# Bonsai

## General Info
- **Year Published**: —
- **BGG Rating**: 9.0
- **BGG Rank**: —
- **Players**: 2-4
- **Duration**: 20-30 min
- **Weight**: —
- **Designers**: Scott Martel Jr.
- **Publishers**: (Unknown)
- **Categories**: Environmental, Puzzle

## Verdict
Perfect for those who love visual puzzles and want a relaxing game with genuine strategy.Absolutely beautiful zen aestheticVery satisfying vertical constructionSimple and intuitive rulesSolo mode with varied challengesPenalty for spare branches can be annoyingLow direct interaction between playersRECOMMENDED

## Description
Ever thought about turning the ancient art of bonsai into a tabletop challenge? In Bonsai, you step into the shoes of a master gardener striving to cultivate the most harmonious and stunning tree to earn a spot in the imperial gardens. The game is essentially a visually stunning puzzle where you build your tree using branch and trunk tiles, attempting to create color patterns (red, green, and yellow) that match the objective cards in play.

The dynamics revolve around strategic choices each turn. You can choose to meditate, picking up cards and tiles available on the board, or focus on cultivating, placing tiles from your personal stock onto your tree. The coolest part is that the tree physically grows upwards, with trunks and large trunks providing a satisfying sense of construction. But it's not just about stacking; precision is key. When you create the right color configuration, you claim the objective card and score points.

As the game progresses, you can add foliage to specific branches, which helps complete patterns but requires careful planning. There's even the option to prune your tree to change a tile's position, though this happens more frequently in the advanced rules. Final scoring is straightforward: you sum up points from objective cards, visible values on the tiles, and community goals. Just be careful not to overgrow; any spare branches that don't contribute to a pattern will cost you points. If you enjoy games with a zen aesthetic that still make your brain work hard to fit the perfect piece, this is for you. For solo players, there are additional scenarios and the dreaded Emperor's Challenge to test your master gardening skills.

## How to Play
Game Objective  
The objective of Bonsai is to cultivate the best possible plant to be chosen for display in the Imperial Gardens. To win, players must score at least 140 points by claiming all 5 available Objectives. Each Objective has different difficulty levels and scoring, and the order of claiming does not matter.  

Setup  
To set up the game, follow these steps:  
  
  Initial Components: Each player receives a Vase token (chosen color), an initial Seishi token (which indicates stock limits), and a Summary card.  
  Place all Bonsai tokens (wood, leaf, flower, fruit) in a common area.  
  Shuffle the Zen card deck and place it face down on the board next to the temple. Draw 4 cards from the top and place them face up on the board.  
  Shuffle the remaining cards (including Scroll if applicable) and place them on top of the deck.  
  Choose 3 random colors and place 3 Objectives of each color next to the board.  
  Each player takes initial tokens from the common stock according to the table in the manual.  
  
Note: For games with fewer players, adjust the number of Objectives as described.  

Game Flow  
The game progresses in turns, clockwise, starting with the oldest player. Each turn includes:  
  
  Action: Choose between Meditate (no specific action) or Cultivate (place tokens on the bonsai).  
  After the action, check if you can claim an Objective.  
  If you claim an Objective, the turn ends and passes to the next player.  
  
During the Cultivate action, players use tokens from their personal stock and Growth cards to add pieces to the bonsai, respecting placement rules.  

Actions and How to Play  
There are two main actions:  

Meditate  
There is no specific action. It is an option to skip cultivation and pass the turn.  

Cultivate  
To cultivate, follow these rules:  
  
  Use tokens from your personal stock and Growth cards to add pieces to the bonsai.  
  Respect placement rules:  
      
      Wood: must touch another wood.  
      Leaf: must touch wood.

## FAQ
### Is the game complex to learn?
Not at all! The basic rules are quite simple and intuitive, making it great for casual gamers.

### How long does a game take?
It's quite fast, usually between 20 and 30 minutes, ideal for a quick gaming session.

### Can I play it solo?
Yes, and it's excellent! There are additional scenarios and the Emperor's Challenge for those seeking a test.

### How many players is it for?
2 to 4 players. The more people, the more competition for the objective cards.

### Are the components high quality?
Yes, the tree pieces and overall art follow the zen theme and are visually very pleasing.