Grove: A 9 card solitaire game

I recently picked up Grove, the sequel to the award-winning Orchard, and I have to say, I'm really impressed. The game is compact and portable, perfect for travel or a quick break. The core gameplay is similar to Orchard, but the addition of "glades" (open spaces without trees) and the "wild card" element adds a whole new level of strategic depth. I especially love the recipe cards. They provide a win/lose condition and make the game much more challenging. You have to meet specific goals, like using all five green dice to get extra points, or mixing up a fruit cocktail. Even if you complete both objectives, you still have to meet the sum of the cards' numbers to win, which adds an extra layer of complexity.

The game also features a cute squirrel token that can either help or hinder your fruit picking, as well as a wheelbarrow token for an extra large bushel of fruit. The card backs feature recipe challenges with various scoring conditions and target scores, which adds a lot of variety to the gameplay.

I've found that Grove is a lot more challenging than Orchard, but also much more rewarding. The recipe cards really make the game come alive, and I find myself playing multiple games in a row just to see if I can beat my high score. I highly recommend this game to anyone looking for a challenging and engaging solitaire experience.