Takenoko (2011) Board Game – Board Game Guys

Takenoko is a popular board game designed by Antoine Bauza and released in 2011 by Bombyx. It is a family-friendly game that combines elements of farming, environmental conservation, and territory building.

Game Components of Takenoko

28 Plot tiles

36 Bamboo sections

90 Irrigation channels

20 Objective cards

46 Improvement tiles

9 Panda tokens

6 Gardener tokens

1 Weather die

4 Individual player boards

How To Setup Takenoko

Lay out the central pond tile and surround it with nine random plot tiles.

Each player takes a player board and places their gardener and panda on the central tile.

Shuffle the objective cards and deal five to each player.

Place the bamboo sections, irrigation channels, improvement tiles, and weather die within reach of all players.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Players take turns performing actions such as moving the gardener or panda, growing bamboo, or taking irrigation channels. The objective is to complete objective cards by growing bamboo in specific patterns, or by having the panda eat certain types of bamboo.

Player Experience

Pros:

Beautiful and colorful artwork

Easy to learn and teach to new players

Strategic depth with multiple ways to earn points

Cons:

Can be luck-dependent with dice rolling

Limited replayability once strategies are mastered

Personal Thoughts on Takenoko

Takenoko is a well-designed and visually appealing game that offers a good balance of strategy and luck. The components are of high quality and the gameplay is engaging for players of all ages. However, the game may lose its appeal after multiple plays, as strategies can become repetitive. Overall, Takenoko is worth your time if you enjoy light strategy games with a cute theme. It is suitable for families and casual gamers, but serious board gamers may find it lacking in complexity.

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