Grove: A 9 card solitaire game (2021) Board Game

Grove: A 9 card solitaire game is a compact and engaging card game designed by Mark Tuck and published by Side Room Games in in 2021. It falls under the categories of Abstract Strategy, Card Game, Farming, and Print & Play, offering a unique and challenging gaming experience for solo players.

Game Components of Grove: A 9 card solitaire game

18 cards featuring orange, lemon, and lime trees, along with ‘wild card’ elements known as glades (empty spaces).

Dice corresponding to the types of fruit (oranges, lemons, limes).

Card backs with Recipe Challenges for alternative scoring.

A cheeky squirrel and a wheelbarrow for additional gameplay mechanics.

How To Setup Grove: A 9 card solitaire game

To set up the game, start by turning over one card to begin the grove. This initial card sets the stage for the overlapping mechanism that follows. Each player begins with a 2-card hand, and the remaining cards are set aside for drawing. The game’s compact size makes it easy to play on a small surface, such as an airplane tray table.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Card Overlap: Players must overlap at least one space on an existing card with the new card played.

Tree Matching: Trees can be placed on top of other trees of the same type, accumulating fruit points represented by dice.

Glade Placement: Cards can also be placed on empty glade spaces.

Scoring: The game is typically played for points, but an alternative win/lose variant uses the card backs’ Recipe Challenges with specific scoring conditions and target scores.

Squirrel and Wheelbarrow: These elements can either help or hinder the player’s fruit collection.

Player Experience

Players find **Grove** to be a challenging yet fun and portable game. The game is praised for its simplicity in learning but offers a high replay factor due to its varied gameplay and strategies. The addition of Recipe Challenges on the card backs adds a new layer of complexity and variety. Players appreciate the puzzly aspect and the tactile experience of the dice.

Pros

High Replayability: Offers varied gameplay and strategies.

Portable: Compact size makes it easy to carry and play anywhere.

Easy to Learn: Straightforward instructions with a quick setup.

Challenging yet Fun: Balances simplicity with complexity for engaging gameplay.

Additional Mechanics: Features like the squirrel and wheelbarrow add depth to the game.

Cons

Cannot be Combined with Orchard: Unlike some expectations, the game cannot be integrated with its predecessor, which might be a missed opportunity.

Limited Differentiation: Some players may not see enough difference between **Grove** and **Orchard** to necessitate owning both.

Personal Thoughts on Grove: A 9 card solitaire game

**Grove: A 9 Card Solitaire Game** is ideal for solo players looking for a quick, engaging, and portable game. It’s perfect for those who enjoy puzzly gameplay and are seeking a challenge that can be played in short intervals. While it builds upon the foundations of **Orchard**, it offers enough new mechanics to stand on its own, making it a worthwhile addition for fans of the series or solitaire games in general. If you’re new to the series, **Grove** offers a tad more versatility and complexity compared to **Orchard**.

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