# Ishtar: Gardens of Babylon

## General Info
- **Year Published**: 2019
- **BGG Rating**: 7.0
- **BGG Rank**: #1750
- **Players**: 2-4 (Best with: 3)
- **Duration**: 45 min
- **Weight**: 2.28 / 5
- **Designers**: Bruno Cathala, Evan Singh
- **Artists**: Biboun
- **Publishers**: IELLO, Buró, Devir, Hobby Japan, Hutter Trade GmbH + Co KG, Mancalamaro, MEBO Games, Portal Games
- **Categories**: Ancient
- **Mechanics**: Area Majority / Influence, Rondel, Tile Placement

## Verdict
Perfect for those who enjoy eurogames with a touch of meanness and heavy positioning strategy.Intelligent design by Bruno CathalaDirect and competitive interactionPleasant thematic visualsTight and well-integrated rondelModerate initial learning curveInteraction can be frustrating for someRECOMMENDED

## Description
Grab your shovel and seeds because you've just been hired for the most ambitious task in Mesopotamia! In Ishtar: Gardens of Babylon, designed by the award-winning Bruno Cathala, you step into the shoes of a royal gardener tasked with transforming the dry desert sands into the legendary Hanging Gardens of Babylon. But don't think it's all about planting flowers and relaxing; here, gardening is a game of strategy and territorial dispute.

The core of the game lies in the clever placement of flowers. By positioning them correctly, you don't just beautify the landscape, but also gather precious gems, which serve as the currency for the most powerful actions. With these gems, you can invest in Trees—which serve both to score points and to block the connection between your opponents' flowers, effectively cutting off their progress—or purchase upgrades that make your trees more valuable at the end of the game.

To optimize your production, you'll need to recruit apprentices. These helpers are essential for extracting maximum points from the copses you've created. The dynamics are tense: you must carefully plan your movements on the action rondel to ensure you grab the gems before others and that your apprentices are in the right place at the right time. Can you balance the expansion of your garden with the strategic sabotage of your rivals to be crowned the city's finest gardener? The competition is fierce, and every tile placed could be the difference between a glorious garden or just a pile of sand.

## FAQ
### Is the game too complex?
It has a medium weight (2.27 on BGG). It's not extremely heavy, but it requires planning and attention to player interactions.

### How long does a game last?
Usually around 45 minutes, making it quite dynamic for the amount of strategy it offers.

### Does it work well with 2 players?
Yes, the game supports 2 to 4 players, maintaining competitiveness even in smaller groups.

### What is the main goal?
To accumulate the highest score by planting flowers, placing trees, and utilizing apprentices in the copses.

### Is it suitable for someone who has never played Eurogames?
It's a great next step for those who know the basics, but might be a bit challenging for complete beginners to the genre.

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