Arboretum Strategy Card Game Just $12 on Amazon (Regularly $22)

This is a fun game to play and is easy to learn. The artwork is delightful. The rules are simple and straightforward, and the rule book very adequate. But boy is this game cutthroat! I did not expect that. While playing I got the sense it would be a high-scoring game, but as we neared the end I realized many of us would not be able to score many of our series, and this turned out to be true. Of course, that just means that Arboretum’s strategy is layered, which makes it more fun.

I got this game because someone got me a jigsaw puzzle of it and I really was intrigued. So I got it. The quality of the game materials is fantastic. The premise and play style of the game is quite original and inventive. And it plays well, too. I can’t remember how many times I’ve previously bought a new card game only to find it boring and poorly conceived.