This game provides a calm and thoughtful challenge, encouraging players to carefully consider each move as they cultivate their bonsai garden.
Overview of Bonsai
In Bonsai, players assume the role of expert bonsai masters, each striving to grow the most exquisite bonsai and earn the honour of displaying it in the Imperial Gardens. The game elegantly combines tile placement and strategic decision-making, resulting in a unique and engaging experience.
Key Information about Bonsai
- Number of Players: 1-4
- Recommended Age: 10 and above
- Playing Time: Approximately 40 minutes
- Publisher: daVinci Editrice
- Game Designers: Rosaria Battiato, Massimo Borzì, and Martino Chiacchiera
How to Play Bonsai
The gameplay of Bonsai is both straightforward and deeply strategic, offering players two primary actions to choose from on their turn:
- Meditate: Select one of the face-up cards from the board and add it to your hand or utilise it. If there are any bonsai tiles depicted below the chosen card, you also collect those tiles. Some cards allow you to play extra tiles or increase the number of tiles you can hold at any one time.
- Cultivate: Utilise the tiles in your personal supply to grow your bonsai. The number of tiles you can place is determined by the symbols on your Seishi tile and any Growth cards you possess. Each symbol permits the placement of one tile of the corresponding type.
The order the cards come out of the deck can make a huge difference. in my first game the higher value draw cards all seemed to be at the begining when no-one had enough tools to allow them to draw many tiles.
As your bonsai develops, you’ll aim to meet the requirements of various Goal tiles available in the centre of the table. Upon achieving or surpassing a Goal tile’s criteria, you must decide whether to claim it immediately or forgo it in pursuit of a more challenging objective.
The game concludes when the last card from the deck is revealed. At this point, each tile in your bonsai contributes to your final score, and the player with the highest total is declared the winner.
For those who prefer solitary play, Bonsai offers solo scenarios with modified rules and objectives, culminating in the Emperor Challenge—a true test of your bonsai-cultivating prowess.
My Experience
My experience of Bonsai was enjoayble and i’m sure i will be playing more. The game’s mechanics are intuitive, yet they provide ample depth for strategic planning. I found ourselves carefully considering each move, balancing immediate gains against long-term objectives.
The aesthetic appeal of the game is noteworthy; the components are beautifully designed, and watching our bonsai trees take shape over the course of the game was genuinely satisfying. I’m a bit of a sucker for a pretty game and Bonsai definitely ticks that box. The decision-making process, particularly when choosing whether to claim a Goal tile or aim for a more ambitious target, added a layer of tension throughout.
I don’t own Bonsai yet, but it’s definitely on my list to pick up.
