In Herbaceous, herb collectors compete to grow and store the most valuable medley of herbs. Everyone starts with four containers, each of which allows a different grouping action:
Group herbs of same type
Group different types
Group pairs
Group any three types (same or different)
On your turn, you draw a herb, then decide to either keep it in your personal collection or put in into the communal pile. If kept, the next card goes to the communal pile; if placed in the communal pile, the next card goes in your personal collection.
At the start of your turn, you can decide to use a container. If so, you assemble cards from personal and communal spaces, group them, then turn them all over. You have then "collected" those and can't use the container again.
At the end of the game, collectors determine the best collection as a combination of value from their collection, matching herbs, and herb sets.
- Beautiful illustrations
- Approachable for non-gamers
- Solid solo and multiplayer options
- botanical tableau building
- Nature-themed plant collection
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- set-collection — Collect plant sets to score points; simple, nature-themed play.
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- the mere mortal tier I'm talking about people that have either no board gaming experience at all or at most they've played Monopoly Uno or maybe Katan
- the perfect uh game to introduce to someone to the Rand W genre
- this is the perfect game to introduce someone to the Roll & Write genre
- this is a great option especially if you know that they like card games or nature
- I've seen people draw some gorgeous Maps
- this game made me feel all smart and stuff
- Everdale is a fantastic puzzle
References (from this video)
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
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Quotes (from this video)
- stats don't lie
- we love this game
- it's the perfect game to introduce people to worker placement
- the stats don't lie
References (from this video)
- cited as an example of simple design
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
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Quotes (from this video)
- Print-and-play as a living document, you can improve it and share freely.
- It's out of necessity; in rural Japan there aren't a lot of testers, Board Game Geek is the community.
- The threads in the design forums are a really nice community for feedback.
- Kickstarter is an end-stage tool; you need all the building blocks in place first.
- Eight years to finish a one-card game; persistence pays off.
References (from this video)
- Ultra-simple rules and very relaxing play
- Beautiful artwork and soothing theme
- Solo mode is very light and may lack depth for some players
- Set collection with plant types and colors
- Garden plant collection
- Calm, relaxing family-friendly puzzle
- Dixit (artistic gameplay mood)
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- set collection and pattern building — Collect plant types and form sets for scoring
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- it's very thematic, basically a gamification of the process of creating a character in DND
- the AI opponent is very smooth and doesn't take a lot of upkeep
- it's one page front and back, that's it very, very simple rules
- this is known as a raw and ripe game and it's a pretty beloved genre
- the universe games come with mini expansion modules that add replayability
- an 18-card masterpiece
- print this right here to turn it into a flip and ride game
References (from this video)
- Provides practical cost analysis for publishing a game
- Realistic framing of shipping and CBM
- Some information is publisher-specific and may not generalize
- Lacks detailed game-specific mechanics beyond high-level concepts
- Garden planning and herb collection
- Gardening / herb garden theme
- Informational / business-focused discussion
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- hand management — Managing a hand of herb cards to optimize scoring.
- set collection — Players collect herbs to score points.
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- it's hugely important if i sell every copy that i printed and the rest like literally don't sell
- you might not sell all of it
- this number here is based on this number here let me use a different color here just to let's go with a blue
- the main thing i'd call out here when you're thinking about this that you really want to keep in mind and think about is
- look you can make this your own so if you go to file it's make a copy you make a duplicate you can edit it
- shipping costs are crazy right now how do we maximize what we put on the boat
References (from this video)
- easy to learn and teach
- twist on a Biblios-like mechanic with central garden pressure
- light weight; limited depth for hobby players
- some players may find the central garden pressure predictable
- set collection with a garden-building motif
- garden-themed card drafting
- light, family-friendly abstraction with garden-y flavor
- Biblios
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- deck-drafting / card distribution — draw and place cards into personal or communal areas, caching to complete sets
- set collection — collect cards to form sets either in your own garden or the communal garden
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- it's a pure abstract very family weight game
- I like it a lot
- gorgeous looking game with some amazing production choices
- the drafting system is much more streamlined
- they are all for the better
- it's a bit of a cult favorite
References (from this video)
- herbal garden set collection
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
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Quotes (from this video)
- we are having a giveaway yes yes from inside up games yes yes summit
- Summit is so thematic
- it's a gateway game
- we're going to meet people at the Cardboard Caucus
References (from this video)
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
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Quotes (from this video)
- it's a beautiful kind of story
- you need to play with the right group
- it's not cute
- it's like comfort food games
- the rules are simple
- oh my god it's so good
- it's a ramp... chaos
- this is an easy one to just flick some discs around
References (from this video)
- Easy to learn
- Relaxing theme and presentation
- Good for lighter play sessions
- Luck of draw affects timing
- Interaction is limited
- Relaxed garden planning and herb matching
- Pastoral herb garden; selecting and planting herbs
- Calm, simple, observational
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- card drafting — On your turn you draw two cards with a choice to keep one in your private garden and place the other in the middle; this creates tension around timing and shared access.
- Pattern/set fulfillment — Players aim to fulfill specific herb combinations from their kept cards.
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- it's simple rules it looks really nice and doesn't take long to play
- really chill
- the chillest games that we could find
- this is just perfect when you don't want to think too much
- it's so freaking chill
References (from this video)
- beautiful artwork and a quick, engaging play
- interesting simultaneous planning with evolving objectives
- satisfying thematic fit for art and garden lovers
- requires good interaction to sustain longevity
- depends on group dynamic; some players may underperform
- botanical and landscape painting with an objective-based push
- garden/landscape painting focused on seasonal themes
- interpretive art puzzle
- Inside Sunset Over Water
- Herbaceous
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- card drafting and action selection — each round you select a card that determines your action for the round
- Objective Cards — public goals influence which paintings you attempt
- Simultaneous reveal — rounds are quick and players reveal their choices at once
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- this is one of my favourite rolling right games
- it's so simple idea and it works brilliantly
- amazing production with all these marbles
- the combinations are what separate winners from losers
- the simultaneous like action selection and the artwork is stunning as well
- you could play it with as many players as you want really