Leaf (2023) Board Game – Board Game Guys

Leaf is a board game released in 2023 by designer Tim Eisner and published by Weird City Games. The game focuses on environmental themes and features beautiful artwork by Angela Rizza. Players take on the role of animals collecting leaves to build their nests.

Game Components of Leaf

Leaf cards

Player boards

Leaf tiles with different shapes and colors

Mushroom tokens

Animal cards

Squirrel tokens

Sun tokens

Wooden tokens

Recycled cardboard pieces

Tuck boxes (no plastic components).

How To Setup Leaf

To set up Leaf, each player starts with three leaf cards and a player board. The central space of the table is reserved for the forest floor where leaf tiles will be placed. The leaf tiles are displayed, and each player prepares their player board and tokens. The game is ready to begin once all players have their initial setup complete.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Tile Placement: Players place leaf tiles on the forest floor, connecting them to existing leaves.

Action Points: Connections between leaf tips trigger different actions based on the leaf color (green: new leaf card, red: grow a mushroom, yellow: sun tokens, orange: choose an animal card, brown: move squirrel token).

Area Control: Players grow and group mushrooms to earn victory points.

Set Collection: Collecting animals and placing them into hibernation can earn points.

Objective: The goal is to accumulate the most victory points (acorns) through various strategies such as mushroom grouping, animal collection, and sun token management.

Player Experience

Leaf offers a relaxing and engaging gameplay experience, perfect for the autumn season. The unique leaf tile mechanic creates a different forest floor layout in each game, keeping players engaged as they seek to make the most efficient connections. The game is accessible for new players while offering depth for more experienced gamers. Playing on a textured surface is recommended to prevent the leaf tiles from sliding out of alignment.

Pros

Unique action point mechanic using leaf tiles

Forest floor display is unique every single game

Lots of opportunities to gain points

Environmentally friendly components (no plastic, recycled cardboard, wooden tokens)

Relaxed and engaging gameplay experience

Cons

Leaf display can slide and misalign on a slick play surface

Personal Thoughts on Leaf

Leaf is an excellent choice for those who enjoy nature-themed games, tile placement, and strategic planning. It’s a great addition for families and casual gamers looking for a game that’s both relaxing and challenging. The game’s focus on sustainability and its beautiful, complex tiles make it stand out in any game collection. It’s particularly suited for players who appreciate a game that offers multiple paths to victory and a unique gameplay experience each time it’s played.

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