of the game. Leave any additional module tiles in the box for the first play.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Tile-Laying: Players purchase and arrange plant and animal tiles in their garden.

Resource Management: Players harvest pearls from their oysters to buy tiles.

Animal Attraction: Attract seahorses and clownfish by carefully arranging tiles.

Protection: Protect pearl-producing oysters from hungry sea stars.

Strategy: Avoid startling delicate feather worms.

Objective: Create the most beautiful underwater garden by accumulating beauty points from tiles and attracted fish.

Player Experience

In Octopus’s Garden, players take on the roles of starfish competing to create the most stunning gardens. Each turn involves harvesting pearls, buying and planting tiles, moving sea stars and hermit crabs, and refilling the market board. The game requires careful planning to balance attracting beautiful fish, protecting oysters, and avoiding disruptions to delicate creatures. The game ends when a player’s garden has no empty spaces left, and the player with the most beauty points wins.

Pros

Engaging Theme: An underwater setting that is both visually appealing and immersive.

Strategic Depth: Requires careful planning and resource management.

Family-Friendly: Suitable for players aged 8+.

Replayability: Random tile draws and various modules add to the game’s replay value.

Cons

Complexity: May be overwhelming for very young players due to the strategic elements.

Setup Time: Setting up the game and preparing all the components can take some time.

Personal Thoughts on Octopus’s Garden

Octopus’s Garden is a delightful game that combines aesthetics with strategy, making it a great choice for families and casual gamers who enjoy tile-laying games. It’s ideal for those who appreciate a relaxed yet engaging gaming experience with a unique and visually appealing theme. However, it may not be the best fit for gamers seeking high complexity or rapid gameplay. Overall, it’s a beautiful and enjoyable addition to any board game collection.

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