Orchard: A 9 card solitaire game (2018) Board Game

Orchard: A 9 card solitaire game is a print-and-play game designed by Mark Tuck in in 2018. It falls under the categories of abstract strategy, card game, dice, farming, and tile placement. The game is designed for solo play and offers a quick gameplay experience, lasting between 5 to 10 minutes.

Game Components of Orchard: A 9 card solitaire game

18 cards: Divided into two 9-card decks for back-to-back plays.

15 custom dice: Representing the increasing harvest, with pips shaped like fruit.

2 Rotten Fruiteeple tokens: Used to mark spoiled fruit.

Rulebook: A single page with clear instructions.

Sliding deck-box: For easy storage and transport.

How To Setup Orchard: A 9 card solitaire game

To set up the game, shuffle the 18 cards and deal them into two decks of nine cards each. Choose one deck to play and flip the first card to start the orchard. Shuffle the remaining cards and draw two into your hand. Place the dice and Rotten Fruiteeple tokens on the table. This setup allows for immediate play and the option to play another game right after with the second deck.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Overlapping Cards: Players place cards so that the fruit trees overlap other trees of the same type.

Dice Placement: For each overlapped icon, a die is placed with increasing values (1, 3, 6, 10) for each subsequent overlap.

Rotten Fruit: Players can use Rotten Fruiteeple tokens to lay a card that wouldn’t otherwise fit, but this reduces the final score by three points per token.

Game Objective: Score points by overlapping cards to maximize the dice values. The game ends when all cards are played or no further legal placements can be made. The goal is to achieve the highest score possible.

Player Experience

Orchard: A 9 Card Solitaire Game offers a fun and challenging experience that is easy to learn but difficult to master. Each game takes only 5-10 minutes to play, making it an ideal quick break activity. The game rewards strategic thinking and planning, as players need to carefully decide when to overlap cards and when to use the Rotten Fruiteeple tokens. The game’s compact size and quick setup time make it highly accessible for solo players.

Pros

Easy to Learn: Simple rules and quick setup.

Fast Gameplay: Games last only 5-10 minutes.

Strategic Depth: Requires careful planning and decision-making.

Compact Design: Fits into a small, sliding deck-box.

Colorful and Engaging Theme: The game features charming artwork and a clever fruit-harvesting theme.

Cons

Limited Variability: Each play can be quite similar, reducing long-term replay value.

Luck Factor: Success can be influenced by the cards drawn.

Rotten Fruit Strategy: Using Rotten Fruiteeple tokens can feel like a trap, reducing scores.

Color Differentiation: Some players might find the fruit symbols difficult to distinguish, particularly for color-blind individuals.

Personal Thoughts on Orchard: A 9 card solitaire game

Orchard: A 9 Card Solitaire Game is perfect for anyone looking for a quick, solo gaming experience. It is ideal for adults who enjoy puzzle games and are good with colors. The game’s small footprint and easy setup make it a great addition to any gaming collection. If you’re a fan of solo games that offer a fun challenge and don’t take up much space, Orchard is definitely worth checking out.

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