If you read my blog regularly or follow me on instagram, you probably know that I'm a HUGE FAN of roll and write games! I even wrote an entire blog about great roll and write games! So when I find a new game that fits into the roll and write genre (or its sister genre, flip and write games) I have to try it! And when it's about plants - another love language of mine - well, that's just too good to pass up! That's why I'm thrilled to introduce you to Horticulture, by Last Night Games! But first, I thought I'd explain a little more about what a roll and write/flip and write game is to anyone who may not be familiar...
Roll and writes are a type of game in which players roll dice and use the results to fill out some sort of scoring sheet. Probably the most recognized and simplest example of this would be Yahtzee. You roll the dice and fill in scores on your sheet. But the roll and write genre has expanded over the years and there are some fantastic games that fit into the category, including Ganz Schon Clever and Qwixx.
Flip and write games are a sort of offshoot of the roll and write genre. Instead of rolling dice and filling in spaces on your sheet, you're flipping cards over and using those to fill your sheet in. These are tons of fun as well. And they're also ideal when you need a quieter option that doesn't involve loud dice rolling.
So now that you have a better understanding of roll and write and flip and write games, let's talk about Horticulture, shall we? Horticulture is a flip and write game that plays 1 or more people. Kids as young as 8 can play and it takes about 20 minutes to play. In the game, you're designing your own garden, filled with topiaries, turnips, carrots, sweet potatoes, flowers, and berries. You score points based on how plants are placed next to each other.
What I love about the game:
1.) The double-sided player sheets! - Double-sided sheets give you a little more variety in the game. Side A is great for beginners, while side B is a little more challenging. This means that the game has levels, which also helps vary the play from game to game.
2.) The design! - The game is full of lovely blues, greens, and purples. It's got a very calming vibe. I really love that! It's a great game to play when you don't want a wild, crazy game.
3.) The drawing! - Not only are you filling in blocks on a sheet, but you're filling them in by drawing little berries, veggies, and flowers! It's a little added fun!
4.) The educational benefits! - Not only does this game include some great math practice with its scoring, but it also includes some great gardening/agriculture lessons. In the game, plants score more when they're next to other plants or next to certain areas of the garden. This has real-life implications, as many plants do better or worse depending on what you plant them next to! This is a great jumping off point for a wonderful lesson in horticulture and botany!
5.) The play time! - This game plays in about 20 minutes, making it a great filler game. Or a great game for lunch break. Or a great game for dinner time or just before bed! Don't have time for a long game with a huge set-up time? No problem! Horticulture to the rescue!
Final thoughts: I played this game solo for my first play-through because my hubby was at work and my kiddos were sick. I'm not normally a solo gamer. I enjoy playing with others. But I really enjoyed this game, even in solo mode! It was a great challenge and also a lot of fun planning my little garden to maximize my points! If you're a lover of horticulture and/or flip and writes, this is definitely a game you should add to your collection!
I received this game, free of charge from Last Night Games, in exchange for my honest review.
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