Nemeton

BLAM !, Giant Roc · Board game · 2018
7.6 Ludopedia 6.9 BGG 2–4 · best 3 75 min Weight 2.5/5
Buy · from US$ 42.63
7.6 rating Ludopedia
6.9 rating BGG
Our Verdict
RECOMMENDED

Nemeton is a game that embraces you with a charming theme and a modular board exploration mechanic that works really well. If you like the idea of being a druid saving a magical forest, crafting potions, and interacting with animals, you'll feel right at home. It's a relaxing experience, yet with interesting strategic decisions each turn, perfect for those looking for something different without being overly complex.

Highlights
  • Immersive and captivating theme
  • Dynamic modular board
  • Exploration and set collection mechanics
  • Interaction with animal spirits
  • Well-defined turn flow
Keep in mind
  • Can be a bit repetitive
  • Limited player interaction
  • Initial learning curve
Rules manual not indexed yet Upload the PDF rulebook to ask questions about this game with AI.

About the game

What you do in a play session

In Nemeton, the forest is under a terrible curse, and it's up to you, one of the last druids, to answer the call of the animals and save it! Over ten turns, representing ten moons, your mission is to explore the grove, craft powerful potions, and summon animal spirits to accumulate as many reputation points as possible and become the great protector of nature. Each turn is divided into four dynamic phases: Night, Dawn, Day, and Dusk, ensuring you always have something to do. At night, you invoke lunar energy to grow sacred plant essences. This is done by adding a forest tile to the board, connecting it to other tiles of the same type (river, clearing, rock, or earth) to activate specific resources. At dawn, the tile you just placed is flipped to its 'Day' side, revealing new paths to sacred places like oaks, springs, or the mystical Nemetons. If you find one of these locations, you add the corresponding tile to the board, further expanding the forest. During the day, your druid moves across the board, collecting resources, crafting potions at Nemetons, or gaining the trust of animals. Exploration is full of choices: you can use powers to take winding paths or boost straight movements, but you'll have to decide between regaining your movement power or earning triskels for extra points. There's even a chance to transform into a crow with the archangel plant and fly to any oak tile! Summoning animal spirits grants you special powers, like swapping resources or creating shortcuts. At dusk, if you've performed good deeds to heal the forest, you mark an objective, gaining resources and bonus points at the end of the game, especially if you're the first to complete the task. At the end of the ten moons, points are tallied: potions, objectives, animal streaks, and triskels all contribute to your reputation. The druid with the most points is the winner and the new protector of the forest!

Rules videos

Learn by watching before you open the box

1 videos

Best player count

BGG community vote

2–4 players
2 BEST
3 BEST
4 REC

Soundtrack

Ambience suggested by Melodice

Loading playlist...

Where to Buy

Prices monitored daily

Finding best prices...

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Prices and availability subject to change.

Game details

Mechanics, categories, families and credits

Families

Animals: Deer / Antelope Animals: Fish / Fishes Animals: Owls Animals: Snakes Theme: Druids Theme: Nature Theme: Trees and Forests
Publisher BLAM !, Giant Roc
Designer Johann Favazzo
Artist ann&seb

Community

Data from BoardGameGeek

950owners
327wishlist
34want to play

Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers before you buy

7 questions
Is Nemeton a very complex game? Who is it for?
Nemeton has a medium weight (2.5/5 on BGG), which means it's not super simple, but it's not overly complicated either. It's great for those who already have some experience with board games and are looking for something with more depth than an entry-level game, but without the extreme complexity of a heavy eurogame. Perfect for families who play a lot or groups of friends who want a strategic and thematic experience.
How many players can participate and what is the playing time?
Nemeton is designed for 2 to 4 players, and a game typically lasts around 75 minutes. This makes it an excellent option for a shorter game night or to fill that gap between larger games.
Is the board always the same or does it change each game?
One of the coolest things about Nemeton is its modular board! Each game, you'll assemble the forest in a different way using the forest tiles. This ensures high replayability, as each game offers new paths and exploration challenges.
What is the main objective of the game?
Your goal is to accumulate as many reputation points as possible over ten turns. You do this by exploring the forest, collecting resources, crafting potions, summoning animal spirits, and completing objectives. Whoever has the most reputation at the end saves the forest and wins!
Is there any player interaction?
Interaction in Nemeton is more indirect. You'll be competing for the same resources and objectives, and the order in which things are done can impact others' plans. There's no direct combat, but the race for points and optimizing your actions create a healthy tension at the table.
Are the components of good quality?
Generally, games with this theme and publisher tend to have good quality components, with illustrations that help immerse you in the theme. The forest tiles and tokens are made to be handled frequently, ensuring durability and a pleasant tactile experience.
Does Nemeton have expansions or additional content?
To find out about expansions or additional content, it's always a good idea to check the official game page on BoardGameGeek. There you'll find all the information about what has already been released and what might be coming to further enrich your forest experience.

Other Games You'll Like

Based on mechanics and theme

8 games