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Description
In Pergola, players develop their gardens, grow new plants, and attract insects and small animals. On their turn, a player chooses one of the four available tools, picks the presented items, and arranges them in their garden. Then they perform the action corresponding to the chosen tool. Since players have a lot of freedom in arranging plants in their gardens, after fifteen rounds each garden looks completely different and scores differently. The player who accumulates the most points wins.
—description from the publisher
Year Published
2025
Featured Videos
Transcript Analysis
Browse transcript mentions, sentiments, pros/cons, mechanics, topics, quotes, and references.
Total mentions: 13
This page: 13
Sentiment:
pos 12 ·
mix 1 ·
neu 0 ·
neg 0
Showing 1–13 of 13
Video tN9G02prF08
Let's Table It game_review at 0:21 sentiment: positive
video_pk 61819 · mention_pk 154478
Click to watch at 0:21 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Beautiful floral art and components
- High replayability due to many scoring options
- Smooth gameplay loop
- Relaxing, puzzly experience
- Easy to learn but with depth for strategic play
- Good for players who enjoy varied strategies
Cons
- May be challenging for brand-new players
- Iconography can be non-intuitive
- Turn choices can be overwhelming for analysis-paralysis-prone players
Thematic elements
- Cozy, nature-themed garden-building with scoring through diverse flowers and insects
- Garden/botanical environment with flowers, insects, water elements
- Relaxed, puzzle-like, informative
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Compound Scoring — Multiple flower types and three insect types with different scoring methods
- Diverse scoring — Multiple flower types and three insect types with different scoring methods
- Flower planting phase — Plant flowers with varying scoring methods
- Iconography and tracking — Player aids help track scoring, though icons can be non-intuitive
- Movement actions — Move bugs, jump frog as part of actions
- point salad scoring — Varied scoring options contributing to final score
- Resource gathering and actions — Gaining resources pictured on the tool and performing the corresponding action
- Resource management — Gaining resources pictured on the tool and performing the corresponding action
- Resource types — Leaves, insects, water droplets, and bugs are collected/gained
- Tool selection from central display — Choose a tool that provides resources and an action for the turn
- Track advancement — Player aids help track scoring, though icons can be non-intuitive
- Turn loop and pacing — Pick tool, gain resources, take action, then pass/return
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- Pergola is what I'd call a cozy little brain burner.
- This is honestly one of the prettiest games on our shelf.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video 1Zo6ja94dHw
game_review at 0:01 sentiment: positive
video_pk 61450 · mention_pk 154119
Click to watch at 0:01 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Beautiful artwork and high-quality components
- Puzzly and highly interactive with multiple scoring avenues
- Clear guidance on maximizing points while balancing options
- Replayability across player counts due to varying tool sets
- Strong thematic integration with garden and insect concepts
Cons
- Complex due to numerous options, which can feel overwhelming for new players
Thematic elements
- Garden cultivation and insect resource management tied to scoring
- Garden/insect ecosystem with a central pond and garden plots
- instructional/descriptive
Comparison games
- Meadow
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- action selection — Players choose tools to take actions and gather resources, with actions available based on tool order and color by player count.
- central board interactions — A pond with a frog and dragonflies drives some actions; progress on the central board unlocks additional scoring opportunities.
- resource collection — Collect various flowers, insects, and other garden items to populate your garden and score points.
- scoring through sets and patterns — Points come from color sets, plant types, bees, and other arrangements on flowers and garden elements.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- Pergola. And this game to me is such a delight.
- The artwork is beautiful.
- It's puzzly. You're trying to get everything to its most efficient so that you can get the most points and use things in the smartest way possible.
- I love pergola. It's puzzly. It's beautiful.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video TX2Z-LJa0fE
Unknown Channel general_discussion at 0:00 sentiment: positive
video_pk 60844 · mention_pk 153282
Click to watch at 0:00 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Beautiful box art with a detailed nature theme.
- Excellent, well-organized insert and trays for components.
- Nice quality components and color coordination.
- Solo variant introduced with 10 challenges (variety and replayability).
- Rulebook references a helpful rule explanation video.
- Strong emphasis on box and component presentation adds to overall appeal.
Cons
- Preference for double-sided boards noted; single-sided boards may limit variability.
Thematic elements
- Array
- Garden
- informative
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Mechanics unknown.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- Okay, let's just take a second to appreciate the box art here. Um I just love the level of detail of all of this uh nature kind of theme.
- I cannot wait to to dig into this.
- Wow. Very nice.
- I do prefer if it was double-sided. Unless that, you know, there's a gameplay effect for why one side does not have, you know, the pretty stuff.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video TE0xKYB6luQ
Board Gaming Doctor game_review at 15:52 sentiment: mixed
video_pk 43012 · mention_pk 130845
Click to watch at 15:52 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
mixed
Pros
- visually appealing with strong digital implementation on Arena
- in-person play could enhance depth and appreciation
Cons
- not deeply strategic; replay depth limited
- desire for more depth may push players toward heavier titles
Thematic elements
- botanical drafting with predetermined scoring goals
- garden/garden-structure with plants and insects
- applejack-like strategic drafting with changing goals
Comparison games
- Bonsai
- Applejack
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- action tile drafting — Draft tiles to place plants and bugs according to scoring criteria.
- Compound Scoring — Arranging elements to meet fixed goals across rounds.
- influence by predetermined scoring criteria — Arranging elements to meet fixed goals across rounds.
- Track advancement — A choosable water track branches outcomes and insect selection.
- variable track progression — A choosable water track branches outcomes and insect selection.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- the biggest downside for me for Finsspan was the ratio between the complexity of this game versus the time length
- I would rather play Wingspan in a relatively quickly pace with gamers who knew Wingspan as well rather than play this game for 45 to 60 minutes
- This game is somewhat simple to teach but it does offer a little bit of complexity
- Visually, I think this game plays a lot like Bonsai
- Hey, that's My Fish—catchy title for my daughter as well
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video UbhQ2Nctx68
Unknown Channel game_review at 6:32 sentiment: positive
video_pk 30923 · mention_pk 91194
Click to watch at 6:32 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- absolutely beautiful production with high-quality components
- zen-like relaxing vibe; table presence is strong
- great freedom in placement creating unique gardens each game
- dual-action choice (tool + board) provides satisfying decision space
- lanterns and other modifiers add depth and end-game scoring options
- excellent organization and storage solutions in the box
- variety of backgrounds per player adds visual distinction
Cons
- limited player interaction; potential for multiplayer solitaire feel
- replay value may wane after exploring a couple main strategies
- some minor nitpicks about box/token layout and scorepad orientation
- beginners may wish for clearer token placement diagrams
- end-game scoring can feel intricate and may require careful planning to optimize
Thematic elements
- Gardening, ecology, and garden architecture with decorative elements
- Backyard garden with a pergola, plants, bees, and butterflies
- Instructional/observational description of building a garden and scoring
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- action selection via a tool-row and fixed-board actions — On your turn you choose a tool and perform the actions available on that tool plus the corresponding fixed-board actions beneath it.
- asymmetric scoring resources — Butterflies, ladybugs, dragonflies, and other tokens provide varying scores depending on position and pairings.
- Compound Scoring — Butterflies, ladybugs, dragonflies, and other tokens provide varying scores depending on position and pairings.
- end game bonuses — End-game scoring adds bonuses and uses several scoring tracks (color variety, completeness, and placement advantage).
- end-game bonuses and dynamic scoring — End-game scoring adds bonuses and uses several scoring tracks (color variety, completeness, and placement advantage).
- insect/animal movement and placement — Butterflies, bees, ladybugs, and frogs move between spaces, be relocated, or placed to maximize points.
- player interaction level — Head-down play with limited direct interaction, promoting a multiplayer solitaire feel for many players.
- Positive player interaction — Head-down play with limited direct interaction, promoting a multiplayer solitaire feel for many players.
- set-collection and level-based scoring — Scores are earned by completing sets of items at different levels and by the value of items based on level height.
- special actions via lanterns and modifiers — Lanterns and similar modifiers add temporary or extended actions, enabling rule-breaking or reactive moves.
- stacking/height mechanic — Some pieces score more points when placed at higher levels, encouraging strategic elevation.
- token management and storage design — The game uses trays and a map-back box to organize components; tokens are stored and deployed as actions occur.
- variable board element placement — Garden components (flowers, leaves, insects) can be placed across the board with flexible positioning, affecting scoring paths.
- Variable Set-up: Board — Garden components (flowers, leaves, insects) can be placed across the board with flexible positioning, affecting scoring paths.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- absolutely beautiful production.
- This is sort of a zen-like relaxing game.
- the freedom to build your garden any way you want.
- it's a nice, pleasant game to look at, a pleasant game to play.
- multiplayer solitaire, knitting circle game, stuff like that.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video qRoiElcVShA
Table Scraps general_discussion at 8:30 sentiment: positive
video_pk 29748 · mention_pk 87327
Click to watch at 8:30 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Fun for younger kids; physical components are engaging
Cons
- Requires some dexterity; may frustrate very small children
Thematic elements
- dexterity and memory with chunky components
- Bird-themed egg hunting and color matching
- playful and fast-paced with tangible interaction
Comparison games
- Animal Upon Animal
- Rhino Hero
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Memory/dexterity — Players scoop eggs by color and location as they remember and race
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- it's so amazing when you get your younger kids into gaming as I've experienced when they get older and then they could sit there and paint 40k miniatures with them and they talk about the lore
- there's no one tried-and-true way that's the right way to do it
- it's the stories and the experiences that you share together that is what you're gonna keep and treasure
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video EnOMKLo9kOM
BoardGameGeeek top_10_list at 2:56 sentiment: positive
video_pk 11196 · mention_pk 32927
Click to watch at 2:56 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- beautiful production value and theming
- cozy, relaxing vibe with underlying strategic depth
- good fit as a light, end-of-night game for couples
Cons
none
Thematic elements
- garden planning, floral scaping, and pollinator stewardship
- end-of-day gardening theme, cozy backyard garden ambiance
- calm, cozy, relaxing with bright visual appeal
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- drafting — players draft a tool or shovel to gain resources for their garden.
- player-board engine/build — place garden pieces and populate your garden for scoring and synergy.
- set collection / color matching — collect sets of flowers of different colors and types to maximize scoring.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- This is a fun one. It's cozy. It's relaxing but there is strategy and stuff like that and it looks like super beautiful.
- I love this game so much. It's a perfect big group family game.
- Inish is back in hotness and that's because there is a big box version with a new expansion that's on crowdfunding right now.
- The art and the production value seems so top tier.
- It's a solo campaign now, and that makes me color me more intrigued.
- Fate of the Fellowship is so good. We played a four-player game and it was freaking incredible, y'all. Epic, man.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video Lh5J04qPJDw
Stommy Games general_discussion at 0:03 sentiment: positive
video_pk 10830 · mention_pk 31960
Click to watch at 0:03 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Engaging action-selection system (paired actions)
- High player agency with placement decisions
- Beautiful component production and garden aesthetics
- Strong alignment between theme and mechanics (placement feels meaningful)
Cons
- Some ambiguity around refill/shuffle mechanics for spades in the video (refill behavior could be clarified)
Thematic elements
- Nature, garden design, growth and aesthetics as core mechanics
- Garden/flower garden setting where players cultivate flora and manage their garden layout
- Abstract/mechanistic garden-building theme
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- action_selection (spade-based) — Players choose one of several spades to gain the benefits on that spade and activate the paired action/area associated with it.
- paired_actions — Each spade provides an immediate benefit plus an additional paired action benefit tied to the chosen icon.
- set collection — You collect flower tokens as a set collection objective, with spatial placement choices on your garden mat influencing strategy and aesthetics.
- set_collection_with_spatial_placement — You collect flower tokens as a set collection objective, with spatial placement choices on your garden mat influencing strategy and aesthetics.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- My favorite mechanism are is the action selection system.
- the action selection system... it's a great use of that.
- there isn't like a designated space on my mat to put a flower. I can put the flower anywhere I want on my garden mat.
- Board Game Arena managed to simulate that by letting you click on your mat is where the thing is placed, which I thought was really cool.
- it's a neat paired action selection system that is very very satisfying.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video WrR3wn3DGWQ
Dice Tower top_10_list at 19:10 sentiment: positive
video_pk 7430 · mention_pk 21993
Click to watch at 19:10 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- elegant and compact
- great entry for puzzle lovers
Cons
- less thematic; more puzzle-driven
Thematic elements
- tending and arranging a garden with tokens
- garden-themed puzzle with simple, elegant tokens
- calm, satisfying, aesthetically pleasing
Comparison games
- Meadow
- Cascadia
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- token drafting to action board — draft tokens and place them to act; sequencing matters.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- This one's very quick. It's very quick to play and to teach.
- There are player interactions, but it doesn't feel mean.
- The narrative is so well written. The actual boss battling part is gripping.
- Above and Below Haunted gave it a little more oomph. Ghosts add consequence.
- It feels like a video game in board game form; very smooth and substantial.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video WrR3wn3DGWQ
Dice Tower top_10_list at 38:09 sentiment: positive
video_pk 7430 · mention_pk 21977
Click to watch at 38:09 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- elegant, compact design
- great for quick, satisfying play sessions
Cons
- not thematic-heavy; more puzzle than theme
Thematic elements
- tending a garden with garden tool analogies
- garden-themed puzzle where tokens are drafted to your board
- calm, contemplative
Comparison games
- Meadow
- Cascadia
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- token drafting and action selection — draft tokens to perform actions on a personal board; sequencing matters.
- turn sequencing/puzzle — order and placement of tokens create a puzzle about maximizing scoring opportunities.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- This one's very quick. It's very quick to play and to teach.
- There are player interactions, but it doesn't feel mean.
- The narrative is so well written. The actual boss battling part is gripping.
- Above and Below Haunted gave it a little more oomph. Ghosts add consequence.
- It feels like a video game in board game form; very smooth and substantial.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video WrR3wn3DGWQ
Dice Tower top_10_list at 40:37 sentiment: positive
video_pk 7430 · mention_pk 21984
Click to watch at 40:37 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- compact footprint; pleasant production
- easy entry with satisfying depth
Cons
- not highly thematic; more puzzle than theme
Thematic elements
- garden planning and growth with modular tokens
- boardgarden/visual puzzle with garden-tool motif
- calm, satisfying, aesthetically pleasing
Comparison games
- Meadow
- Parks
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- token drafting into a personal action board — draft tokens to activate actions; tokens determine future actions.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- This one's very quick. It's very quick to play and to teach.
- There are player interactions, but it doesn't feel mean.
- The narrative is so well written. The actual boss battling part is gripping.
- Above and Below Haunted gave it a little more oomph. Ghosts add consequence.
- It feels like a video game in board game form; very smooth and substantial.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video MHCqMqfJAHg
Dice Tower general_discussion at 1:27 sentiment: positive
video_pk 1519 · mention_pk 4359
Click to watch at 1:27 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- cozy, pleasant theme
- easy to teach and learn
Cons
- tray insert lacks a lid, leading to storage/organization issues
Thematic elements
- gardening and growth, point salad-style scoring
- cozy garden layout around a pergola with garden tasks
- light, relaxing, aesthetically pleasing
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- point salad scoring — multiple scoring avenues give varied routes to victory
- tile placement — players place components into a pergola/garden area to score points
- tile placement / placement-based scoring — players place components into a pergola/garden area to score points
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- There is a ton of theme involved.
- The theme is super there. And if you love this idea of a game, go for it.
- it's cozy. It's one of those games that has some cool thinkiness to it.
- placing a number in between two other numbers and collecting one of those numbers that you placed in between of.
- I think that it offers a nice balance between thinking and social interaction.
- the balance and the cool synergies of the engine
- this is one of those cozy games where you can hang out and talk with people
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video iaJjPtxKBXA
Game Night playthrough at 0:00 sentiment: positive
video_pk 9 · mention_pk 10
Click to watch at 0:00 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Beautiful components and art with a luxurious, cozy presentation
- Accessible onboarding with a clear overview to guide scoring
- Multiple, interlocking scoring paths provide depth without sacrificing accessibility
- Strong table presence and thematic consistency that invites long, relaxed sessions
Cons
- Board can feel visually busy and scoring tracks may be hard to parse at a glance
- Rulebook can be dense for newcomers, though the video demonstrates good onboarding through play
- Requires 2–4 players; may feel limiting for solo or higher-player-count groups without expansion
Thematic elements
- Garden design, pollination, and wildlife interaction as a scoring mechanism
- A garden under a pergola where players plant flowers, attract wildlife, and accumulate victory points
- Informative with tutorial-like guidance and playful banter
Comparison games
- Garden Wars (Frog of Doom)
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- action_selection — On a turn, players choose tools or actions from a shared tool pool and then perform a related garden action.
- insect_movement — Insects move along defined paths (frog hops, pond interactions) to relocate or activate garden features.
- resource_management — Bees, butterflies, dragonflies, and other garden elements must be managed and moved to activate scoring mechanisms (jars, lamps, and glasses).
- set_collection — End-game scoring rewards players for completing color lines, color sets, and insect pairings across garden levels.
- tile_placement — Players place plant and ornament tokens onto garden spaces to build scoring structures and unlock insect habitats.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- This is crazy cute.
- Oh, this is beautiful.
- There are three different kinds of garden lights.
- It's not as straightforward as I thought it might be.
- The boards are beautiful. If they weren't as busy though, it would help clarity.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
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