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Unveiling Pergola A Relaxed Journey into Garden Design Through Gaming
- Alex Critchell
- Jul 16
- 5 min read
Imagine a board game that effortlessly combines creativity and tranquility. This is Pergola, a captivating game that stands out in the realm of board games by catering to both gaming enthusiasts and gardening lovers. In this article, we will explore the intricate details of Pergola, highlighting its beautiful artwork, engaging mechanics, and offering insights into what makes it such a delightful experience.
First Impressions
The first aspect that draws players to Pergola is its eye-catching artwork on the game box. The vibrant yet calming artwork captures the essence of gardening—a lush paradise waiting to be cultivated. The title, Pergola, is clearly displayed, inviting players to experience the soothing journey ahead.
Turning the box around reveals an informative layout that succinctly covers the gameplay. A combination of engaging graphics and clear descriptions helps potential players quickly grasp what the game entails. This is aspect of the box designs providing clarity on how the game plays, is a feature particularly valuable to me.
Upon opening the box, a well-organized interior greets players, showcasing thoughtful design. Each component, from tokens to boards, has its designated space, facilitating easy setup and storage. The components not only look impressive but are crafted with detail that resonates well with the game’s theme. This design encourages players to immerse themselves in their gardening adventure right from the start.
Gameplay Overview
At its core, Pergola revolves around selecting tools, taking actions, and creating your ideal garden. Players assume the role of gardeners, strategically choosing a variety of flowers and components to cultivate gardens that attract insects. The goal is to optimize resource management, attract pollinators and unlock scoring opportunities to score points while enjoying a relaxing atmosphere.
The game is played over several rounds with each player taking a turn gather resources to develop their garden and perform an action. In total each player will get fifteen turns. On each of your turns you will complete the following four steps:
Pick a Tool: In this step you will choose a tool from the four that are available above the action board and place it next to your board. The choice of which tool you take that turn dictates what action you will perform later on in your turn. Each tool will allow you to add the listed items on the tool to your garden, this can be flowers, insects or lanterns.
Enrich Your Garden: During this step you will place out the items gathered from the tool you have taken this turn into your garden. Magnolias, Hollyhocks and Lavender Leaves are placed in your garden while Buttercup hang from your Pergola. Insects that you have gathered must be placed on the corresponding flower if possible, if there is no possible flowers the insects simply flutter about the garden.
Perform an Action: This step allows you to perform the action that you chose when picking your tool for the turn. The four actions that you have a choice of are flutter 0, 1 or 2 insects to another plant, bird flight where you gain leaf token which give you special instant bonuses, water drop movement that allows you to move your water drop down the track getting the benefits and unlocking new scoring when you reach the end of it and frog jump that allows you to claim insects to pollinate your plants to score points at the end of the game or collect dragonflies for completing certain objectives.
Clean Up: Once you have done everything you wish to on your turn you then move on to this step. In this step you will shift all the tool to the left of the empty spot on the action board to the right to fill any gaps and then deal a new tool to action board to fill the space at the end.
The game ends after each player has had fifteen turns and have fifteen tools in their plant pots. At this point you then count up your points and record them on the included score sheet. You receive points for hollyhocks and butterflies on them, magnolias and ladybirds on them, buttercups and lavender and bees on them, dragonflies, special scoring conditions from honey pots and points gained from scoring condition from the water drop track. The winner of the game is the player who has the most victory points.
One of the game’s strengths lies in its simple mechanics. New players can quickly learn the rules, making it accessible for family game nights or casual gatherings. The relaxed and puzzle-like gameplay presents a gentle challenge, appealing to both newcomers and seasoned gamers alike.
Positives of Pergola
The experience that Pergola offers is genuinely enjoyable, skillfully balancing straightforward mechanics with captivating gameplay. Here are the highlights:
Ease of Learning: With clear mechanics, Pergola is perfect for players of all ages. It works wonderfully with families or friends at game nights.
Relaxed Atmosphere: The tranquil gardening theme coupled with gentle puzzly gameplay creates a relaxed environment, encouraging friendly interaction and conversation among players.
Good Pacing: The smooth flow of gameplay ensures players don't feel left out or bored. As we all appreciate minimal downtime, this allows each session to be lively and engaging.
Negatives of Pergola
However, no game is without its challenges.
Fiddly Components: Some players may find it frustrating to retrieve certain tokens from the center tray, as they can be somewhat difficult to handle.
Light on Strategy: Players seeking deep strategic complexity might find Pergola to be on the lighter side. The game fits into the light-medium weight category, catering more to casual gamers.
Flower Placement: While the open-ended garden creation might dissuade those who prefer specific flower placements, this flexibility allows for artistic expression, which many players find rewarding.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, Pergola stands out as an engaging light puzzle game, ideal for a serene evening. It's easy-to-understand mechanics invite players to settle into an enjoyable rhythm, creating a peaceful yet captivating experience. The vibrant artwork and well-crafted components elevate the overall appeal, making it a joy to immerse in.
Although Pergola may not satisfy every gaming enthusiast—especially those seeking deep, strategic challenges—it beautifully caters to those attracted to gardening and nature themes. If you’re intrigued by the essence of Pergola but crave slightly more strategic depth, consider exploring Earth, which introduces a more complex puzzle element. Another compelling option is Forest Shuffle, which combines strategy with thematic richness.
Ultimately, Pergola brings a refreshing charm to board games, promoting creativity and encouraging a laid-back gaming atmosphere. Whether you're a veteran player or a newcomer to board games, Pergola offers a delightful adventure into garden design, enriching your game nights for years to come.
You can find out more about the game and get your own copy at the link below:
If you want to find out more about the other games mentioned in this article you can find them below:
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