Fields of Green

Fields of Green is a card drafting game that truly captures the feeling of building and running a farm. While it's inspired by Among the Stars, a game about building space stations, I've never played that one, so I can only speak to my experience with Fields of Green. The game is played over four rounds, with players drafting cards to add to their farms. These cards represent fields, livestock, constructions, and buildings, each contributing to the farm's economy and ultimately, victory points.

What sets Fields of Green apart is the spatial element. You don't just place cards randomly – you have to consider their placement carefully. Fields need to be close enough to water towers for harvesting, while livestock like turkeys thrive when placed away from other animals. The strategic decisions involved in managing these spatial relationships add a layer of depth and complexity to the game.

The resource management aspect of the game is also well-implemented. You need to balance water, food, and money to keep your farm running efficiently. If you fail to meet the harvest costs, you risk losing valuable resources, adding another element of tension to the gameplay. The inclusion of equipment cards, which provide special benefits like extended water tower ranges or food storage, adds another layer of strategy and customization.

The two-player variant is particularly well-designed, with a clever drafting mechanism that ensures a balanced experience even with just two players. While the game can be quite strategic, it's also accessible enough for new players to pick up quickly.

There are a few potential drawbacks to consider. The game can take up a fair amount of table space, especially as your farm grows. Also, players prone to overthinking can lead to some downtime between turns. But overall, these are minor quibbles that don't detract from the enjoyable gameplay experience.

If you're looking for a thematic and strategic card drafting game with a unique spatial element, Fields of Green is a fantastic option. It's not a particularly complex game, but the strategic decisions and the resource management aspects make it a rewarding and engaging experience. I highly recommend giving it a try!