| | | | | |

Lanterns: The Harvest Festival (2015) Board Game

ByMichail

Lanterns: The Harvest Festival is a board game that was released in 2015 by Foxtrot Games. Designed by Christopher Chung, this game has received praise for its unique gameplay mechanics and stunning artwork. In Lanterns, players take on the role of artisans who are competing to decorate the lake with floating lanterns in order to earn honor. With its simple rules and strategic depth, Lanterns has become a popular choice for families and gamers alike.

Game Components of Lanterns: The Harvest Festival

  • 36 Oversized Lake Tiles**
  • 56 Lantern Cards**
  • 20 Engraved Wooden Tokens**
  • 30 Dedication Tokens**
  • 1 Chinese Fishing Boat Meeple**
  • Rulebook**

    How To Setup Lanterns: The Harvest Festival

    To set up the game, begin by placing the starting tile in the middle of the playing area. Each player draws 3 Lake Tiles into their hand. The orientation of the starting tile determines which color of lantern card each player starts with. The Dedication Tokens are stacked highest-to-lowest honor for each dedication type.

    Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

    Mechanics:

  • Tile Placement: Players place lake tiles to gain lantern cards and honor tokens.
  • Set Collection: Players collect sets of lantern cards to dedicate and earn honor.
  • Resource Management: Players manage favor tokens to trade lantern cards.

    Game Objective:

  • Players act as artisans decorating the palace lake with floating lanterns.
  • Each turn, players can:
    – Place a lake tile, giving lantern cards to all players based on the tile’s orientation.
    – Spend favor tokens to trade one lantern card for another.
    – Dedicate sets of lantern cards (four-of-a-kind, three pairs, or seven unique) to gain honor.

  • The game ends when all lake tiles have been placed, and the player with the most accumulated honor wins.

    Player Experience

    **Lanterns: The Harvest Festival** is praised for its ease of learning and depth of strategy. The game is visually appealing, with detailed illustrations and high-quality components. It scales well from 2 to 4 players and takes about 25-45 minutes to play. The gameplay is fast-paced, requiring players to strategize about tile placement and lantern card collection without getting mired in complex rules.

    Pros

  • Visually Appealing: Beautiful, vibrant components and detailed illustrations.
  • Easy to Learn: Simple rules make it accessible to new gamers and families.
  • Deep Strategy: Offers enough complexity for experienced players to enjoy.
  • High Replayability: Variable tile placements and limited card supply ensure each game is unique.
  • Family-Friendly: Suitable for players as young as 8 years old.

    Cons

  • Component Handling: Cards and tiles require careful handling to avoid damage.
  • Limited Card Supply: The market for each type of card diminishes as the game progresses, which can affect strategy.

    Personal Thoughts on Lanterns: The Harvest Festival

    **Lanterns: The Harvest Festival** is ideal for anyone looking for a game that balances simplicity with strategic depth. It is a great introduction to tile-placement and set-collection games for new players, while also offering enough complexity to keep experienced gamers engaged. The game’s beautiful visuals and fast-paced gameplay make it a delightful addition to any board game collection. It is particularly suitable for families and casual gaming groups who want a game that is both fun and thought-provoking.

    We are supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, at no extra cost for you. Learn more. 

    • Michail, a seasoned tabletop enthusiast, dives headfirst into worlds of fantasy and strategy. Whether commanding a party of adventurers through perilous dungeons or engaging in tactical showdowns on the board, Michail is the maestro of the tabletop realm. Michail's gaming table is a realm where the clatter of dice and the shuffle of cards create a symphony of strategic chaos.

    Hobby: Miniature painting guru, turning pewter into masterpieces
    Preferred Game: Dungeons & Dragons, but always up for a board game brawl

    Leave a Reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *