Gartenbau (2022) Board Game – Board Game Guys

Gartenbau is a board game released in 2022 by 25th Century Games. Designed by David Abelson and Alex Johns, Gartenbau falls under the category of Abstract Strategy games. With a runtime of 30-60 minutes, Gartenbau is suitable for 2-4 players aged 14 and above. The game features beautiful artwork by Matt Paquette & Co. and Todd Sanders, adding to the overall aesthetic appeal.

Game Components of Gartenbau

Player boards: Each player has a personal garden board.

Tile layers: Three layers of tile laying, including seedling tiles, plant tiles, and flower tiles.

Rondel: A dual-track rondel for resource management.

Resources: Sunlight and water tokens.

Flower cards: Drafted or assigned to each player, each with specific growing requirements.

Wheelbarrow meeples: Used for player movement on the rondel.

Seedling dominoes: Double-ended tiles with different seeds.

How To Setup Gartenbau

To set up Gartenbau, each player receives a personal garden board and a set of flower cards. The rondel is populated with seedling tiles, and the plant tiles are stacked in descending order based on their ease of placement and point value. Each player starts with a set of sunlight and water tokens. The game begins with players placing their wheelbarrow meeples on the rondel.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Tile Placement: Players place tiles in their tableau to meet the growing requirements of their flower cards.

Resource Management: Players manage sunlight and water tokens to support their garden growth.

Rondel Movement: Players move their wheelbarrow meeples around the rondel to access different resources and seedlings.

Priority Planning: Players must prioritize which flower tiles to focus on to maximize their points.

Game Objective: The player who earns the most prestige points by completing the growing conditions of their flower tiles is crowned The Master Gardener.

Player Experience

Gartenbau offers a relaxing yet stimulating experience, challenging players to efficiently manage resources and plan their garden layout. The game’s vintage artwork and interlocking tile mechanism make it visually pleasing. Players enjoy the intuitive gameplay, although it may feel slow-paced to some, akin to a leisurely walk through a garden.

Pros

Beautiful Artwork: Features vintage artwork from the late 19th century.

Engaging Mechanics: Combines tile placement, resource management, and priority planning.

Visual Appeal: The interlocking tiles create a pleasing garden layout.

Relaxing: Encourages relaxed conversation during gameplay.

Award-Winning: Received the 2023 Mensa Select Award.

Cons

Pace: Some players may find the game too slow.

Complexity: Requires careful planning and resource management.

Theme Alignment: Not all players may align with the gardening theme.

Personal Thoughts on Gartenbau

Gartenbau is ideal for players who enjoy strategic puzzle games with a relaxing atmosphere. It is best suited for those who appreciate beautiful artwork and are willing to invest time in planning and executing their garden strategy. The game supports 2-4 players, ages 14 and above, and typically lasts between 30-60 minutes. If you’re looking for a game that combines efficiency puzzles with a calming experience, Gartenbau is a great choice. However, it may not be the best fit for those seeking fast-paced or highly competitive gameplay.

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