Darktea - Small wins create big victories

Achieve the success you want

Email Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Pinterest RSS RSS You Tube

Subscribe for free updates

  • Success my way
    • Being you
    • Personal Goals
    • Wins
    • What is success?
  • Being me
    • Appearance
    • Health
    • Journalling
    • Mindset
    • Personal Finances
    • Personal Growth
    • Productivity
    • Self care
  • Work Satisfaction
    • Job
    • Making Money
    • Own business / freelance
    • Parenting
    • Volunteer
  • Quality time
    • Board games
    • Days out
    • Photographs
    • Reading
    • Travel
    • Writing
  • Better relationships
    • Colleagues
    • Community
    • Family
    • Friends
    • Online
    • Parenting
  • Enjoy my surroundings
    • Digital
    • Garden
    • Getting organised
    • Getting outside
    • Global
    • Home
  • About
    • Archives
    • Contact me
    • Privacy, Disclaimers & Policies
    • Work with me

Takenoko Board Game Review

August 30, 2019 by Kate Davis Leave a Comment

7shares
Takenoko board game review

In Takenoko* you are a member of the Japenese court who has been given the task of looking after a Giant Panda gifted to the Japanese Emperor. You need to set up a garden, grow bamboo and feed the panda.

The only things I’d heard about the board game before Asmodee sent us a copy* was it is cute, and highly regarded (it has an average rating of 7.3 / 10 on Board Game Geek). Antoine Bauza also designed other classic games including 7 Wonders, Hanabi and Toikado (which I enjoy playing on my tablet).

There are only two pieces that move around the board, so it is a good game to introduce the idea of shared pieces that anyone can move. All the pieces are played to a central board, that you try to influence to meet your objectives e.g. eating bamboo that someone else has grown.

I like the game because I enjoy working together when we're not really working together

B - 10 year old girl
  • Game type

    Takenoko is a themed light strategy game. The theme is a bamboo garden in Japan and each players decisions impact on the game, but some element of chance is introduced through the cards you pick up and the weather you roll each turn.

  • Aim

    The aim is to be the person with the most points at the end of the game.

  • Number of players

    2-4 players

  • Age

    The suggested age is 8+, but my 7 year old son happily plays it, although his turns are not quick.

  • Time to play

    The suggested time is 45 minutes. My experience playing with the children is slightly longer, but under an hour.

Components

The front of the box has a cute picture of a panda walking with an umbrella. There is also different artwork on three sides; the panda, the emperor and the stressed gardener.

The plastic insert is pretty well designed with obvious spaces for all the components. Our games tend to spend a lot of time on their sides either stored on our shelves or when we take them to play with friends. I’ve found the pieces do move around the box, but they are easy to sort out and get the game started.

When you open the box the first component you notice is the bamboo. It is stackable wood pieces painted in three different colours. The player action markers and dice are also wooden.

The panda and gardener are pre-painted plastic miniatures, and blue plastic sticks depict the irrigation channels. Everything else is cardboard of varies thicknesses.

Each player has a board that reminds them of the possible actions each turn, and to collate their loose pieces. Thes boards maybe optional in a game with adults, but I think they are essential in a game with children.

Takenoko board game components

The instruction book starts with a cartoon which explains the theme of the board game. It also explains where the name of the game came from and how to write it in Japanese characters. There is also a list of game materials and I suggest you check this as our game had a miss-printing so one of our improvement tokens is blank.

How to play

Objectives

The aim is to be the person with the most points at the end. You gain points by completing objectives. There are three different types of objectives and you start the game with one of each type:

  • Plots — arrangement of irrigated garden tiles of different colours.
  • Gardener — growing bamboo of a certain number, colour and height.
  • Panda — collecting pieces the panda has eaten of certain colour and number.

Takenoko is interesting as the cards are very different — what the panda eats, garden layout, what you grow.

M - 7 year old boy

You keep your objective cards hidden which means people can’t aim to disrupt your objectives. This could be a good benefit if you’re playing with children as they can focus on working towards their objectives and not worrying that someone will disrupt them.

Takenoko objective cards

Actions

Each person chooses two different actions each turn, which they show by placing markers on the action section of the board.

  • Pick and place a garden tile – pick three, choose one and return the other two to the bottom of the pile.
  • Take an irrigation channel – pick one channel and either play it or store it for later (it is not an action to place it later).
  • Move the gardener — move to any tile in a straight line of where he starts, and grow a piece of bamboo (if the tile is irrigated).
  • Move the panda — move to any tile in a straight line from where it starts, take 1 piece of bamboo and put on your board.
  • Take an objective card — limited to five in your hand

From the second round, weather also has an impact. The weather is randomly decided by rolling a die. This selects an effect you take before your actions:

  • Sun — gain an action
  • Rain — chose to add a piece of bamboo on any irrigated tile
  • Wind — can take two of the same action
  • Storm —move the panda anywhere and gain a piece of bamboo
  • Clouds — take an improvement chip and either play it or store it for later
  • Your choice of weather

Irrigation and Enhancements

The garden tiles are built around a central water feature which provides irrigation water to any tiles touching it. Any tiles outside this ring need to be irrigated by placing irrigation channels from the central water feature. Another way to irrigate a tile is through improvements. There are three enhancements that are either printed on the garden tile or added as an improvement chip following a Clouds dice roll.

  • Enclosure — the panda can’t eat the bamboo
  • Fertiliser — the bamboo grows twice as quickly as a normal tile
  • Watershed — the plot is irrigated without needing irrigation channels
Takenoko irrigation channels and improvement chips

Game play

It is worth noting that there are not even numbers of each colour garden tile and this is reflected in the objective points for each colour, where green generally has fewer points and pink the most. However, this may not be reflected in your game depending on how many garden tiles are placed.

Takenoko is slow at the beginning as you need to lay a certain amount of tiles and grow a certain amount of bamboo before people can start achieving objectives. However, it does speed up, and it is possible for people to meet an objective with each action on their turn.

I’ve only played this game with 7 and 10 year olds and it has been slow, taking longer than the suggested time. They found it difficult to plan ahead and spent a lot of time working out what to do with their actions. They also found it confusing to work out what they’d done in a turn, even with the board and markers. But equally, they have beaten me without me letting them, so their thinking time was effective!

Ending the game and winning

The last round starts when someone completes a certain number of completed objectives e.g. in a 3 player game after eight objectives. That person gets the emperor card which gives them an additional 2 objective points and everyone else has a final turn.

The points on completed objectives cards are totalled and the winner is the person with the highest score.

Do I recommend it?

Takenoko will be a good choice if you want to try a board game that:

  • Involves decision-makingng, and not just rolling die and moving
  • Introduces gaming concepts such as tile placement, set collection and grid movement which are used in lots of other games
  • Keeps people engaged for a longer time

For me it is a maybe game. I like games that are enjoyable for adults and children, and I don’t think I’ll suggest to play Takenoko. However, I’ll be happy to play it if the children suggest it, and as they have both said they really enjoy it. I’m sure I’ll be playing it more in the future.

  • Different ways to score points
  • Cute artwork
  • Stackable bamboo pieces
  • Miniature model panda and gardener
  • Introduces two actions per turn
  • Introduces set collection and grid movement concepts
  • Others can't actively ruin your game
  • Introduces the idea that anyone can move the pieces
  • Long game - at least 45 minutes
  • Turns can be slow
  • Box insert is not great at holding components in places
  • Possible imbalance in scoring e.g. the plot objectives seem harder than the others but for similar points

Other set collection games*

Ticket to ride
Sushi Go Party
Azul
Takenoko
Blue Lagoon
Previous
Next

Other grid movement games*

Santorini
Magic Maze
forbidden-desert
My little scythe
Takenoko
Previous
Next

∗ Disclaimer – I received this game through the Asmodee Blogger Board Game Club. This was a free game in exchange for an honest review. All comments are my own. This post contains affiliate links which means if you buy something I may earn a percentage of the value. However it does not cost you any more.

7shares

Filed Under: Board games Tagged With: board games

About Kate Davis

I'm a working mum of two children, and I'm keen to make the most of what is important to me. This starts by capturing information whether it is a photograph or a task list. I love a process and try to find the most efficient method of doing things from organising photographs to planning a house renovation. I believe everything benefits from being simpler.

Bloglovin' Email Facebook Google+ Instagram LinkedIn Pinterest RSS RSS You Tube

Leave a Reply

avatar
This comment form is under antispam protection
avatar
This comment form is under antispam protection

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

  Subscribe to replies  
Notify of

Welcome

I'm a working mum of two children, and I believe everything benefits from being simpler. Although I'm not as good as I'd like at achieving simplification. I often get caught up on writing lists or planning the most efficient method of achieving things instead. Read More…

Popular this week

  • 23 ideas for the first page of your journal or notebook 23 ideas for the first page of your journal or notebook
  • 15 different types of journals to keep 15 different types of journals to keep
  • How to make my 40th birthday memorable? How to make my 40th birthday memorable?
  • 15 ideas for old diaries and journals 15 ideas for old diaries and journals
  • 9 reasons why it is important to complete tasks 9 reasons why it is important to complete tasks

Recent Posts

  • Family Challenge – Who Solved The Rubik’s Toys First?

    Family Challenge – Who Solved The Rubik’s Toys First?

  • 16 ways to reinvigorate your journal writing

    16 ways to reinvigorate your journal writing

  • Oxford Half Marathon Schools Challenge

    Oxford Half Marathon Schools Challenge

  • Splendor review – a game we love

    Splendor review – a game we love

  • Introducing more healthy habits – my half year review

    Introducing more healthy habits – my half year review

Blogging networks

HIBS100 Index of Home and Interior Blogs
HIBS100
Blogger board game club

I also write at

Environment BritMums Round-up

Subscribe for free updates

  • Home
  • Disclaimers & Policies
  • Archives
  • About
  • Work with me
  • Advertise
  • Contact me

Copyright © 2019 · Genesis Framework* · WordPress

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.Accept Read More
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.

Necessary Always Enabled

Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.

Non-necessary

Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.

wpDiscuz
7shares