🌿 Pergola: You Can Have a Garden Too (Even in a Flat!)
⭐ 10/10
Players: 1–4
Playtime: approx. 45–60 min
Difficulty: Junior-friendly
(easy to grasp even for beginners!)
Game Type: Logic, Family, Strategy Mechanics: Drafting, Tile Placement, Set Collection, Engine Building
“If your mind is like a garden, you can observe it, pull weeds, and plant flowers." – R. Hanson
For me, this game is a total trip back to my childhood and the vibe of family allotment gardens. Anyone who has ever been to the famous Polish RODOS knows the deal – it’s about designing your own little world where every neighbor has a different vision for their kingdom. One person grows magnolias, another focuses on lavender, and you can feel that specific, warm peace in the air. Pergola captures this perfectly—we design a garden that is truly "ours," warm, and incredibly relaxing.
🎯 What is this game about?
You take on the role of a gardener who passionately plants hollyhocks, magnolias, lavender, and clematis. Your task is to create a composition so beautiful and functional that it attracts as many insects as possible: butterflies, bees, and ladybugs.
🎯 Goal of the game
You must earn as many points as possible by optimizing the placement of your plants and luring the right creatures onto them. In the solo variant, your goal is to complete 10 specific challenges and fight for the Platinum Supergardener Badge.
🃏 How does a turn look?
A turn is quick and logical, like a clean snip of the pruning shears—it consists of 4 steps:
Choose a tool: You pick one of four tools, which indicates which plants or insects you collect.
Beautify the garden: You plant your greens and place insects on your board.
Perform an action: You carry out the action assigned to the slot where you took the tool from, such as water droplet movement, frog jump, or bird flight.
Clean up: Fill the gap with a new tool and place the used one in your personal flowerpot.
🏆 How to win?
The game ends after 15 turns. The winner is the person who earned the most points from their plants, insects, lantern bonuses, honey jars, and cascade rewards.
🌿 Why does this game work so well?
Junior-friendly: The manual is written very clearly—even with minimal experience, you get the rules immediately.
Engaging & Addictive: Simple instructions lead to a deep and immersive experience.
Ideal for Solo Evenings: It is the ultimate choice for a quiet, focused night in.
Replayability: Every garden looks and feels different every time you play!.
Zero nastiness: No one tramples your flowerbeds—the lack of negative interaction makes the game pure relaxation.
Production: Gorgeous watercolors and a functional insert from Game Trayz make setup a breeze.
💀 Why might someone not like it?
If you're looking for bloody battles and burning enemy villages, you won't find that here—this is a game about peace and creation.
Some might find (like me! ;) 15 turns a bit too short to realize all their crazy gardening plans.
✨🧀 The "RODOS" Corner 😄
Finally, a garden where the neighbor doesn't peek over the fence, and you don't have to attend allotment board meetings to vote on whether you're allowed to plant pelargoniums! ;).
Translation Note: In Poland, we call these allotment gardens "RODOS." It’s a cheeky acronym that sounds like the Greek island Rhodes, but actually stands for "Family Allotment Gardens Surrounded by Mesh" (Rodzinne Ogrody Działkowe Otoczone Siatką). It’s our version of a tropical getaway, just a tram ride away!
☕ My Impressions
For me, Pergola is more than just placing tiles on a board—it’s a sentimental journey back to childhood. Do you remember the atmosphere of family allotment gardens? Anyone who has ever spent time at the famous Polish RODOS (Allotment Gardens) will feel right at home here. It’s about designing your own little world where nobody tells you what to do. One neighbor plants magnolias, another goes for lavender, and the air is filled with that specific, blissful peace. Pergola captures this perfectly—we create a garden that is truly "ours": cozy, intimate, and incredibly relaxing.
One Game, Two Celebrations of Love
February is a time for a unique "love combo," and this game fits both occasions perfectly:
Self-Love Day (Solo): This is my absolute number one for a quiet evening with a cup of tea when you just want to be with yourself. It’s a great way to practice nurturing good thoughts, just like R. Hanson said: "If your mind is like a garden, you can observe it, pull out the weeds, and plant flowers." The solo variant offers 10 specific challenges. Fighting for the Platinum Super-Gardener Badge is the best gift you can give yourself to appreciate your own company.
Valentine’s Day (With Loved Ones): Pergola is equally perfect for spending time with the people you love (up to 4 players). Since there’s zero "take-that" mechanics and nobody tramples your flowerbeds, it’s pure relaxation without any arguments at the table.
I sincerely recommend playing it with everyone you love—but above all, with yourself! But of course, invite your better half ❤️👩🏼🌾👨🏻🌾, your best friend, your grandpa, aunt, or even your favorite neighbor. And obviously—playing with your dog is a must! 🐾
🎯 Final Rating: 10/10
