The Glade (2023) Board Game – Board Game Guys

The Glade is an abstract strategy board game designed by Vicki Dalton and released in in 2023. It falls under the categories of Animals, Deduction, Environmental, and Puzzle, offering a unique gaming experience for players aged 14 and above. The game focuses on players connecting and building routes through a grid-covered game board, while also trying to enclose areas to gain points.

Game Components of The Glade

Forest board for each player

Glade board

Wooden forest tiles featuring creatures, leaves, and forest fruits

Toadstool counters

Tile racks

How To Setup The Glade

To set up The Glade, place the Glade board in the middle of the playing area. Each player receives a Forest board and 12 toadstool counters in their color. Eight tiles are drawn at random and placed on each player’s tile rack.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Tile Laying: Players place 1-4 tiles from their rack in a line horizontally or vertically on their Forest board, forming sets with adjacent tiles.

Set Formation: Create sets of three tiles to place a toadstool counter on the Glade board, or sets of four tiles to add a toadstool to your store.

Toadstool Placement: Claim toadstool counters from the Glade by playing matching forest tiles.

Enclosures: Form enclosures by bordering a single space with tiles on all four sides to place a toadstool and gain extra actions.

Game End: The game ends when a player has played all their toadstool counters or when all forest tiles have been drawn.

Scoring: Points are awarded for toadstools on the Glade board, toadstools held by opponents, toadstools in your store, and toadstools in enclosures. Penalties apply for unconnected tile sets.

Player Experience

The Glade offers a puzzly and strategic experience, often likened to a combination of Mega Qwirkle and Scrabble. Players must carefully plan their tile placements to form sets and enclosures, which can significantly increase turn length as the game progresses. Games can extend beyond the estimated 60 minutes, sometimes reaching 90 minutes.

Pros

Engaging Puzzles: The game provides a challenging and engaging tile-laying puzzle that requires strategic thinking.

Replayability: With random tile draws, each game offers a unique experience.

Strategic Depth: Forming sets and enclosures requires careful planning and consideration.

Cons

Lengthy Turns: As the game advances, turns can become increasingly long as players search for optimal tile placements.

Simple Aesthetics: The tile art is described as spartan, which might not appeal to all players.

Personal Thoughts on The Glade

The Glade is ideal for players who enjoy strategic tile-laying games and are looking for a challenging, puzzly experience. It is particularly suited for those who appreciate games that require careful planning and have a strong focus on set formation and spatial reasoning. However, it may not be the best fit for players seeking quick, light-hearted games due to its potential for lengthy turns and complex decision-making.

We are supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, at no extra cost for you. Learn more.