The Hanging Gardens (2008) Board Game

The Hanging Gardens board game was released in 2008 by Hans im Glück. Designed by Din Li Tsan and illustrated by Harald Lieske, this game is set in ancient times and revolves around the theme of building and maintaining beautiful gardens.

Game Components of The Hanging Gardens

Cards divided into six sections, each showing one or more of three different garden types

Scoring tiles

Temple tokens

Player boards or areas for garden construction

How To Setup The Hanging Gardens

To set up the game, players create a shared pool of cards and a separate pool of scoring tiles. Each player has their own area where they will build their garden. The cards are shuffled and drawn to form a draft pool, from which players will select cards to add to their gardens.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Card Drafting: Players draft cards from a shared pool.

Card Placement: Cards are placed overlapping existing ones to build connected gardens.

Garden Formation: Players create continuous gardens of one type that are at least three squares large.

Temple Placement: A temple can be placed on a completed garden section to earn scoring tiles.

Set Collection: Scoring tiles are collected, with their point value increasing as more of the same type are collected.

Objective: The goal is to collect tiles to earn the most victory points.

Player Experience

In The Hanging Gardens, players take on the role of landscape architects, constantly rearranging and expanding their gardens to maximize points. The game is described as calm and peaceful, with a geometric puzzle element as players build and rebuild their gardens. It feels like managing a large estate garden, where designs are frequently changed to cater to new tastes and expectations.

Pros

Easy to Learn: Simple rules make the game accessible to a wide range of players.

Quick Playtime: Games are relatively short, allowing for multiple plays in one evening.

Geometric Puzzle: Engaging card placement mechanic that challenges players to build efficient gardens.

Compact: The game is easy to transport and set up.

Family-Friendly: Suitable for players aged 8 and above.

Cons

Multiplayer Solitaire: Players mostly focus on their own gardens with minimal direct interaction.

Constant Redesign: The need to frequently dismantle and rebuild gardens might be frustrating for some players.

Personal Thoughts on The Hanging Gardens

The Hanging Gardens is ideal for those looking for a light, relaxing game that offers a gentle challenge. It’s perfect for filling an hour with friends or family, or as a warm-up or wind-down game during a games night. The game’s simplicity and short playtime make it a great addition to any board game collection, especially for those who enjoy puzzle-like gameplay and set collection mechanics.

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