The Legend of the Cherry Tree that Blossoms Every Ten Years (2018) Board Game

The Legend of the Cherry Tree that Blossoms Every Ten Years is a board game that was released in 2018 by IELLO. Designed by Hinata Origuchi and featuring artwork by Tohad, the game falls into the deduction and fantasy categories, with gameplay centered around push your luck and set collection mechanics. The game is designed for 2-4 players, with a best player count of 3-4, and has a runtime of around 20 minutes. It is suitable for players aged 8 and above.

Game Components of The Legend of the Cherry Tree that Blossoms Every Ten Years

4 player screens

1 bag

3 Mastery cards (double-sided)

96 Flower tokens in six colors: pink, yellow, light blue, dark blue, white, and black

Rulebook

How To Setup The Legend of the Cherry Tree that Blossoms Every Ten Years

To set up the game, each player chooses a screen and places it in front of them, ensuring the end-game scoring reminder is visible. The three Mastery cards are placed in the middle of the table, and players can choose either the blue side for a classic game or the pink side for an advanced game. The Flower tokens are put into the bag according to the number of players. The last player who saw a Cherry Tree blossom starts the game by taking the bag.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Game Mechanics: Push-your-luck, set collection.

Game Objective: Collect the most flowers without being too greedy to have your wish granted by the cherry tree.

Turn Actions:
– Draw one or more Flowers from the bag (minimum 1, maximum 8 Flowers per turn, with a maximum of 3 draws).
– Display Flowers in front of or behind your screen.

Scoring:
– Flowers in front of the screen are scored by color, with black flowers acting as wild cards.
– Flowers behind the screen are divided into warm (pink, yellow) and cool (light blue, dark blue) groups, with white and black flowers assignable to either group.

Mastery Cards: Award bonuses for specific flower combinations.

Player Experience

The game offers a tactile and visually appealing experience, with players engaging in a delicate balance between collecting as many flowers as possible and avoiding greed. The gameplay is quick, typically lasting around 15 minutes, making it a fast-paced and simple game to learn. However, the game’s simplicity can also make it feel less engaging compared to other games in its category.

Pros

Lovely visuals and tactile experience with the flower tokens.

Quick to play and fairly simple once the rules are understood.

Suitable for families and casual gamers.

Cons

Fails to stand out in a crowded market of filler and push-your-luck games.

The rules can make it difficult to achieve a high score, limiting the sense of accomplishment.

Personal Thoughts on The Legend of the Cherry Tree that Blossoms Every Ten Years

This game is ideal for families, casual gamers, and those looking for a light, quick gaming experience. While it provides a fun and visually appealing gameplay, it may not offer enough complexity or challenge for more seasoned gamers. The game’s theme and mechanics are unique but may not “spark joy” for everyone, especially in a market filled with similar games.

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