Floriferous (2021) Board Game

Floriferous is a card game designed by Eduardo Baraf and Steve Finn, featuring beautiful artwork by Clémentine Campardou. It was released in 2021 by Pencil First Games, LLC. The game is designed for 1-4 players, with a playing time of 20-30 minutes and is recommended for ages 14 and up. Floriferous falls under the card game category and utilizes mechanisms such as open drafting, set collection, and solo/solitaire play.

Game Components of Floriferous

Card Decks: Garden cards, Desire cards, Bounty cards, and possibly Arrangement and Sculpture cards.

Player Tokens: Gardener pawns and Flower tokens in various colors.

Stone Tokens: Used for scoring.

Cup of Tea Card: Special card for scoring.

Crow Cards (for solo play): Used to change the available cards.

How To Setup Floriferous

To set up Floriferous, start by separating and shuffling the different card types to create their respective decks. Draw three Bounty cards and place them at the top of the playing area. Lay out five columns of Garden cards, with the height of each column determined by the player count. The top card of the second and fourth columns is placed face down, and some cards have Stone tokens on them. At the bottom of each column, place a randomly drawn Desire card. Each player selects a color, takes a player aid, and places their Gardener pawn next to the top card of the leftmost column.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Player Turn: Move your pawn to any card in the next column and take the selected card.

Card Properties: Each Flower card has three properties: type, color, and possibly bugs.

Bounty Cards: Complete the criteria on these cards to place your Flower token and score points.

Desire Cards: Score points based on the criteria on these cards.

Arrangement Cards: Score points for fulfilling the criteria on these cards.

Sculpture Cards: Score points for collecting the most Sculpture cards.

Scoring: Points from Bounty cards, Desire cards, Arrangement cards, Sculpture cards, Stones, and the Cup of Tea card.

Player Experience

Floriferous offers a relaxing yet strategic gameplay experience. The game is simple to learn but deep in decision-making, as each choice affects turn order and future card selection. Players must balance collecting the right cards to meet scoring criteria while managing their turn order to access desirable cards. The game is visually appealing, with beautiful watercolor illustrations and easy-to-parse iconography on the cards.

Pros

Visual Appeal: Gorgeous watercolor illustrations and high-quality card stock.

Strategic Depth: Simple to learn but rich in decision-making.

Flexibility: Supports 1-4 players, with distinct solo gameplay using Crow Cards.

Accessibility: Compact box and easy setup make it ideal for various gaming settings.

Cons

Turn Order Challenges: Being stuck in last place can be frustrating, though it usually resolves quickly.

Unseen Cards: In two and three-player games, some cards may not be seen, affecting strategy.

Personal Thoughts on Floriferous

Floriferous is an excellent choice for those who enjoy set collection games and strategic planning. It is particularly well-suited for players who appreciate a balance of simplicity and depth, making it a great addition to holiday parties or post-dinner games. The solo mode, using Crow Cards, adds an exciting layer of complexity for solo players. Overall, Floriferous is a beautifully designed game that combines elegance with engaging gameplay.

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