Arboretum Review - with Zee Garcia

[@MrRadialdrift]

One of the best small quick games available. Very easy to learn but has a lot of strategy.

[@carlatate7678]

This game is extremely tense and every decision feels crucial. Zee missed the mark on this, but everyone is entitled to an opinion!

[@jonpurkis]

This game has more tension than almost any game I've played. If someone asked me to recommend them a game with tension this would be the first to my mind.

[@berniesalinas7538]

Zee just threw a curve ball right there. Thought he would have love this game.

[@Syncopator]

This review doesn't describe how the game went for me at all. I found the game EXTREMELY tight, not at all "scripted" and quite tense. The uncertainty of whether or not you will be able to protect your ability to score a path or insure an opponent will not be able to score their path is what keeps the tension high. I played it two-player, which I suppose could be the difference in perception. But virtually every turn, I found myself having to make a hard decision of what to play and what to discard, when often I didn't want to do either-- holding some cards waiting for something else to appear that would allow for the play of something in my hand, and not wanting to let go of cards that could keep an opponent from scoring. It's a frustrating game full of tough choices, because it's a challenging one, and that's what made it interesting. I can see how some people might not like it, but "mundane" is not at all the word I would use to describe it.

[@grahamhaslett6943]

This seems like a game you could easily invent your own rules for, or use another games numbered card type rules for instead

[@nedeljkodukic7279]

This was before Zee knew what he was doing

[@simonmtkwong]

No tension? Must be playing with nice players...this is horribly screwy game and a complete knife fight towards the end.

[@joeysalt8974]

The review that Zee was most wrong about. 3 yrs later.

[@markyst.ruggles1878]

The scoring is a bit convoluted for me. It is not a bad game but wish it had a streamlined way of scoring. It is intriguing enough to try again though.

[@adamhollis3217]

In shock that you don't love it Zee!

[@PierreCarette]

Great game. Replaces lost city for me.

[@royvalstar]

Great card game.

[@BGBarbarian]

Think you got the old over hype disappointment syndrome. This game doesn't have tension?? You have all these cards in your hand and you are freaking out because you don't want to discard ANYTHING. lol This game people evolve and learn to play it better and better. First people build very straight forward arboretums without keeping enough in their hand to score their runs. Then as you play more you learn to build it with much more options in different directions. Don't see how you would love a game like "23" and think this is blah. Play with some good arboretum players and you'll see the difference of how cool this game is.

[@Petfles1]

Great game, it's a little hard to find though. I don't think the game is scripted. There is really a lot of strategy there, but the game is easy to pick up for non-gamers also. I thought a game like this would be right up your ally, Zee. ;)

[@chopperdan2021]

Petfles G I disagree that non-gamers will pick this up easily. The placement and scoring are non-intuitive, and the ending can leave a sour taste in your mouth. I would steer non-gamers and new gamers FAAAAR away from this one. Heck, I'd steer everyone away from this one!

[@Petfles1]

Dan Keller I agree with you on the scoring, it's hard to understand for first time players. But aside from that I think it's a fine game.

[@chunkyfunkster]

+Dan Keller I guess you lost. A lot of hate after just one play.

[@chopperdan2021]

*****​ yep I lost, but it was a frustrating loss, not a fun one.

[@chunkyfunkster]

Most games are until you learn them.

[@shelbybuttimer1397]

I like this game, but it's not a light game and it's not for newer players. It looks like it ought to be a lovely, light, friendly game and it's totally not.

[@chunkyfunkster]

Zee your wrong. Can't put it any other way.

[@exiledsonofhawaii3934]

I agree with him 100 percent. Played it thrice, hated it all 3 times. Especially the scoring phase.

[@michaljambor7772]

stupidly math-y at every turn

[@chopperdan2021]

Zee was much more generous than I am. It's a horrible game. It has a convoluted scoring system with a take-that element at the END of the game, which you can do NOTHING about! I only played it once, but nearly set the trees on fire at the end of the game. I think it's trying to be a gamer's filler game, but it just turns into a mess.

[@BGBarbarian]

Dan Keller You played it once and flame the game?

[@chunkyfunkster]

Derp

[@yannblondaux6002]

I found this game to be horrible. The principle of holding cards to score in the end to me translates into not being able to play at all. You are not rewarded for laying down great arboretums, instead anybody can send your efforts to nothingness by holding a high value card. The score sheet has always looked like this for me: 0+0+0+0+0+0+0+5+0+0+0 versus 0+0+0+0+0+4+0+0+0+0+0. That makes no sense and above all that is not fun. Also, why oh why not allow multiple arboretums of the same color? What is that restriction for? I dunno, it would have been interesting from a geometrical perspective to start several arboretums of the same kind and score point out of how clever you put your cards. But no, why make the game more fun and interesting, let's keep the score ultra complex and non intuitive and put up a 100 restrictions that make zero sense. 1/10

[@BGBarbarian]

Omar Little You need to learn how to really play this game. I have noticed a lot of people don't get this game at first. Once it clicks you will really enjoy it. If you didn't have to hold cards to score your runs then all you would do is set out any card you could without a care. This way you have to make tough decisions about what to keep and what to play and even worse....what to discard!

[@chunkyfunkster]

Its not complex.

[@vanzetti7]

It's so...bland.

[@patricechiniara]

I agree with Zee 100%. Beautiful game, but boring as help and completely random.