Beez

Spring Into Gaming in 2022

A couple years ago I shared some of my favorite gardening games to play as we transition into Spring. Our game collection has grown a lot since 2018 so it feels like a great time to share more great Spring-time games. In this list you’ll find 5 games that give you that outdoor vibe that might just inspire you to enjoy the outdoors as the weather gets warmer.

Hive

Publisher: Gen42 Games / Smart Zone Games
Number of Players: 2 players
Time Commitment: 20 minutes
Purchase on Amazon

HIVE from Smart Zone Games

Even though Hive is a 2-player classic, we only picked up a copy this year. This bug-based puzzle game is has players fighting to trap the other players queen. The heavy engraved tiles are so satisfying to drop onto the table. You’ll use the different bug abilities to move and crawl your way to victory.

Now that the weather is so nice, this is a fantastic game to bring on your next picnic or just to play outdoors. There’s no tiny pieces to lose, no dice to roll and no cards that could possibly blow away. The game comes with a little travel bag which is excellent and if you’re looking for something with a smaller footprint, pick up Hive Pocket which is even more portable.

Beez

Publisher: Next Move Games
Number of Players: 2 to 4
Time Commitment: 45-60 minutes
Purchase on Amazon

Beez

Next Move Games has some awesome games in their portfolio. Everyone knows the Azul series but their 2020 release Beez has flown under the radar. See what I did there? Bee’s fly. Get the joke. It’s funnier if I explain it.

In Beez, players are controlling a super cute bee mini that is flying around the board searching for pollen. The game is super puzzley and the components are amazing. The way the bees move around the board forces players to plan as they add to their honey comb and score points based on pattern goals. Each time Beez gets to the table, I remember how much fun this game is.

Three Sisters

Publisher: Motor City Gameworks / 25th Century Games
Number of Players: 1 to 4
Time Commitment: 45-60 minutes
Kickstarter Preview | Purchase on Amazon

Three Sister rondel board

By the time Spring rolls around every year, I’m ready to get back outside to garden both at home and in our neighborhood. Gardening can be incredibly therapeutic while also providing delicious food. Three Sisters is one of my favorite roll and writes for lots of reasons. This backyard gardening game from Motor City Gameworks has players planting the “three sisters”, an indigenous planting technique using 3 different plant types.

In Three Sisters, players are growing fruit, planting crops, tending to your bee apiary and selling goods at the farmers market. The central board is a rondel where players draft dice and gain additional actions. This game is a roll and write that was created with gamers in mind. The gameplay is so satisfying as you gain bonus actions and invest in upgrades in your shed. Every time I play Three Sisters, I get so excited about spending time in my own garden.

Floriferous

Publisher: Pencil First Games
Number of Players: 1 to 4
Time Commitment: 20-30 minutes
Full Review | Purchase on Amazon

Floriferous board layout

One of our favorite surprises in 2021 was Floriferous from Pencil First Games. Players are collecting gorgeous watercolor flowers during the course of three rounds. The game is elegant in the way that it plays as you choose cards that will determine your draft order for the next pick.

Points are awarded for fulfilling arrangement cards, collecting rock sculptures, finishing bounties and getting points from desire cards. Floriferous gives you lots of opportunities to score points. No two games will be identical because of the number of cards in the game and the 3 random bounties that appear during the setup. It’s hard not to get inspired to get outside and plant something when playing Floriferous. It might be worth just bringing this game outdoors with you this Spring!

Arboretum

Publisher: Renegade Games Studio
Number of Players: 2 to 4
Time Commitment: 30-45 minutes
Purchase on Amazon

Arboretum

Our trees are blooming and the leaves are filling out each limb. Arboretum is a card game that’s beautifully illustrated by Beth Sobel. In this card game, players are working to build a high scoring arboretum while still holding cards that will give them the right to score that line of trees. Your first game will probably be a little confusing but once you get the scoring down, this game is vicious.

We’ve owned Arboretum for years and this is an underrated card game in my opinion. The artwork is beautiful, the gameplay is a little backstabbing and the scoring in the game feels so unique. Since it’s a card game, you probably won’t play this outdoors on a windy day. It’s hard not to be inspired to enjoy the outdoors after playing a game of Arboretum.

These are just a couple games in our collection that inspire us to enjoy this beautiful Spring weather. What games do you plan to play as the seasons change?

Ryan Gutowski

I'm a huge fan of strategy games and pretty much anything that involves "city building". My love of board games goes back to my childhood and passion for building relationships with others.

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