Herbaceous Sprouts

Herbaceous Sprouts is a delightful dice game designed by Steve Finn, Eduardo Baraf, and Keith Matejka, with artwork by Beth Sobel. Released in 2019 by Pencil First Games, it accommodates 1 to 4 players aged 8 and above, with a typical playtime of 30 minutes.

Game Overview:

In Herbaceous Sprouts, players take on the role of gardeners aiming to cultivate the most valuable collection of herbs and flowers in a shared community garden. The game combines elements of dice rolling, set collection, and strategic planning.

Components:

• Seed Dice: Representing various herb and flower seeds, each die features different symbols corresponding to specific plants.
• Tool Cards: Provide special abilities to assist in planting and managing seeds.
• Sprout Tokens: Used to mark successfully planted seeds in the garden.
• Community Garden Board: A shared board where players plant their seeds, divided into sections with specific planting requirements.

Gameplay Mechanics:

The game progresses over several rounds, each consisting of three phases:

• Preparing the Tool Shed: The Lead Gardener sets up the tool cards and seed dice for the round.
• Picking and Planting Seeds: Players take turns selecting tool cards and seed dice, adding them to their wheelbarrow. They can then plant seeds in the community garden, aiming to complete specific patterns and earn points.
• Clean Up: Players prepare for the next round or proceed to end-game scoring.

Players must decide whether to plant seeds immediately for quick, lower-point spots or hold onto them for more valuable planting opportunities in subsequent rounds.

Objective:

The goal is to become the Head Gardener by collecting herb and flower seeds and using garden tools to plant them in the community garden, scoring the most points.

Critical Reception:

Herbaceous Sprouts has been praised for its engaging gameplay and beautiful artwork. Its combination of dice manipulation and set collection offers a refreshing experience for both casual and seasoned gamers.