Harmonies Review: In Harmony With Nature

[@johnpiegors2560]

One complaint that I found very odd in the video is what Tom mentions at 5:06 (to a chorus of agreement from Mike and Joey) about the visual clarity of stacking pieces. This wasn't an issue in my playgroup simply because it's automatically determinable what piece comes on the bottom based on stacking rules. If there's a green on top, it can only ever be brown underneath. If there's a mountain on top, it can only ever be mountain underneath, if there's a red on top, it's always the "triple wild" (brown, mountain, or red) underneath. Blues, yellows, and greens are not stackable ever. Shortly after Mike mentions it would have been nice to have these rules on a player aid card, which further confused me because every possible stacking configuration option in the game is shown on the player aid cards (without which the game would be unplayable. I LOVED the player aid cards for this game). I'm genuinely curious if this specific issue has been a problem for anyone else, and if so, is it because the rules didn't explain the stacking rules well enough to make it clear that what's on the bottom is always determinable from what's on top without having to look closely at all? Are these issues that anyone else is having? I think a lot of the rest of the complaints are completely valid. Randomness being by far the biggest issue, though I want to agree with Tom about it being nice that terrain is so valuable in the game. I feel as though the game does a great job at rewarding "pivots" in play, and find a lot of the skill expression is about how to maximize points even when you aren't getting what you want.

[@cursivecurses]

I also thought the player aids made this easy, but there IS a more detailed diagram in the rulebook.

[@CresentSoul]

The player aid card that shows scoring for the pieces actually shows all the combinations of stacking you can do. So you don’t need to look at the book for that

[@surayahdevisser4148]

It’s very fun solo! I mostly play it solo and if you have played it more often you know where to put the pieces to keep choices open. Like the luck is less of a burden that way 😃

[@Theplaysthet]

Actually I think you are right. Its a better solo game than multi

[@Animal_board_gamer]

I’ve already played harmonies 32 times! I just can’t stop playing it! I like it so much that’s it’s now my second favorite game!

[@Nayr090]

I'm with Mike regarding Calico. I'm not too into the constrained feeling and the idea of "I need this exact thing at this exact time to min max" as opposed to Cascadia which feels more open. Harmonies is really pretty though!

[@darinherrick9224]

Well that’s in its favor. People who min max annoy the hell out of me.

[@ruth7784]

Harmonies is pretty but I've found that it really winds me up when I'm tired or in a bad mood, which is often at the moment, so I haven't played it much. 😆 I play Cascadia instead as I find it relaxing but engaging.

[@TheGiraffehead]

I thought the hexes would feel constraining, but to be honest I think it is the right amount. In the beginning everything is really open and by the time the game is winding down you should have made up your mind with what you are trying to get with each hex.

[@modemacabre]

Different brain chemistry I guess. Cascadia is annoying at best and stressful at worst for me. Nothing ever seems to work out for me in that game. The confines of Calico just give me a much clearer direction in how to shape my game. I much prefer that.

[@Noobwater]

Awesome docs, Mike!

[@TheGiraffehead]

What they really didn't talk about and is a huge miss in their review is the building aspect. Cascadia always felt so abstract once you were done, it is just a puzzle. In Harmonies I enjoy building a landscape and I am happy with what I have built in the end. Of the three games mentioned (surprised they didn't mention Reef) Harmonies is far away the winner for me and I think Tom is wrong about the staying power.

[@FordMrson]

I wanted to get a nature building do you suggest this game? I want something that won't be boring in terms of replayability also having interesting mechanics.

[@KissellMissile]

I would be the complete opposite.

[@RulebooksForYou]

Isn't this like Reef more than the others mentioned?

[@KissellMissile]

Yes, but Reef was a bit of a flash in the pan (and I agree with Tom that this one will be as well, except it will get a bump for being on BGA).

[@johannesblank1552]

Is that Camilla in the background? e.g. at 15:10

[@wrongwaywilson]

It's rare that I disagree with Mike, but I give Harmonies a solid 8, as I also give Calico, but I really enjoy the restrictive nature of the scoring conditions in both games. I describe Harmonies in the same way I do Verdant: it's like they reimplemented an aspect of Cascadia but made it fun.

[@BasiCitizen]

Harmonies is so fun. I like the solo a lot and there is a nice easy to follow scenario mode on BGG called Melodies that adds nice variety when playing solo. Essentially there is a list 3 of animal cards you have to start with and complete in order to win that scenario. There are like 20 some scenarios as well.

[@refreshdaemon]

I get Dragon Castle, Cascadia, and Reef's placement scoring and Azul's drafting from this. The choose-your-goals reminds me of Century: Spice Road. I'm not sure I need this since I have those other games, but I think that since it's in the same camp, I think people who like one of those, might also like this one too. I also don't like that the order of placing the discs isn't intuitive and there's no guide for it accessible to all players at all times. I'll play it if it comes to game night tho.

[@JarradShaw]

My goodness Mike. Beautiful green docs brother, lol ❤

[@IndianaGeologist]

Great review, guys. Strong points that I appreciate hearing.

[@modemacabre]

The art put me a little in the mind of Rauschenberg's collage work. Just played Harmonies for the first time last night. This game did give me a lot of feels for Calico, although I still much prefer Calico. And I guess my brain just works a bit differently than most, but the constraints of both the boards in Harmonies and Calico is more zen to me than the openness of Cascadia. In fact Cascadia is quite simply frustration in a box for me. I really don't get how that one blew up. I'm fine if I never play that one again. But feel free to bring beautiful Harmonies to the table.

[@kq76]

You guys need an "On Air" sign or to tell everyone outside the room to be quiet. It's really distracting trying to pay attention to what you're saying when you can hear people laughing and joking around in the background. If you don't know what I'm talking about, listen to the Review part with headphones on.

[@undersci]

Originality is overrated, and this game's fun isn't diminished by its similarity to other games.

[@TheAmazingYeti]

I like this more than Azul and Cascadia.. and certainly more than Reef and Calico. For whatever reason I just couldnt get in to Reef.. it felt boring.. it wasn't bad.. but I just never felt excited while playing. Calico is fine as well.. but I do agree that it is too dependent on getting that "exact" tile. Cascadia just takes too long for me. It is a great game.. but never have a desire to play it with more than two people. It may not even take that long.. but it just feels like it does. Azul is of course a classic.. and I feel that time has just weared on it for me personally. Ultimately I think Harmonies is essentially a greatest hits of all those games and it plays so fast. I also think it is the absolute best looking of all of them. It also likely wouldn't exsist without any of them. So there's that too.

[@ronthal]

And to me it is way better than Calico, shorter and more interesting than Cascadia, including the expansion, it is tighter than most pattern games. The look and feel is a notch above all including Azul... My favourite in the genre right now.

[@KingMePlease3]

The most important part of this review was Tom's opinion at 14:04...100% AGREE. Can publishers and designers move on from pattern building games and discover something more innovative for the industry?

[@guandjs]

Everyone that I have played Harmonies with so far has liked it about same or more than Cascadia (which they all like a lot too). I don’t think it is constrained nearly that much for reasons that Tom mentioned…you can score for terrain. There is luck but that helps make it welcoming to new players…and luck in shorter games often works well.

[@AzureRaiden]

Yeah I agree with Tom on this one. I very much enjoyed this game and I just have fun building the patterns and puzzling it out on my own. The artwork definitely helps. I love the cutesy images of the animals and the art style is captivating. Play I've had friends who outright didn't like this game so there's definitely a love/hate crowd with this one

[@rogerusart]

To each their own, and I often agree with Mike, but there's absolutely nothing mediocre in this game. Well, maybe the cloth bag.

[@Janice-rh8mr]

Love Harmonies! Easy to teach & quick to table.

[@玩物喪志-v5w]

Actually agree with the dice tower this time. It’s not a game more than those mentioned. Don’t even see in what aspects this game is more than the earlier design such as cascadia

[@l.schmidt9132]

I agree with Tom and Mike - the game is very chill to a point where I feel it doesn't really matter what I do. And that's both its saving grace and its downfall. There's no real challenge and if I want one I'd rather play the Calico solo campaign or Framework or Azul (summer pavilion). Having said that it is very pretty, very chill and easy to introduce new gamers to. Ky other half doesn't enjoy spatial puzzles, unlike me, but he enjoyed this a lot, because he loved the theme and the art. A real crowd pleaser and I'll take the art over Cascadia any day. I've played at 1, 2 and 3p and I actually enjoyed it most as a solo with the spirit animals - I saw there's a campaign on bgg for it, so would still recommend if you like the solo, want to give the campaign a go AND if you tend to play with a lot of casual and/or younger gamers

[@nshaw1299]

Wow, so many games in one.. Cascadia and co. For choosing a 'batch', Reef for pattern building and stacking, Tiny Towns for 'blocking' once a pattern is completed... I also don't know I need this particular combination... It's not Rachel Green's Thanksgiving Trifle, but I still prefer the origins of the mix.

[@TheSneetchBelly]

I totally agree there aren’t enough cards for replayabiity

[@bornofashes]

No Lonely Mountains? 😢

[@davebelcher3307]

Everyone compares this game to Cascadia and Calico but I think it’s more like Reef and Neotopia.

[@jeffgoggin1394]

Absolutely! Reef CRIMINALLY underrated

[@TheSneetchBelly]

I agree I don’t get Calico from this - I definitely feel its way more similar to Reef

[@joeferreti9442]

for me it mixes Reef with Cascadia but less clever than both

[@jamesmcmillin4024]

I can respect the ratings, I love Cascadia but for whatever reason I find scoring to be more simple to explain with harmonies. Have enjoyed the game thoroughly so far

[@rothanarae]

You're lucky you got a copy without bent cards and I'm disappointed that you didn't mention that rather prevalent problem with the production quality.

[@milkywayAtSea]

Is there a top 10 on best production quality games? I'd like to know. I feel like there are a few games out there that aren't particularly innovative, but because of the production quality and artwork, it is popular. I think this is where harmonies sit.

[@joeferreti9442]

I find "Harmonies" quite a bit weak. It just rehashes ideas from "Reef" and "Cascadia", but in a less clever way.

[@FPchie]

To each their own, but I agree with Mike the solo part which I most played is quite dull after 1 or 2 sessions. And multiplayer solitaire + beating own points are overrated. Sold the game.

[@thegamesninja3119]

The Cats and other animals of Azulcadia.

[@Oaklestat]

I'm right there with you guys on this one. I give it a 6

[@andrewstewart7078]

I'm with Mike. I didn't have a good time.

[@dougsmith6175]

I'm with Mike. Only played a few times, but it seemed to us that some of the spirit animals were a little o.p. and if you don't maximize your points on that you're done. Definitely needed a player aide to help with the stacking rules. For someone with color vision issues, it was tough. Also, it seems like playing the "long game" and building UP just isn't worth it, because it only takes one person to play the "short game" and build OUT and you're pretty much hosed. Not really sure what all the hype is. Cascadia is way better in my book.

[@jenius00]

Seems like it has a vibe almost like kohaku

[@kipsyoutube]

This is the best of these type of games I’ve played. One of the best newer games. 8.5/10 for me, maybe higher if they bring out some good expansions. The worst thing about it is the name which is rather forgettable.

[@VoidVerification]

Hot take: a large part of why people hype this game is a visceral reaction to the outstanding artwork. Question is if the gameplay holds up over time to make it a classic.

[@jdotco23]

This game looks completely uninteresting to me, and the luck they're talking about confirms it for me. Good review.

[@Animal_board_gamer]

We need to have a top 10 mike is wrong. 😂 Tom vasel gave it a good rating 8. I personally give it a 10 out of 10!

[@KissellMissile]

Rating inflation has become a real problem on the Dice Tower.

[@jacobjslee]

Wrong! Harmonies will not be forgotten in a few years. I just had to post this so we can look back in a few years and see who's right. I never loved Cascadia, but I did like it . . . until I played Harmonies. Sold it literally the next day. Harmonies is more thinky, nicer to look at, quicker and more fun. I would love to see a poll among everyone who has played both games. I would bet Harmonies is the winner.

[@joeferreti9442]

meh

[@Theplaysthet]

Sorry but Cascadia is better for me!

[@cursivecurses]

I would be more sure to agree with you about Harmonies lasting forever if it had been nominated for the SdJ like it should have been. I certainly hope you're right!

[@ViperaRaddei]

10 games like this come out each year. It’ll be forgotten for sure - just about every game that comes out these days is a flash in the pan.

[@Theplaysthet]

Yeah Cascadia is definitely a better game. I like it but its nothing special I don't think.

[@ianrussell7190]

Yall ridiculous. At least an 8.5 lol. Obviously to each there own, but I think this is the best pattern game there is. Way more approachable than cascadia in my experience. It's my parents favorite game now.

[@milest4214]

This is gonna go top 200 on BGG of all time soon enough, it's beloved.

[@SmoothGummi]

I have no idea how you could say this game is more approachable than Cascadia. You may like it better, and that’s totally cool, but not more approachable.

[@玩物喪志-v5w]

I also think Cascadia more approachable. For me not even close on this aspect. It’s animals, the placement and scoring makes more sense, and also you don’t need to stack anything which makes it more convoluted

[@ianrussell7190]

@@SmoothGummi it's just my experience. My parents and grandparents struggled with cascadia (still a great game), but both successfully understood harmonies much faster and wanted to play it again.

[@SmoothGummi]

@@ianrussell7190 What aspect did they find difficult about Cascadia?

[@nreekm]

This one is not for me. I hate games that makes me feel chill. I like games that get me so invested it gives me anxiety.

[@JasonSmithPsychedelicTherapist]

Ha. I relate.

[@Bad.Ju.Ju.]

I'm with Tom on that 8!! The other two are too old and should have stayed home watching re runs of Jeopardy.

[@tiford184]

Despite the hotness and hype, i don’t feel the need to get this game when Cascadia exists

[@marccote8544]

Wander what would have been mike rating if it was a japanese game or a reiner knizia😅

[@ChewieHuey]

and published by uchibacoya.

[@guandjs]

⁠​⁠@@ChewieHueyhaha…if it was was uchibacoya, there would have been mini wooden animeeples!

[@LeeKenshin7]

Thanks for saving me from getting a pretty looking game with little substance.

[@tristancaneris6270]

I compare this game to REEF which got very good reviews by dice tower… to me this is a reef killer

[@xshadowscreamx]

Yeah that’s why I’m not feeling it

[@XanYT]

Some rules changes could probably make this a much better game. For example something to reduce hate drafting.

[@darinherrick9224]

But hate drafting makes games better…

[@joeferreti9442]

or reduce the hefty restrictions or make the drafting more interesting or ...

[@robertsilver6181]

Kinda just sounds like a simplified version of ecos

[@Tmisp2209]

Mike is trippin

[@lionsworkphotography]

easily under the top 3 of Mike is wrong video!!!

[@uziekiele]

Why is Mike wearing bowling shoes?

[@ruth7784]

They're Doc Martens and they're awesome.

[@uziekiele]

@@ruth7784 Lol, I was just kidding but that color was definitely a lot.

[@matthewcolwell8775]

What’s the deal with Mike’s leprechaun boots?

[@michaeldilisio557]

They’re Doc Martens shoes.

[@violentfrog_]

They're awesome

[@CaroLiaGrace]

Mediocre????? Really????? Wow! I do not agree with that!