Butterfly Garden (2012) Board Game

Butterfly Garden is an abstract strategy board game designed by Reiner Knizia and published by Korea Boardgames in in 2012. The game is suitable for 2 to 4 players, with a recommended age of 8 and above. The game features beautiful artwork by various artists including Eckhard Freytag, Walter Pepperle, SALEIGN, Stefan Wingen, and Betty Yao.

Game Components of Butterfly Garden

Butterfly cards: Numbered from 0 to 59, these cards determine turn order and contain butterflies to capture.

Delivery cards: Face-up cards indicating which butterflies can be delivered to score points.

Butterfly jars: Players use these to store captured butterflies.

Butterfly gardens: Represented by cards or boards, these are the destinations for delivering butterflies.

New art and components: The second edition features all new art and some rule changes.

How To Setup Butterfly Garden

To set up the game, players start by shuffling and dealing a set of butterfly cards to each player. The delivery cards are placed face-up, and the butterfly gardens are prepared according to the game’s instructions. Each player starts with an empty jar to store their captured butterflies.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Turn Order: Players play a butterfly card from their hand to determine the turn order, with lower numbered cards going first.

Capturing Butterflies: Players capture butterflies from the field and add them to their jar.

Delivering Butterflies: Players deliver butterflies to the different gardens based on the delivery cards to score victory points (VPs).

Special Powers: Some butterfly cards have special powers but often require higher numbered cards, which can affect turn order.

Set Collection: In the second edition, players score bonuses for having a variety of delivery cards.

Player Experience

In Butterfly Garden, players must balance the need to capture and deliver butterflies efficiently with the strategic use of special power cards. The game demands careful planning and quick decision-making, as players are in a race to deliver the right butterflies to score points. The upgraded artwork and new set-collection aspect in the second edition enhance the visual and strategic appeal of the game.

Pros

Engaging Strategy: Combines card play, set collection, and racing elements for a dynamic experience.

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

Quick Games: Games are relatively short, lasting about 30 minutes.

Upgraded Artwork: The second edition features all new art, enhancing the game’s visual appeal.

Cons

Limited Player Count: The second edition reduced the maximum player count to 5.

Complex Decision-Making: Requires careful planning and strategic thinking, which might be challenging for younger players.

Personal Thoughts on Butterfly Garden

Butterfly Garden is ideal for families and casual gamers who enjoy strategic gameplay without the complexity of longer, more immersive games. It’s a great introduction to card-based strategy and set collection mechanics, making it a fun and educational experience for younger players. However, enthusiasts of more complex or long-duration games might find it a bit light. Overall, it’s a charming game that teaches valuable strategic skills in a delightful and accessible way.

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