There are a wide variety of nature games but I have yet to play one about mushrooms specifically. Well look no further, because I got my hands on one and am ready to give you some thoughts on it!
Wonder Woods is designed by Eli Thomas Wolf and with art by Simon Duchy. The game is published by Blue Orange Games and plays 2-5 players in approximately 15 mins.
Overview:
Players will explore the magical Wonder Woods with a variety of mushrooms that everyone is looking to collect. Some have more value than others and everyone knows some of the information but no one knows all the information! Use your sneaky bluffing and keen deduction to help determine which mushrooms to add to your harvest!
Gameplay:
Players each start with seven baskets of their color, keeping five and placing two in the center. The four mushroom patches are placed in the center of the table and the mushrooms of each type are placed by number based on the number of players.
The game is played in several rounds. There are two phases, Harvest and Information Exchange. Let’s take a look at each of the phases and what happens in them:
In The Harvest, players will place their baskets in a column on a mushroom patch to fill the column completely. Doing so will let you collect one of that mushroom type. If you cannot, you must choose another mushroom patch or pass turn. This continues until all players have passed and then bonus mushrooms are given out to players with the most baskets in a patch.
Next is the Information Exchange where players may place one of their information cards in their hand face up for everyone to see. If you do so, you will collect one of your baskets from the center of the table to your supply. Doing this gives all other players an extra clue as to what the value of a mushroom may be based on the information they have secretly in their own hands.
The game ends when at least two patches have no mushrooms left. Players finish the harvest phase and then the game ends. Each mushroom patch shows the total amount and then players add up the value of their mushrooms. The player with the most points wins!
Impressions:
This is a cute, simple game that has some of the best small wooden components I have seen for a game at this price point in a while. It is made very well, and the quality right out of the box shows. The game is well designed and illustrated with no complaints from me.
The gameplay in this one is basic bluffing and deduction in a way that introduces that mechanic to players who are new or young at gaming. I love that it does it in a way that isn’t overwhelming but lets players explore it in a fun and still challenging way. Determining the values of the mushrooms and what they may be lets you lean one way or try and fake out players to go another way as well.
Overall I would recommend this one a nice and easy way to explore the world of bluffing and deduction for families or players who enjoy easy-entry level games. Once again Blue Orange Games is bringing a solid addition to the board game world in easy to learn and easy to play games that will help you introduce mechanics to family and friends in a fun way!
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