Herbaceous Card Game – A Flavorful Set Collection Game of Garden Herbs and Containers by Pencil First Games for 1-4 Players

I got this game mostly for solo play, so I can’t say much about how it is to play with others, but this game is simple and beautiful and relaxing as a solo game. I leave the cards out so they are always handy and will play a round or two when I have 15 min to kill and want to avoid an urge to scroll Facebook or read too much news. It is a super simple set building game that can be played casually or super strategically (I would imagine) if you are a competitive board gamer who spends as much time looking at other people’s business as you do your own. The herb planting theme is well executed, family friendly (for young and old) and also captures the spirit of neighborly competition that can sometimes happen among gardeners. This game is utterly perfect in it’s simplicity. It a great starter/filler game for an organized game night. Also perfect as a fast, accessible game during family gatherings when explaining complicated rules is too much. Love! Turns are simple and fast: All you do is draw a card and place it either in YOUR garden or the Community garden. You draw a second card and must place it in whichever garden you DIDN’T place the first card in. Then the next person does the same. At the beginning of each turn (before drawing cards as above) players can opt to “pot” plants —which is basically collecting herb cards from their own garden and the community garden to create the biggest sets you can that are: all the same kind/one each of as many herbs as possible /as many matching pairs as possible. Bigger sets give more points (scoring is right on the “pot” cards). For SOLO play, it is just a beat your own score (I know some find that unsatisfying). On each turn you draw 3 cards (one at a time) and you choose between playing it in your garden, the community garden or discard pile. There is also a limit to how big (number of cards) the community garden can be.

Floriferous is a beautiful game that is easy to learn with lots of challenging decisions to make. Each game is a little different depending on what Bounty Cards are out and what flowers, colors and bugs show up in the garden. It can be played by 1-4 people but I feel the sweet spot is 2 or 3. With 2 or 3 turns move quickly, decisions are still crucial for winning and the game goes by fast enough that you could easily make it a best of 3 games session. The art is spectacular... the watercolor paintings for this game are what really make it pleasing to play. Highly recommend this one!

Imagine this: you’re not just playing a card game, you’re suddenly a master gardener in a competition to pot the finest herbs. In Herbaceous, it’s less about getting your hands dirty and more about showing off your superior knowledge of where to put that pesky lavender—because apparently, herbs have feelings about containers. The game self-advertises as “flavorful” and relaxing, which, sure, is mostly true—until your friend swoops in and snatches that rosemary you were eyeing for your perfect set of herb cards. Then it’s less of a zen experience and more of a passive-aggressive herb showdown. But hey, it’s all in the spirit of potting glory, right? Each player gets their own Private Garden, where they pretend they have a deep connection with their herbs—mint, dill, sage, the whole gang. You also contribute to the Community Garden, which, spoiler alert, turns into a cutthroat battle zone because everyone’s just waiting to swipe the best picks. It’s like farmer's market day in a trendy Brooklyn neighborhood—calm on the surface, but don’t be fooled, the competition for the basil is real. You’ll also get an identical set of Container Cards to store your herb treasures. Now, these containers aren’t just any run-of-the-mill planters; they come with very particular preferences. One might only want identical herbs, while another is more into variety, as if they have opinions. It’s like playing Match.com for your plants—Do you prefer a monochromatic herb bouquet or a diverse, potpourri of flavors? Points are tallied at the end based on how well you’ve potted your herb cards, but let’s be real—the true victory is lording your superior garden skills over your friends. And if you happen to lose, you can always claim you were going for a minimalist, low-point aesthetic, which is very on-trend, especially here in the U.S. right now. Who needs high scores when your garden looks effortlessly chic? Verdict: A fun, laid-back game where you can pretend you have the green thumb of a farmer's market vendor without getting dirt under your nails. Just keep an eye on that one friend who always takes the last thyme—because in Herbaceous, stealing herbs is the only way to spice up your life.

Love this game! Herbaceous is simple, yet challenging. It is a push your luck type of game, but also set collecting. It is easy to teach and learn. Plays okay at 2, but best at 4. Love the colors and art by Beth Sobel!! Also small game that is portable and easy to take places- coffee shops, game nights, family/friend get togethers.

Played once through - enjoyable, simple but not too simple, doesn't take long to learn and play, about 40 minutes. Probably could replay it in 25min. Beautiful artwork and the games flows well.

Not difficult to learn, very attractive, relaxing yet there is some strategy to this game. I’ve enjoyed playing it. I’ve played it with mixed groups of men and women, but every time I look at it, I think it would be the perfect game for a Sunday afternoon drinking tea with girlfriends.

If you haven’t tried Pencil First games, you are in for a treat. Simple rules, intriguing gameplay and an excellent Solo variant. This is also a beautiful game, Flower illustrations are breathtaking. Despite the decisions, it is also a relaxing game. An incredible production.

Floriferous is a fun little game, especially if you enjoy looking at beautiful flowers. The artwork is fantastic. The game plays pretty quick, at least for the 2 or 3 player option. Instructions are pretty good, did have a thing or two we ended up watching a youtube video to understand. It can also be played solo which is a nice option. Have already played a handful of times & definitely keeping it in the front of the game closet.