"It was our darkest hour. The warnings, the desperate cries … Nobody wanted to hear them. Until it was almost too late. When almost only burned soil was left. We were not saved by ourselves. It was the trees. As if they knew what the hour has struck. They showed us what mattered. But we understood and embraced them. Now we know what to do and help. As good as we can. With those few technologies that we have left. With new natural technologies that we gained from the Arbors. Green energy and oxygen are needed to overgrow burned soil with live-giving greenery. To find hope in our new world of Overgrown …"
(Dr. Ayleen Espero, specialist on oxygen)
In Planta Nubo players grow energy-rich flowers and plants in cloudy gardens – the treetops of the Arbors. Deliver them to bee-like airships which transport them to the biomass converters to be transformed into green energy. Sow woods on the freshly harvested soil. Energize helpful modules while your woods, your bots and the Arbor produce desperately needed oxygen. Make good use of your tools to perform actions and use your garden bot to help you grow flowers. Supply your platform bot with energy to use modules and operate Oxyfarms. Turn your Arbor into the best oxygen production facility! If you produce the most oxygen by the end of the game you win!
—description from the designer
- UB Rosenberg pedigree
- Tree/nature theme is trending and appealing
- Very long play expectations; may vary in length
- tree growth and oxygen production
- Forest / ecological growth with oxygen emphasis
- eco-management with tree-building
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Multi-use action cards — Cards serve multiple purposes and support engine building.
- Resource/oxygen economy — Players produce oxygen to win; economy intertwines with actions.
- Tree-based / nature theme — Tree growth and environmental emphasis as core engine.
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- The theme seems fairly unique
- Looks adorable, looks really nice
- Stock market manipulation game
- two-player Co-op trick taking
- barista theme
- asymmetric guilds
- dynamic economic structure
- Malala-like system
- Tech trees
- the world is crumbling around you
References (from this video)
- novel track mechanism not seen before
- engaging push-pull between adding components and progressing on the track
- strong thematic presentation and flavor
- heavy weight may be a barrier for lighter gamers
- potentially longer playtime
- eco-architecture and canopy living
- cities perched on giant tree canopies
- heavy euro-style engine with strong thematic flavor
- Parks
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- central polyomino area — A central polyomino area represents city-building within the tree canopy.
- circular energy track — A circular track around the edge of the tree city; moving the energy token around charges abilities.
- energy tokens and track slowdown — Advancing on the track slows progress when adding new elements, creating a push-pull dynamic.
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- I'm not going to do anything bad. Here's a question for you real quick.
- And by the way, a little gift for all of you. It's been raining like biblical proportions in Los Angeles.
- Fully simultaneous. So you're never really waiting for the other player.
- I never win these heavy games but I won my first play of a fairly fairly heavy game.
- This is a dueling game that leaves no question as to whether or not it's a dueling game because it has duel in the title.
References (from this video)
- brilliant worker placement design
- unique tool-based action selection
- charming theme
- vibrant presentation
- robot ability underused
- grid strategy not fully realized
- post-apocalypse
- peace with nature
- tree-top living
- Splum
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- one of the best if not the best boss battler out there
- this is the must get expansion if you're only going to get one
- you've never seen dragons quite like these they are stunning
- Simone Luciani strikes again
- freaking brilliant
- one of my top three favorite Thematic settings in board games
- live the best life you can
- be the best human being you can
- probably my game of the year
- there is no way it doesn't make it into my top 10 of the year