April 2024
Welcome board game fans! Spring is in the air so why not bring that rejuvenating spring atmosphere to the table with board games that evoke the spirit of spring. Design a beautiful butterfly garden in our featured board game of the month Papillon, We also review Ecosystem where players build diverse and balanced natural habitats. Lastly we take a look at the latest additions to our board game library for you to enjoy.
Have fun and keep playing games!
Spotlight on:
Papillon
J.B. Howell / Kolossal Games
2-4 Players
60 minutes
Spring is in the air and it’s the perfect time to get out in the garden and enjoy the sight of butterflies fluttering by beutiful spring flowers…. or even better, stay indoors and build your own beautiful butterfly garden in Papillon!
In Papillon players is aiming to create the most beautiful garden to be able to send their papillons (butterflies) to gather nectar from the the flower bushes that will spring up on the table. The butterflies that collect the most nectar score the most points.
Papillon is essentially an area control game with players seeking to dominate each flower with the most butterflies of their colour in order to score maximum points for that flower each round. The game makes clever use of auction and tile drafting mechanisms to drive the action which takes place in four phases:
Pahse 1: players start each round by bidding bid for rows or columns of available garden tiles (using caterpillar tokens as currency)
Phase 2: starting with the highest bidder players take a number of garden tiles until each player has a set of tiles to add to their garden that round
Phase 3: the players will add their tiles to their gardens, trying to make enclosed areas of the same flower type to attract the butterflied to that flower bed.
Phase 4: players then get to clip their butterflies to the flowers with players scoring larger flower beds (3 or more tiles) taking the bonus points for that flower if available.
Papillon is an enjoyable game sure to bring new people to the hobby. It is true to its theme, visually stunning and engenders a surprising amount of rivalry for a game that on the surface may seem a bit… flowery! The designers have succeeded in crafting an elegant blend of strategic play (with the tile-laying puzzle and battle for flower control) and fun tactical decisions (via the bidding to get garden tiles) that seemlessy blend together for solid beginner-friendly, strategy game.
Our only minor complaint is that the cardboard “sculptures” and clothes-peg clips on the butterflies can come apart especially after a few plays so some care and maintenance may be needed to keep the game looking beautiful… as is the case with any garden!
(Papillon is available to rent from our library or buy from our online shop.)
Review:
Ecosystem
Matt Simpson / Genius Games
1-6 Players
30 minutes
In Ecosystem players draft cards to place them into their play area each turn in an effort to build the highest scoring ecosystem comprising of 20 cards.
Each card represents a different element of the ecosystem (habitats such as meadows or streams and the creatures that live in them such as bees, trout or deer) and each element scores points in different ways. The game rewards fiversity and balance (as is approporaite for the theme) so it doesn’t pay to focus on only collecting the wolves, say, and care needs to be taken to place cards in a way that allows the other cards already played to score optimally. (Bears score by being placed next to bees and trout; trout score by being placed next to streams and dragonflies and so on…).
The drafting mechanism adds an element of tactical play to as you need to keep in mind what cards you may be passing on to your opponents when you make your selection each turn. Together with the challenge of maximizing the points in front of you and remembering to build diversity so as not to end up with too many “gaps” which lose you points this makes for a good mix of puzzle solving and competition.
Ecosystem is really easy to pick up (literally and figuratively) it can be taught even to non-boardgamers in 5 to 10 minutes and comes in a small lightweight box you can take with you play on the train. The rounds are quick and after your first game the game will likely run 20 minutes or so even at higher player counts.
The game also can be played as a solo challenge.
For a visual overview, watch our Ecosystem video on facebook.
(Ecosystem is available to rent from our library or buy from our online shop.)
🎉 New Additions to Our Board Game Library! 🎉
We have some exciting updates for you this month as our board game rental library just grew even more epic with these fantastic new arrivals. So get ready to dive into worlds of strategy, adventure, and fun with our latest additions:
King of Tokyo
Unleash your inner monster in this explosive battle for supremacy! With mutant monsters, gigantic robots, and bizarre aliens vying for control of Tokyo, King of Tokyo promises adrenaline-fueled excitement. Roll the dice, gather energy, and unleash devastating attacks on your rivals to claim victory. With special power cards adding extra layers of strategy, this game is an absolute blast for players of all ages!
Small World of Warcraft
This re-themed variation of the classic Small World board game lets players step into the fantasy realm of the hugely popular World of Warcraft online franchise. Players command legendary races from the Warcraft universe as they compete to conquer territories, seize powerful artifacts, and lead their factions to glory. With a blend of strategic depth and the zany charm of mixing and matching races and traits (Defensive Orcs vs Mining Elves!) this game is sure to not only delight WoW fans but also breathe new life into the classic game.
(P.S. you don’t need have any knowledge of World of Warcraft to enjoy this game.)
Tapestry
Forge your own path through the annals of history in Tapestry as you guide your civilisation from humble beginnings to technological marvels. Each player works to advance through across four distinct tracks (Military, Science, Technology and Exploration) by earning increasing resources each round. With asymmetric civilisation abilities, different tapestry cards, and multiple paths to victory, every playthrough offers a unique experience in this strategic civilisation building game.
Farplace: The Game
Created by the good folk at Farplace Animal Rescue, Farplace The Game lets you embark on a heartwarming adventure for the whoel family. Join animal rescuers as they gather resources and overcome obstacles to save our furry friends. Each player will have a unique player ability and goal. The game promotes an understanding of and commitment to animal welfare as well as offering a delightful gaming experience. If you would like to purchase your own copy and supports a worthy cause, visit FarPlace Animal Rescue’s web site at www.farplace.org.uk.
We hope you enjoy these additions to our library. (Remember to add these to your play list to have them automatically sent to you when they become available.)
You can view our full rental catalogue on the web site by clicking the link below.
Happy gaming!
My Board Game Library merchandise will be available from our online shop in the summer! We hope to bring you fun board-game themed T-shirts, coffe mugs, dice trays and stationery to enhance your board game nights!
Our Rental Library makes it easy to try new games before deciding to add them to your collection. It’s also a great way to add variety to your board game group without having to invest the full cost of a game.
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