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Get ready to immerse yourself into a world of fertile and green planets with Evergreen! This innovative board game challenges players to strategically plant seeds and grow trees to build the lushest and most fertile planet possible. With each season, players must make crucial choices by selecting areas of their planet they can develop. Since its release, Evergreen has received widespread praise for its striking artwork and intuitive mechanics. It is more than just "yet another board game". It is an opportunity to learn about ecology and environmentalism in a fun and engaging way.
Designed by Hjalmar Hach and published by Horrible Guild, Evergreen is the spiritual successor to Photosynthesis. It takes its gameplay to a whole new level! Despite Photosynthesis being a beloved game among enthusiasts, Evergreen has exceeded all expectations. Players and critics are raving about the game's change of pace, tableau mechanics, and immersive world-building and strategic challenges. Throughout the game, you will be presented with various options and opportunities to shape your planet. And the stunning artwork will transport you to a world of lush greenery and flourishing nature.
Whether you're playing solo or with friends, Evergreen can accommodate one to four players. This game is suitable for ages 8 and up and has a playtime of 45 minutes.
Making The World A Better Place
Let's dive into the joyful world of Evergreen! Creating the greenest planet is the goal of the game. The game takes place over four seasons and 14 rounds. The seasons are progressively shorter, with 5 rounds in the first, 4 in the second, 3 in the third, and 2 in the fourth.
Each player receives their own Planet Board and adds cylinder marks to reset all the board tracks. Place the sun marker at the top of your Planet Board and rotate it clockwise every season. Based on turn order, players gain points from 0 to 3 at the beginning of each round. Place the biome deck next to the discard pile and create the drafting pool. Finally, create the Fertility Zone by revealing cards from the Biome deck until five fertility icons appear. Now that the game is set up, it's time to play!
Each round has two core phases: Drafting and Performing Actions and Powers. Players choose a Biome Card from the drafting pool during the Drafting Phase. The first player must place the First Player Token on the leftmost card. At the end of a turn, the last remaining card is placed into the Fertility Zone, where Aridity Cards eliminate Biome Fertility Cards. During the Performing Actions Phase, players act simultaneously. You can play one action per turn in the
Biome corresponding to your current card. There are four possible actions to choose and they combine Planting a Sprout and Generic Growth (sprouts grow into small trees that grow into big trees). There are six possible Powers for each Biome card, applicable anywhere on the planet. Powers get stronger as you apply them. You can play action and powers in any chosen order. At the end of each season, you score points for the amount of light collected by your trees and for the size of your biggest forest. Shaded trees do not collect light points. The game ends after the last season. Biomes' fertility and big trees are considered when calculating the final score.
The player with the most points at the end of the game wins!
The Immersive Gameplay Of Evergreen
The game's goal is simple: create the greenest planet possible. Each player takes on the role of a planet builder and must use various mechanics, such as tableau, open drafting, victory points, and pattern building, to create their planet. While the game is easy to learn, it's hard to master, providing players with various ways to plan their path to victory.
Evergreen's standout feature is its fluid and smoothly-paced gameplay; it is truly a delightful experience. Evergreen allows players to plant seeds, grow trees, and add other natural elements to their planet to create a lush ecosystem. Each player chooses from the shared pool of biome cards to determine which areas on their planet they will develop in a particular round. However, the remaining card from the drafting pile makes regions more fertile and, therefore, more valuable.
Players can gain extra actions using nature's power by growing trees, planting bushes, and placing lakes to create a vast forest. Every turn is full of playfulness as players try to maximise their chances of scoring points by making the most of their actions. The gameplay is easy to pick up, with plenty of winning strategies to explore. Players choose from a shared pool of biome cards to determine which areas on their planet they will develop in a particular round. However, the cards not selected in a round make those regions more fertile and, therefore, more valuable. Choosing a specific strategy may penalise players for not considering alternatives, so keeping your options open is essential.
A Unique & Engaging Game For Players Who Love Deep Strategy
Evergreen truly stands out, offering a gameplay experience that is incredibly fluid and smoothly paced while allowing players to create a thriving ecosystem. From the moment you start playing, you'll feel empowered to take charge of your planet and immerse yourself in a peaceful, calming atmosphere. It's the perfect game to unwind after a long and busy day, allowing you to immerse yourself in nature.
What makes Evergreen so captivating is its unique gameplay mechanics. Unlike its sibling Photosynthesis, where all players share the same board, in Evergreen, each player has their own tableau, enabling them to develop their own ecosystem. This feature allows players to tailor their journey to victory, making gameplay engaging and rewarding.
Every time I played Evergreen, everyone wanted to play it again. It's "easy to learn yet hard to master" and gives players a great deal of agency. The game mechanics provide endless opportunities for strategic play, with diverse ways to score points with mutually exclusive opportunities. Choosing a specific strategy may penalise players for not considering alternative ones, making it essential to keep your options open.
Many players have praised Evergreen's fluid, enjoyable, and rewarding gameplay. The game's components are beautiful and practical, and the artwork is simply stunning. The environmental theme is portrayed beautifully, making it a joy to play.
One of the best features of Evergreen is its high replayability. The game is different every time you play, providing a fresh and exciting experience. It's perfect for players who enjoy abstract strategy games, making it a fantastic gateway game.
While Evergreen offers unique and pleasing gameplay, some minor criticisms are worth mentioning. For example, it would be nice to have the first player choose the card where to place the first player token because placing it on the leftmost card can feel arbitrary. Additionally, the game could benefit from including personal goal cards, which could add another layer of strategy to the game. However, these minor issues could be addressed in future game expansions. Another significant critique is that the game lacks strong player interaction, leading to a game that plays like a multiplayer solitaire. Despite these minor issues, Evergreen remains enjoyable and exceptional.
The Perfect Game For Nature Lovers
Are you ready to take on the challenge of creating the greenest planet possible? Evergreen is an exciting and engaging game that will have you returning for more. So, get ready to dive in and experience the joy of building your very own ecosystem!
