Legendary Forests (2017) Board Game

Legendary Forests is a board game released in 2017 by designer Toshiki Sato and published by Asmodee. It falls under the categories of Mythology and Puzzle, featuring beautiful artwork by Biboun and 長谷川登鯉 (Tori Hasegawa). The game incorporates the mechanisms of Bingo and Tile Placement, providing a unique and engaging gameplay experience for 2 to 5 players.

Game Components of Legendary Forests

Landscape tiles: Each player has an identical set, including a starting tile and additional tiles with combinations of four colors.

Trees: These come in three colors and must be placed on corresponding landscape tiles.

Rulebook: Available in English.

Weight and Dimensions: The game weighs 0.6 kg.

How To Setup Legendary Forests

To set up, each player starts with the same starting landscape tile. A “leader” is designated for each round, who draws a tile, announces its number, and each player places the corresponding tile from their set onto their landscape. The tiles must be placed so that the colors on the edges match adjacent colors on already placed tiles.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Tile Placement: Players place tiles to expand their forest, ensuring color matching on the edges.

Bingo Mechanics: The leader’s draw dictates which tile each player must place.

Forest Creation: Players aim to create closed forests of one color, where the edges of the tiles form complete circles.

Scoring: Points are awarded based on the creation of these closed forests and the placement of trees within them.

Objective: The player with the most points, accumulated from the completed circles and tree placements, wins.

Player Experience

Legendary Forests offers a tranquil and strategic experience, ideal for those who enjoy puzzles and color-matching games. It is designed for 2-5 players and typically lasts between 15-30 minutes. The game is easy to learn, with a complexity rating of 1.3, making it accessible to players as young as 8 years old.

Pros

Easy to Learn: Simple rules and straightforward gameplay.

Short Playtime: Games are quick, lasting between 15-30 minutes.

Family-Friendly: Suitable for children as young as 8 years old.

Colorful and Aesthetic: The game features vibrant, engaging artwork.

Cons

Limited Depth: The game mechanics, while enjoyable, are relatively simple and may lack depth for experienced gamers.

Luck Element: The random draw of tiles can introduce an element of luck, affecting player strategy.

Personal Thoughts on Legendary Forests

Legendary Forests is perfect for families or casual gamers looking for a light, enjoyable experience. It is great for introducing younger players to tile placement games and can serve as a relaxing, quick game for more experienced players. However, those seeking complex, deeply strategic gameplay might find it lacking.

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