Garden Nation

I recently had the pleasure of playing Garden Nation, a unique strategy game that combines city-building with tactical maneuvering. The premise is simple: four clans compete to build the most impressive city within the seven territories of the garden. However, the execution is anything but straightforward.

One of the things that drew me to Garden Nation is the innovative use of physical components. The game utilizes coffee pots and bird feeders to represent buildings, which you rearrange to complete projects and missions. This adds a tactile element to the game that I found very engaging. It also felt like the game really encouraged you to think spatially, with the 3D city growing on the board as you play.

The game also includes a clever mechanic where you can "invade" opponents' buildings to try and take them back. This adds a layer of conflict and strategic thinking, forcing you to constantly assess the risks and rewards of your actions. The mechanic of "Torgrue", which lets you choose who plays next, also adds a strategic element that I really enjoyed.

Overall, I found Garden Nation to be a refreshing and engaging strategy game. It's complex enough to be challenging but accessible enough for new players to learn quickly. I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a unique and rewarding gaming experience. However, I did find that the game can be a bit slow at times, especially in the later stages.