Herbaceous

I got this game mostly for solo play, so I can’t say much about how it is to play with others, but this game is simple and beautiful and relaxing as a solo game. I leave the cards out so they are always handy and will play a round or two when I have 15 min to kill and want to avoid an urge to scroll Facebook or read too much news. It is a super simple set building game that can be played casually or super strategically (I would imagine) if you are a competitive board gamer who spends as much time looking at other people’s business as you do your own. The herb planting theme is well executed, family friendly (for young and old) and also captures the spirit of neighborly competition that can sometimes happen among gardeners. This game is utterly perfect in it’s simplicity. It a great starter/filler game for an organized game night. Also perfect as a fast, accessible game during family gatherings when explaining complicated rules is too much. Love! Turns are simple and fast: All you do is draw a card and place it either in YOUR garden or the Community garden. You draw a second card and must place it in whichever garden you DIDN’T place the first card in. Then the next person does the same. At the beginning of each turn (before drawing cards as above) players can opt to “pot” plants —which is basically collecting herb cards from their own garden and the community garden to create the biggest sets you can that are: all the same kind/one each of as many herbs as possible /as many matching pairs as possible. Bigger sets give more points (scoring is right on the “pot” cards). For SOLO play, it is just a beat your own score (I know some find that unsatisfying). On each turn you draw 3 cards (one at a time) and you choose between playing it in your garden, the community garden or discard pile. There is also a limit to how big (number of cards) the community garden can be.

Imagine this: you’re not just playing a card game, you’re suddenly a master gardener in a competition to pot the finest herbs. In Herbaceous, it’s less about getting your hands dirty and more about showing off your superior knowledge of where to put that pesky lavender—because apparently, herbs have feelings about containers. The game self-advertises as “flavorful” and relaxing, which, sure, is mostly true—until your friend swoops in and snatches that rosemary you were eyeing for your perfect set of herb cards. Then it’s less of a zen experience and more of a passive-aggressive herb showdown. But hey, it’s all in the spirit of potting glory, right? Each player gets their own Private Garden, where they pretend they have a deep connection with their herbs—mint, dill, sage, the whole gang. You also contribute to the Community Garden, which, spoiler alert, turns into a cutthroat battle zone because everyone’s just waiting to swipe the best picks. It’s like farmer's market day in a trendy Brooklyn neighborhood—calm on the surface, but don’t be fooled, the competition for the basil is real. You’ll also get an identical set of Container Cards to store your herb treasures. Now, these containers aren’t just any run-of-the-mill planters; they come with very particular preferences. One might only want identical herbs, while another is more into variety, as if they have opinions. It’s like playing Match.com for your plants—Do you prefer a monochromatic herb bouquet or a diverse, potpourri of flavors? Points are tallied at the end based on how well you’ve potted your herb cards, but let’s be real—the true victory is lording your superior garden skills over your friends. And if you happen to lose, you can always claim you were going for a minimalist, low-point aesthetic, which is very on-trend, especially here in the U.S. right now. Who needs high scores when your garden looks effortlessly chic? Verdict: A fun, laid-back game where you can pretend you have the green thumb of a farmer's market vendor without getting dirt under your nails. Just keep an eye on that one friend who always takes the last thyme—because in Herbaceous, stealing herbs is the only way to spice up your life.

Love this game! Herbaceous is simple, yet challenging. It is a push your luck type of game, but also set collecting. It is easy to teach and learn. Plays okay at 2, but best at 4. Love the colors and art by Beth Sobel!! Also small game that is portable and easy to take places- coffee shops, game nights, family/friend get togethers.

This is definitely a calming game. I love the art and the components are very well made. I'm happy with this one.

This game is more simple than some of the others I play with my family, which makes it the BEST game to play when you only have less than 30 minutes to fit in a game. There is still strategy involved and obviously some luck as well! My parents and I play it often and have really enjoyed it. Besides the pretty artwork, other bonuses are that setup/cleanup is really quick and the box takes up very little storage space. The only dislike/issue for me would be that the cards are a little difficult to actually shuffle.

This is a game that brings divergent gamers together. I like that I get to go first, as the most frequent gardener, and that I get to daydream about herb gardening and attaining a questionably-seasoned-but-somehow-tempting herbed biscuit (who puts mint in a biscuit?) My husband likes the points and strategerie. Very good for two people (up to four) and pretty quick (15 - 20 minutes)

This game is fun and relaxing. I’ve played it mostly on my own and am satisfied with the goal of trying to win more points. It’s very pretty and not difficult to learn, a nice game to take out to kill some time screen-free. I’ve also played with my grandma who caught onto it fairly easily.

Absolutely love this game! It’s very easy to play but it is really fun! It can be played over and over as well. I like a variety of games, including Jaipur, Lost Cities, Patchwork, Cottage Garden, Loot, Ticket to Ride, 10 Days in Africa, Tikal, Karuba.... if you're anything like me, you might like Herbaceous too! This game would be a good “warm up” game for a night of boardgaming, moving from simple to complex games throughout the night. It would also be a good game for two, a “go to” family game, or something you could play with Grandma! The box is also fairly small so it would be a good travel game. It’s about the size of a thick paperback book. I’m very happy with my purchase and interested in other games from this company. They seem pretty new (I have no idea) but it looks like they have a promising future.

Buena calidad, reglas sencillas, entretenido y bonito 🤩

Je trouves les images des cartes fantastiques et la mécanique du jeux intéressant. J'aime beaucoup acheter des jeux très différents et ce jeux est très original et amusant pour moi. Je le conseille.Il y a des video-commentaires sur youtube.

Great card design. However game not very competitive. Scores almost the same on each planter. Poorly designed. Whoever has herb biscuit seems to win. Seems flawed.

One of the nest filler board games I have ever played! Quality is beautiful for the price and the gameplay is quick to learn and very pleasant. Love the mix of luck and strategy.

Product was very well packaged and delivered in good time. Recommended!