Meadow

This is a wonderful game! Definitely high on our rotation. We've taught quite a few friends to play and it's on the easier end of the spectrum for a Euro game. Playing time is about 1.5 hrs for 3 people. The gameplay is straightforward and definitely leans to the tactical rather than strategic side, as the cards are constantly changing and you have to adapt your plans or be opportunistic. It's a beautiful game (God's creation is amazing)--everything from the card artwork to the box and instructions. It looks great on the table and it's very satisfying building your personal tableau of biomes (or whatever they're called). (We've recently added the Downstream expansion and that has really refreshed and expanded the experience--highly recommended).

Meadow is an incredibly cute game that gets brought to the table time and time again by my family. We have played it roughly 30 times now and it remains fun and exciting each time. Apart from a few exceptions, the gameplay is very balanced. Most games are a nail biter who will end with the most points. The rulebook is a very digestible read and actually points out and addressing questions that come up as you read. Very well written. Where this game truly excels is in its art direction and theme. The artwork is a real treat, I love how it adds to the cozy feel of taking a stroll in the woods or other scenic outdoor location. While some of the cards are a bit lackluster (left in the picture) most are very pleasant and some are absolutely stunning (right in the picture). Sometimes I find myself just trying to play a particular card in my meadow that I like rather than to try to get the most points, and the mechanics don't punish you much for doing so. The drawback is that I wish the cards were a bit larger to fit the art on them better. However, the table gets cluttered enough with all the cards anyway so larger cards sadly wouldn't work. We usually add a leaf to the table to play this game as a result. For those who enjoy an educational aspect to your tabletop gaming, the cards in Meadow include an index number that you can look up for a little bit of information about what the artwork features on the card. I only have a few gripes. First, getting the adjacency bonuses on the campfire board are practically essential if you want to win. Additionally, the house and fence symbols both being exclusive to the west deck (along with landscape and discovery cards until you switch to the north deck) makes it inconsistent to establish those symbols, which can be frustrating.

Great game

Why did you pick this product vs others?: It's very cute and easy to play. I've played it 4 times already and like it. You do need a lot of flat space to play on though.

In Meadow, each player is building a tableau of cards which replicate the ecosystem of a meadow, starting with the various types of terrain, plants, insects, reptiles and amphibians, all the way to top-of-the-food- chain predators, like hawks and wolves. Evidence of human presence is also reflected by cards representing roads, houses, and even interesting artifacts left behind. The art in this game is amazing! Some of the animals pictured are so cute you just want to hug them! The gameplay is challenging, but not overly so. The player always has several options to choose from. The game looks great, and plays great. It has become one of my favorites!

My son loves strategy games. He doesn’t care about the look of the game or if it’s pretty or cute, he just wants killer strategy. You get that in this game. I love a beautiful game that’s fun to look at with pretty components and cards, and also a fun game play. I also love when you’re doing your own thing and not really directly interacting with your opponent’s play area. This suits us both great! The rules were pretty easy to figure out, and we played several times in a row!

This is a gem of a game! If you are at all interested in nature you can't go wrong with this one. The artwork is amazing and no two cards are alike. Not only is the theme incredible, but the flow of the game is fantastic. Lots of options and yet it doesn't see to lead to analysis paralysis like some games can. Our games have been close, but a good part of the fun is building your meadow with so many interesting creatures. It really is the best "Goldilocks" game we've played--it's not too long or too short, it's not too easy or too complicated, it really is "just right." Tremendous replayability. If you enjoy Everdell or Wingspan, I'm pretty confident you would enjoy this game at least as much if not more. It's a keeper!

I’m a huge fan of this game. Wonderful artwork, great mechanics, and very peaceful. I’m getting the expansion now!