The Hanging Gardens

Hans im Glück, Rio Grande Games · Board game · 2008
2–4 · best 2 45 min Weight 1.9/5
8.0 rating Ludopedia
6.8 rating BGG
Buy
8.0 rating Ludopedia
6.8 rating BGG
Our Verdict

If you love landscape design and stacking mechanics, The Hanging Gardens will win you over.

Highlights
  • Creative design
  • Engaging mechanics
  • Historical theme
  • Balanced play
  • Charming aesthetics
Keep in mind
  • Average playtime
  • Memory requirements
  • Moderate complexity
  • Limited components
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
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About the game
Picture yourself as a landscape architect in ancient Babylon, trying to revive the legendary Hanging Gardens. In The Hanging Gardens, each player starts with an empty space and a deck of building cards. Throughout the game, you buy and stack cards in layers, shaping your garden so each level unlocks new resources and bonuses. The "melding and splaying" mechanic lets you align cards so they complement each other, creating combinations that boost your score. Meanwhile, set collection of different card types—towers, fountains, exotic trees—requires you to plan your choices to maximize points at the game’s end. Tile placement also comes into play, as positions on your board can offer extra advantages, like proximity or adjacency bonuses. The deck contains 120 cards, each representing a structure or plant with values ranging from 1 to 10. When stacked, each layer’s value increases proportionally, and if a layer is broken you lose bonuses. At the end, Queen Amyitis decides who deserves the victory palm, based on how impressive your garden is. The game supports 2–4 players, lasts about 45 minutes, and blends strategy, planning, and a touch of creativity. If you enjoy construction games, landscape design, or stacking mechanics, The Hanging Gardens delivers a fun and engaging experience with a historical theme that sparks curiosity.
BEST PLAYER COUNT
2 BEST
3 REC
4 REC
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Game details

Categories

Families

Ancient: Babylon Constructions: The Hanging Gardens of Babylon Digital Implementations: Yucata Mechanism: Partially overlapping cards Theme: Gardening
Publisher Hans im Glück, Rio Grande Games
Designer Din Li Tsan
Artist Harald Lieske
Frequently Asked Questions
How many players can play?
The game supports 2 to 4 players.
How long does a game last?
A typical game lasts about 45 minutes.
What is the complexity level?
The game has moderate complexity, ideal for players familiar with construction games.
What are the main components?
Building cards, player boards, and scoring tokens.
Who is the target audience?
Fans of construction games, landscape design, and historical themes.
Is there a digital version?
Yes, an online version is available on the Yucata platform.
How is final scoring determined?
Queen Amyitis selects the player with the most impressive garden based on accumulated points.