Renegade Game Studio | Arboretum | Card Game | Ages 8+ | 2-4 Players | 30 Minutes Playing Time

Product Information

You’re not just trying to collect cards of a specific color, or string together the most cards, as in many card games.

Both of your draws on your turn can be from discard piles, so if you see gold glinting in the autumn leaves you can take the time to grab it. The tension for a player is trying to work out what is their least worst option in terms of their discard. When I first looked at it I didn’t think it would be anything special, but as we played it and I realized that building a path was only half (maybe only a third, actually) of the game, I really grew to love it. In Arboretum, you’re trying to build this perfect botanical garden filled with Cherry Blossoms, Maples, and Jacarandas.You have to really think hard about what you want to do, and what you don’t want your opponents to do. If you try to begin with a one and/or end with an eight, you may hurt yourself come scoring time if you can’t defend against an opponent who has the one or the eight of the suit you’re trying to score. We aim to reply within 1 hour, however depending on the number of queries it may take us slightly longer to get back to you! I just traded this away in last month’s math trade (on BGG) because it was too cut-throat for anyone I’d be playing it with.

I’m also always trying to figure out which suits still have the “1” card in play because that could end up changing the totals at the scoring – as any left over “1”s will cause the “8”s to be worthless. The 103 third parties who use cookies on this service do so for their purposes of displaying and measuring personalized ads, generating audience insights, and developing and improving products. I have found that I am spending a fairly good deal of time between my turns examining what my opponents have played (and hopefully remembering what they have drawn) so that I can try to mentally figure out which colors they are shooting for and what sort of total they have left in their hand. Ideally, the endgame will hold one or two stunning reveals as the score swings like a blighted pendulum, leaving one supremely happy tree enthusiast standing tall.

The art work is lovely by the way, so even if you are flummoxed by the game, it is still an enjoyable visual experience. Before long you’ll think twice before putting a card into the discard pile, because it may be the one card your opponent needs. People more familiar with the game can probably relate, but the games presents itself like a mellow romp. Since the game is played until the draw pile is empty, near the end of the game you can guess your odds of someone having the “1” of your suit and blowing your scoring chances if you have the “8. It splits your brain into Ying and Yang as you need to figure out the best move for yourself, and also how best to screw over your opponent.

The trees are nicely depicted, and the game gives the overall impression of high quality and attention to detail, for something which is relatively limited in materials.

The deck consists of 80 cards containing 10 different tree species (so 8 cards in each species, number 1-8). It was in print, the English one wasn’t (or isn’t, or won’t be, or something) and the German has vanishingly little impact on play. Which brings us to Arboretum, a new game from Z-Man Games that gives you a little taste of spring in a box – and it’s pollen free! Seeing your cards arrayed before you reveals an important part of the puzzle – the ability of other players to construct meaningful paths. There is great strategy available here and the decisions of what to play and what to hold has massive implications not just for you but your opponents.