Kodama Forest (2020) Board Game

Kodama Forest is a tile-placement board game released in 2020, designed by Kwanchai Moriya and published by Indie Boards & Cards. The game is set in a magical forest where players compete to create the most beautiful forest for their Kodama spirit.

Game Components of Kodama Forest

Player boards (placed between each pair of players)

Forest tiles (featuring half flowers, half bamboo patches, half ponds, and trees)

Bonus tiles (pandas, frogs, butterflies)

Kodama spaces (blue squares)

Plain dirt spaces (brown)

“5” and “10” spaces

How To Setup Kodama Forest

To set up the game, each player places a player board to their left and right, ensuring every player has two boards adjacent to them. The forest tiles are drawn from a bag, and each player starts with three tiles. The bonus tiles (pandas, frogs, butterflies) are placed centrally, accessible to all players. Players create pools of these bonus tokens and frame each player board accordingly.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Tile Placement: Players place one tile on the board to their left, one on the board to their right, and keep one in their hand. Tiles must fit within the grid and not overlap other tiles or blue kodama squares.

Bonus Tiles: Completing a feature (flower field, bamboo patch, pond) earns a corresponding bonus tile (butterfly, panda, frog).

Game End: The game ends when any player’s board no longer has visible “5” or “10” spaces.

Scoring: Players score points based on the uncovered spaces on their two adjacent boards. Kodama spaces are worth 0 points, plain dirt spaces are worth 1 point, “5” spaces are worth 5 points, and “10” spaces are worth 10 points. The player with the lowest score wins.

Player Experience

In Kodama Forest, players must balance competition and cooperation, working with their neighbors to cover as much of the forest floor as possible while avoiding the kodama spirits. The game encourages strategic discussion between players about which tiles to place and where. Despite its simple rules, the game can become complex as players navigate the placement of tiles to maximize their score.

Pros

Easy to Learn: Simple and clear rules make it accessible to a wide range of players.

Cooperative-Competitive Blend: Encourages both competition and cooperation, making for an engaging gameplay experience.

Beautiful Artwork: The game features happy, cartoonish kodama figures and well-designed tiles, thanks to Kwanchai Moriya’s artwork.

Cons

Component Quality: Some players have noted the low quality of the player boards and frames.

Repetitive Gameplay: The game can feel repetitive and dull, especially for more experienced gamers.

Lack of Challenge: For some, the game may be too straightforward, lacking the challenge that more complex games offer.

Personal Thoughts on Kodama Forest

Kodama Forest is ideal for families or casual gamers looking for a light, easy-to-learn game that promotes teamwork and strategy. However, it may not appeal to seasoned gamers seeking more complexity and challenge. The game’s unique blend of cooperation and competition makes it a great addition to a game collection for those who enjoy social, interactive gameplay. Despite some criticisms about component quality and gameplay depth, Kodama Forest remains a charming and visually appealing game that can be enjoyed by a variety of players.

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