Garden Competition (2004) Board Game

Garden Competition is a board game released in 2004 by Toccata Games. Designed by Ken Stevens and featuring artwork by Wil Turrin, the game is set in the world of gardening competitions. Players take on the role of gardeners competing to create the most beautiful and impressive garden. With a mix of bluffing, economic strategy, and tile placement, Garden Competition offers a unique gaming experience for 3 to 5 players.

Game Components of Garden Competition

Player boards with grids divided into areas receiving different amounts of sunlight

Neighbor boards with smaller grids and spaces for flower tiles

“Neighbors Down the Street” board

Flower tokens of various colors and sizes

Wooden cubes for player markers

Money tokens

Weed tokens

Judge cards (flowers and colors)

Turn board with a track of twelve spaces

Favor cubes

How To Setup Garden Competition

To set up the game, each player receives a player board and a set of wooden cubes. Neighbor boards are placed between players, and the “Neighbors Down the Street” board is positioned in the middle. Flower tokens are randomly placed in each neighbor’s garden, and money tokens are distributed according to the signs on the neighbor boards. The turn board is placed in the middle with a marker on the first space, and judge cards are shuffled and dealt out to players and placed next to the turn board.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Player Actions: Each player can choose two actions per turn, such as placing flowers, acquiring new flowers from neighbors, or managing weeds.

Judge Cards: Players have some knowledge of the judge’s preferences but must infer the rest by observing other players and potentially gaining secret criteria by taking the judge out for a cup of coffee.

Favor System: Players earn favor cubes with their neighbors to receive flowers.

Weed Management: Players must manage weeds that spread across gardens.

Objective: The goal is to score the most points by having flowers that match the judge’s criteria, while minimizing penalties from weeds.

Player Experience

In **Garden Competition**, players engage in a strategic and social game where they must balance their own garden’s growth with the need to infer the judge’s secret preferences. The game encourages observation of other players’ moves and strategic planning to outdo competitors. The favor system and weed management add layers of complexity, making the game both challenging and engaging.

Pros

Strategic Depth: Combines area placement, hand management, and social deduction.

Interactive: Players must observe and react to other players’ moves.

Thematic: The gardening theme is engaging and easy to understand.

Variable Setup: Ensures each game is different due to random flower placements and judge cards.

Cons

Learning Curve: May require some time to understand all the mechanics and strategies.

Weed Mechanics: Some players might find the weed spreading mechanics annoying or too complex.

Personal Thoughts on Garden Competition

**Garden Competition** is ideal for families and casual gamers who enjoy strategic games with a social twist. It’s a great choice for those who like to think ahead and interact with other players, but it may not be the best fit for players seeking a quick, simple game. The game’s theme and mechanics make it accessible to a wide range of players, making it a solid addition to any board game collection.

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