Lotus (2016) Board Game – Board Game Guys

Lotus is a beautiful and strategic card game that was released in 2016 by Renegade Game Studios. Designed by Jordan and Mandy Goddard, the game has received praise for its stunning artwork by Anita Osburn and Chris Ostrowski. Lotus is a game that combines elements of area majority and set collection, providing players with a unique and engaging gaming experience.

Game Components of Lotus

Petal Cards: Each player has a deck of Petal Cards in their chosen color, along with wildflower cards that can be used by anyone.

Guardian Tokens: These tokens are used to control and protect the flowers.

Special Power Tiles: Each player has tiles with special powers listed on them.

5VP Tokens: These tokens are awarded to players for completing certain tasks and contribute to the final score.

How To Setup Lotus

To set up Lotus, each player selects a deck of Petal Cards of a different color. If playing with three players, one Petal Card of each type with one stamp is removed from each deck. For four players, two such cards are removed from each deck. The game includes tiles with Special Powers and Guardian Tokens, which are distributed according to the player colors.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Mechanics

Play Petal Cards: Players can play Petal Cards to complete flowers.

Exchange Petal Cards: Players can exchange cards from their hand with cards from the deck or wildflower cards.

Move a Guardian: Players can use Guardian Tokens to control and protect their flowers.

Game Objective

The goal is to earn the most points by completing flowers. Players take turns performing two actions from the available mechanics. The game ends when one player draws the last card from their deck, and each player gets one additional turn. Points are counted from the Petal Cards collected and any 5VP tokens earned.

Player Experience

Lotus offers a delightful and visually appealing experience with its beautiful art and engaging gameplay. Players must strategically manage their Petal Cards and Guardian Tokens to maximize their points. The game’s length is well-balanced, making it neither too short nor too long, and it provides a good mix of simplicity and depth, similar to games like Lanterns: The Harvest Festival or Splendor.

Pros

Beautiful Art: The game features stunning artwork that enhances the theme and overall experience.

Engaging Mechanics: The combination of playing, exchanging, and moving Guardian Tokens creates interesting choices and strategies.

Balanced Length: The game duration is well-suited, making it an enjoyable experience without feeling rushed or dragged out.

Accessible: It is a great introduction to gaming for new players due to its easy-to-learn rules and appealing theme.

Cons

Tiny Guardian Tokens: The Guardian Tokens are very small and easy to lose.

Tie Breakers: In cases of ties for flower control, the tied players benefit equally, but any leftover cards are discarded.

Personal Thoughts on Lotus

Lotus is an excellent choice for those looking for a game with a unique theme and beautiful execution. It is perfect for introducing new players to tabletop gaming due to its simple yet engaging mechanics. For experienced players, it offers a pleasant change of pace from more complex games, providing a fun and visually pleasing experience. If you appreciate games with uncommon themes and beautiful artwork, Lotus is definitely worth considering.

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